Giannis Reportedly Still Expected to Consider Bucks Trade Despite Knicks' Failed Talks
Despite making it through the offseason without making a formal trade request to the Milwaukee Bucks, Giannis Antetokounmpo is still keeping an eye on what the best path for his future in the NBA could be.
Per ESPN's Shams Charania, Antetokounmpo will "keep his options open" based on how things start for the Bucks this season.
Charania noted the New York Knicks engaged in trade talks with the Bucks this summer about the nine-time All-Star, but the two sides never gained traction on any deal.
Antetokounmpo is currently locked in for the beginning of the season, but Charania explained that the way the Bucks start could be a deciding factor in if the two-time NBA MVP really opens up to a trade:
"It is expected that Antetokounmpo will keep his options open depending on how the Bucks start the season, according to league sources. From the outset of the Bucks' season, the pressure is apparent throughout the organization like never before. It's seen as a make-or-break season in Milwaukee. Stakeholders within the organization understand the first quarter of the campaign will hold significant weight for the future direction. Antetokounmpo will also have a grip on teams across the league this season because franchises will want to ensure they are well-positioned in the seismic event of his trade."
The Bucks, according to Charania, are confident in their ability to be a contender in an Eastern Conference that appears unsettled going into the start of the season. Their optimism isn't unwarranted considering the Indiana Pacers and Boston Celtics, the last two conference champions, will not have their best players likely for the entire season.
Both Tyrese Haliburton and Jayson Tatum are recovering from torn Achilles suffered during the postseason. The Cleveland Cavaliers and New York Knicks will likely be the favorites to come out of the East at the start of the season, but they both had flaws that were exposed in the playoffs.
There are other intriguing teams on the rise in the conference, like the Atlanta Hawks, Orlando Magic and Detroit Pistons. It's unclear if those teams are ready to make that big a leap into being title contenders, but there is plenty of upside for them to believe in.
The Bucks are stuck in an awkward spot because Antetokounmpo is almost certainly the best player in the Eastern Conference right now, but the roster around him doesn't boast a lot of proven star power. Their projected starting backcourt right now is Kevin Porter Jr. and Gary Trent Jr.
Coming off three consecutive first-round playoff losses, the Bucks have as much pressure on them as any team in the NBA right now because of the looming possibility that Antetokounmpo could look to leave sooner than later if things go awry.
