NBA Teams Reportedly Have Been 'Watching' Giannis 'For a Year' amid Bucks Trade Rumors

Teams around the NBA have been planning for a long time to pounce in the event Giannis Antetokounmpo angles for a move away from the Milwaukee Bucks, according to ESPN's Brian Windhorst.

Windhorst reported Monday on the Dan Patrick Show his impression is that Antetokounmpo hasn't "100 percent said I'm out of Milwaukee." Still, Giannis requesting a trade is at least a "growing possibility," and the NBA insider added that "the league has been watching this for a year."

Nobody could've predicted star guard Damian Lillard would tear his Achilles, but a first-round exit for the Bucks was a foreseeable outcome before 2024-25 opened. That's as far as they got in the 2023 and 2024 playoffs, and the roster didn't get a whole lot better in the offseason.

And one possible consequence of another disappointing playoff run is obvious. Sooner or later, Antetokounmpo is going to dispassionately look at Milwaukee's roster and the limited trade assets at general manager Jon Horst's disposal.

NBA insider Chris Haynes reported the two-time MVP is scheduled to chat with organization officials this week, a conversation that could be crucial toward mapping out the next steps:

Lillard's trade request from the Portland Trail Blazers took months to resolve, and Kevin Durant didn't find a taker during the summer of 2022 when he sought to leave the Brooklyn Nets. He had to stick around until February 2023.

Because of Antetokounmpo's age, value on the court, and the fact he's only signed for two more years, his situation could evolve more quickly. As Windhorst said, GMs have probably contemplated already what their best offer to the Bucks could be.

Granted, all of that hypothesizing will be moot if Giannis decides he still has a path to a title in Milwaukee.