Giannis Antetokounmpo said on Feb. 4, 2026 that his preference is to remain a Milwaukee Buck, even as the franchise has intensified trade discussions after reports that the two-time MVP is “ready for a new home.” The Bucks sit 19-29 this season, a record that has widened the gap between Giannis’s championship ambitions and the club’s current trajectory. Multiple teams — including Minnesota, Golden State, Miami, Los Angeles and Portland — are reported to have engaged Milwaukee in talks. The situation is fluid ahead of this week’s trade deadline, with cap complications and contract concerns shaping each club’s approach.
Key Takeaways
- The Bucks have accelerated trade conversations about Giannis Antetokounmpo following a report that he may be open to a move; Milwaukee’s record is 19-29 this season.
- Sources indicate the Timberwolves are actively building a package centered around Jaden McDaniels, Julius Randle and Naz Reid to court Milwaukee.
- The Warriors are reportedly prepared to include Draymond Green, Jonathan Kuminga and Brandin Podziemski plus multiple first-round picks, though Milwaukee would likely seek to avoid Green’s $25.9M salary this year and his $27.7M 2026/27 player option.
- Miami and Golden State have made strong pitches, but league observers see growing skepticism about Miami landing Giannis before Thursday’s trade deadline.
- The Lakers are not primary players right now but could assemble a competitive offseason offer; they currently have one movable first-rounder (2031 or 2032) and could package up to three picks in the summer (2026, 2031, 2033).
- Portland has shown some interest, but Giannis’s camp has communicated that he would not sign an extension in Portland, limiting their leverage.
- Giannis is sidelined with a calf strain but completed a 30-minute on-court workout on Tuesday; the Bucks have not provided a recovery timeline.
Background
Giannis Antetokounmpo, a two-time NBA Most Valuable Player, has spent his entire professional career in Milwaukee and has repeatedly expressed deep personal ties to the city. He has framed Milwaukee as home — citing family milestones and community bonds — even while publicly acknowledging his drive to win additional championships. That tension has become more pronounced as the Bucks falter through a 19-29 start to the 2025–26 season.
The NBA trade deadline is a focal point for teams willing to reshape title odds midseason, and franchises with young cores or future draft capital are positioning themselves as potential partners for a blockbuster. For Milwaukee, the calculus is complicated: trading a generational player like Giannis would return assets but also reshape the franchise’s identity and competitive window. Conversely, keeping him without a clear path to contention could disillusion the star and the fan base.
Salary-cap mechanics, no-trade clauses, player options and the willingness of a star’s camp to sign extensions with a new team all influence trade feasibility. Clubs with attractive cap room and tradable pieces — or the ability to move contracts to third parties — have an advantage, but timing and fit remain decisive. As a result, even well-resourced suitors must balance immediate talent offers against long-term financial and roster impacts.
Main Event
In interviews published Feb. 4, Giannis reiterated that his heart remains in Milwaukee while conceding the reality of limited championship windows. He praised the city and the organization, then paused when asked how many more opportunities he has to win, concluding, in essence, that he has to prioritize those chances. That ambivalence has catalyzed intensified discussions between Milwaukee and several rival teams over the past week.
The Minnesota Timberwolves are widely reported to be among the most active suitors, engaging teams leaguewide about packaging Jaden McDaniels, Julius Randle and Naz Reid to amass the assets they believe Milwaukee would require. League sources suggest Minnesota’s pitch centers on pairing Giannis with Anthony Edwards, an on-court tandem some evaluators find compelling for title contention.
Golden State’s presumed framework includes veteran pieces such as Draymond Green alongside young rotation players Jonathan Kuminga and Brandin Podziemski plus multiple first-round picks. But Milwaukee reportedly resists absorbing Green’s sizable deal and would prefer that Golden State find a mechanism — potentially routing Green to a third club — to make an offer feasible.
Miami has been counted among serious callers, and the Heat’s culture of maximizing short windows raises the franchise’s appeal as a suitor. Still, several executives express doubt about Miami assembling a winning package in time for this week’s deadline. Los Angeles is not viewed as a front-runner at present, though the Lakers could greatly expand their bargaining power in the offseason by mobilizing additional first-round assets.
Portland has expressed some interest but faces a hurdle: Giannis’s camp reportedly told the Blazers he would not commit to signing an extension in Portland. That stance reduces Portland’s ability to offer the combination of immediate talent and future security Milwaukee would likely demand in a swap for a franchise cornerstone.
Analysis & Implications
Milwaukee’s decision tree is one of the most consequential in recent NBA memory. Keeping Giannis through the deadline preserves continuity but risks another season falling short of title expectations with the star under contract. Moving him now yields immediate assets and a franchise reset but requires Milwaukee to accept short-term competitive decline and navigate fan and market reactions.
For suitors, acquiring Giannis changes strategic timelines. Minnesota’s reported willingness to part with young contributors and established veterans reflects a win-now posture but sacrifices depth and contract flexibility. Golden State’s potential offer blends proven leadership with promising youth and picks, yet the financial complexity of absorbing Draymond Green’s salary may force multi-team maneuvers that complicate and delay a resolution.
Miami’s culture of late-season urgency and Los Angeles’s capacity to amass draft capital make them logical long-term challengers, but both face structural limits this week: Miami’s pathway appears constrained by competing suitors and asset shortages, while the Lakers’ immediate trade assets are limited compared with what they could assemble in the summer. Portland’s inability to secure an extension commitment from Giannis curtails its leverage and increases the likelihood it will remain on the periphery unless willing to accept a shorter-term rental strategy.
Injury and timeline factors add further uncertainty. Giannis’s calf strain and the lack of an official recovery timetable reduce his immediate trade value for teams seeking playoff help this month, while also giving Milwaukee optionality: they can push a potential deal into the offseason when more draft and salary flexibility exists. The calendar — specifically this week’s trade deadline — will therefore dictate whether a pre-deadline blockbuster emerges or whether talks merely set the stage for an offseason decision.
| Team | Primary Assets Reported | Key Constraint |
|---|---|---|
| Timberwolves | Jaden McDaniels, Julius Randle, Naz Reid | Loss of depth, long-term fit |
| Warriors | Draymond Green, Jonathan Kuminga, Brandin Podziemski, multiple 1st-round picks | Milwaukee reluctant to absorb Green’s $25.9M salary |
| Heat | Undisclosed — strong pitch reported | Asset constraints before deadline |
| Lakers | One tradable 1st-rounder now; could move up to three in summer (2026, 2031, 2033) | Limited immediate draft capital |
| Blazers | Interest, but no extension assurance | Giannis unwilling to sign extension in Portland |
The table above summarizes reported offers and practical impediments. While exact pick counts and additional sweeteners remain undisclosed, the comparison shows why Minnesota and Golden State are repeatedly mentioned: both can present a blend of young talent and tradable assets that fit Milwaukee’s broad objectives, even as each proposal carries trade-offs.
Reactions & Quotes
Giannis spoke at length about his connection to Milwaukee while acknowledging competitive urgency. He emphasized family and community ties and expressed appreciation for the organization, then described his perspective on limited championship windows.
I want to be a Milwaukee Buck for the rest of my career and win here, but you have to look at how many chances are left to win a championship.
Giannis Antetokounmpo / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (interview)
Reporters tracking the market underscore how attractive a pairing with Anthony Edwards could be for Giannis, should Minnesota put together an offer. Observers note the Wolves are communicative with other teams as they assemble a package that could persuade Milwaukee to make a seismic move.
Minnesota is talking to clubs around the league to gather the assets needed to convince Milwaukee.
Brett Siegel / ClutchPoints (report)
Cap and contract analysts highlight Draymond Green’s salary as a complicating factor in any Warriors proposal, and some coverage suggests Golden State would need to find a third-party partner to facilitate a deal acceptable to the Bucks.
Milwaukee is hesitant to absorb Green’s contract outright and would likely push for his salary to be rerouted if talks advanced.
Marc Stein / The Stein Line (report)
Unconfirmed
- Whether Milwaukee would prioritize a late-deadline trade this week over pushing negotiations into the offseason remains unresolved.
- The exact composition and total number of first-round picks Golden State or other suitors would include is unverified.
- Reports that Miami can or cannot complete a deal before Thursday are based on league chatter and not on confirmed executed offers.
Bottom Line
Giannis Antetokounmpo’s statement that he wants to remain in Milwaukee coexists with candid concern about diminishing championship opportunities, placing the Bucks at a crossroads. Minnesota and Golden State appear to be the most prominent suitors given reported player and pick combinations, but contract complications and the star’s injury status complicate a near-term resolution.
Expect the coming days to produce increased shuttle diplomacy: teams will continue to probe Milwaukee’s price while weighing roster and cap consequences. If no deal materializes before the deadline, the market will likely recalibrate toward the summer when clubs can offer cleaner packages and Giannis’s camp can revisit extension possibilities with full offseason clarity.