The Milwaukee Bucks are not taking phone calls about trading Giannis Antetokounmpo, but league insiders are saying something completely different behind closed doors. Sources across the NBA believe the superstar will likely leave the team, making this the biggest storyline before the February 5 trade deadline.
The organization has spent years trying to build a strong team around Giannis. The only question now is when this major trade will happen. According to Sports Illustrated, Reporter Brian Windhorst shared an analogy on a sports broadcast, comparing the situation to a failing marriage.
“It’s almost like a couple that everybody in the league thinks is going to get divorced,” Windhorst said. “They don’t know if they’re going to get divorced by Easter or if they’re going to get divorced by July 4. In the league, the teams do believe this is going to be a divorce.”
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League executives expect Giannis departure despite Milwaukee’s resistance
Windhorst said the Bucks are “still not taking phone calls on Giannis,” but they are making outgoing calls instead. The team is trying to improve the roster to compete around him, which has been their strategy for a while. Reports from December confirmed they were working to upgrade the team.
General Manager Jon Horst has always tried to win with Giannis on the roster. However, the pressure is increasing, and the team’s performance this season is not good enough. Other teams around the league are dealing with their own coaching changes, including the Steelers’ recent transition that sparked widespread discussion.
The Bucks are currently 18-25, sitting in 11th place in the Eastern Conference. This puts them outside the tenth seed and the final play-in tournament spot. This is a tough position for a team that wants to win a championship. Giannis is still playing at a high level, averaging 28.5 points per game in 28 games, despite missing time with a calf strain.
Reporter Shams Charania noted in early December that Giannis and the Bucks had already started talking about his long-term future with the team. Meanwhile, Jimmy Butler’s uncertain future has also created questions across the league.
If the Bucks keep falling in the standings, the pressure could force Milwaukee to change its plans. Giannis is under contract through the 2027-28 season, with a $62.8 million player option in the final year. A trade is possible, especially after seeing how quickly things changed with the Luka Dončić trade last year. If Milwaukee decides to trade him, they would receive a huge package of assets, picks, and young players. Teams are ready to make offers, believing this split will happen either before the deadline or next summer.
Published: Jan 22, 2026 11:45 am