Insiders hint that the Bucks traded Giannis during the 2026 NBA Draft
The trade rumor was swirling around the Milwaukee Bucks this season, it’s been heating up recently as the deadline approaches. Giannis Antetokounmpo is out of the lineup currently due to injury, but that hasn’t stopped many from speculating that a trade could be on the horizon for the franchise icon.
Recently, NBA insider Jake Fisher reported on why that is maybe it’s more likely to make a trade next offseason, especially on draft day, not in the next few weeks for Milwaukee.
“Said one league source particularly familiar with Bucks matters: ‘This is shaping up to be a draft day thing.’ Another said: ‘It’s happening.’ That means a draft trade if not now,” Fisher reported on Mark Stein’s Substack.
Fisher also reported on what the Bucks stand to gain by waiting until the draft to do something.
“Waiting until the NBA lottery in May to truly initiate the process of parting ways with their franchise face via trade would at least allow the Bucks to know exactly what potential trade partners have to offer in terms of 2026 draft capital,” he reported.
However, this does not come without its drawbacks due to Antetokounmpo’s current contract situation.
“Antetokounmpo and agent Alex Saracis would have a very real threat to leave town after just one season, possibly deterring certain teams from pursuing a Giannis trade,” he noted, in the scenario the Bucks sent the star somewhere he didn’t want to go.
Other teams’ knowledge of this would, of course, limit what the Bucks could theoretically receive in exchange for the star.
All in all, there’s clearly still a lot left to sort out on the Antetokounmpo front before this season is over. The NBA trade deadline is set for February 5th.
2026-01-25 17:40:00
