Will Giannis Be Moving on From Milwaukee This Summer?

Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks. Credit: Imago

Will Giannis Be Moving on From Milwaukee This Summer?

Pulse Sports Team 13:22 - 05.06.2025

Is it time for a rebuild for the Milwaukee Bucks?

The 2021 NBA Champions were unceremoniously bounced from the first round of the playoffs for the third season in a row. This year’s loss hurts even more, considering Damian Lillard suffered an Achilles tear, likely leading to him sitting out next season.

The Bucks’ misfortune has led many league analysts to wonder if they may be ready to move on from Giannis Antetokounmpo. The two-time MVP remains one of the league’s top players, but it isn’t resulting in postseason success for the Bucks. With two years remaining on his contract, this could be the last chance the team has to move the star for a massive trade haul.

While Giannis and the Bucks have confirmed they’d prefer to stay together, that could quickly change as trade proposals come in over the summer.

The Future is Dim for Milwaukee

If Giannis wants to win more titles, he’ll likely need to do it with a new team.

The Bucks took a massive swing and missed when they traded for Damian Lillard. They have traded away many draft picks and don’t have the cap space to add much talent. While some big contracts will be coming off the books this offseason, the team will still have to pay Lillard as he recovers. 

There is also a question about what the coaching situation will look like going forward. Milwaukee hired Doc Rivers to lead the revamped Bucks, but they have failed to accomplish much besides winning the NBA Cup. If the team decides to move on from the veteran coach, it likely means Giannis will be on the move.

Moving on from Doc could be the right move, but the Bucks could struggle to find an up-and-coming coach to help with a rebuild. Before hiring Doc, the team fired first-year coach Adrian Griffin after just 43 games. That will require some top coaching candidates to think twice before taking a job with the team.

Milwaukee’s championship was just a few years ago, but fans still remember the decades of mediocrity that preceded it. Drafting Giannis allowed the Bucks to become a true contender, but he was a generational talent. That has us doubting the team’s ability to compete anytime soon.

Giannis Trade Could Cut Years Off Rebuild

The Milwaukee Bucks' future looks bleak, and a lengthy rebuild is likely coming. The small market and cold weather make it hard to attract free agents, forcing the team to build through the draft. With the team trading many of its draft picks away, their options will be limited for years. 

A rebuild in Milwaukee could be significantly shortened by a Giannis trade this summer. Teams will be willing to overpay for the superstar, who will have two remaining seasons on his contract. This would restock the team’s draft capital and help build a new generation of players.

On top of a trade haul, the Bucks’ front office could help improve its image with the league’s players and coaches. The team did everything possible to support Giannis, and the relationship between the two sides remains solid. If they were to allow him to pursue a title elsewhere without bad blood, it would make them stand out against the rest of the league.

Last, the rest of the East hasn’t looked great. The Celtics' championship window is slowly closing, and the Pacers and Cavs could struggle to keep their cores together. That means a quick rebuild in Milwaukee could put them back on top of the conference far sooner than expected. 

Sportsbooks Expect Giannis to Stay Put

Potential trade offers have been a hot topic among sports media and fans, despite the team denying they’re looking to move Giannis. That has led many sportsbooks to allow fans to put money on their predictions.

Most sports betting apps have the Bucks as a heavy favorite to retain Giannis during the offseason. The Rockets, Thunder, Warriors, and Spurs are among the other top favorites with high-value odds. 

Bookmakers making the Bucks a massive favorite show their confidence that he will remain in Milwaukee. With the odds for the rest of the league so high, a trade would lead to enormous losses for sportsbooks. While they can adjust their odds as the summer progresses, they are willing to bank on the Bucks keeping their star.