The Milwaukee Bucks indicated to teams hours before the 3 p.m. ET trade deadline that they are keeping Giannis Antetokounmpo at least through the rest of the season.
The news comes after several days of fielding trade offers from teams. The Golden State Warriors, Miami Heat and Minnesota Timberwolves were among the teams interested in acquiring Antetokounmpo.
Charania reported last week that Antetokounmpo has been ready for a new home for months, either at Thursday’s deadline or in the offseason. The Bucks began listening to teams’ offers over the past week for the two-time MVP, even engaging and countering a few of them. That’s further along in the process than Milwaukee had been willing to go throughout Antetokounmpo’s tenure.
However, sources told ESPN the Bucks did not feel the urgency to move Antetokounmpo before Thursday’s deadline. Both sides are expected to reexamine a potential deal in the offseason.
In an Instagram posted shortly after the deadline passed, Antetokounmpo said “Legends don’t chase. They attract,” alongside an expletive-laden clip from “The Wolf of Wall Street” where Leonardo DiCaprio’s character says he’s not leaving his job.
Antetokounmpo could have more influence over his next destination in the summer. He is eligible to sign a contract extension Oct. 1. Given his player option for the 2027-28 season, it means he has only one more guaranteed year remaining on his contract. Where he wants to sign that extension could dictate the terms of his next deal.
The Bucks have not given up complete hope of salvaging the Antetokounmpo era and are now scouring the market for potential upgrades. Milwaukee has won back-to-back games this week but is still in the No. 12 slot in the East and trailing the Chicago Bulls by three games for the No.10 seed.
Antetokounmpo, 31, has been limited by injuries to 30 games this season, but is averaging 28.0 points, 10.0 rebounds and 5.6 assists. He strained his right calf Jan. 23 against the Nuggets, an injury Antetokounmpo estimated could cost him four to six weeks on the sidelines, but the team did not release a timeline. Antetokounmpo does expect to play again this season, however, once he has recovered from the injury, sources told ESPN. He has worked out on the court prior to games in Milwaukee this week to test his injured calf.
In the first reported move since making their intentions to keep Antetokounmpo known, the Bucks acquired Ousmane Dieng in a three-team trade with the Chicago Bulls and Phoenix Suns, sources said. The Bucks are sending Cole Anthony to Phoenix while Nick Richards is headed to the Bulls.
Anthony, whom the Bucks signed to a one-year, $13 million deal over the summer, was averaging just 15.1 minutes this season and a career-low 6.7 points.
ESPN’s Jamal Collier contributed to this report.
