Giannis Trade Rumors Updated by NBA Execs, Scouts amid 2026 Deadline Buzz

There is reportedly a belief among some in the NBA that the Milwaukee Bucks and superstar forward Giannis Antetokounmpo will wait until the offseason before potentially pursuing a trade.

An anonymous Eastern Conference scout told ESPN's Tim Bontemps, "If he waits until the summer [to ask out], he'll have maximum leverage on what his future will be."

Meanwhile, a Western Conference scout told Bontemps, "They aren't trading him in-season."

ESPN's Shams Charania reported that Giannis was the subject of trade talks during the offseason with the Bucks giving the New York Knicks "an exclusive negotiating window" over the course of "a multi-week period in August," however, no agreement was reached.

At that point, the decision was made for Giannis to begin the 2025-26 season with the Bucks, but that hasn't stopped rumors and speculation from bubbling to the surface.

Last month, Charania reported that Antetokounmpo and his agent were "having conversations" with the Bucks about his future. Charania added that the situation was expected to be resolved "in the coming weeks," ahead of the Feb. 5 trade deadline.

Milwaukee has largely struggled this season, as it is 11th in the Eastern Conference with a 14-20 record. However, it is just 1.5 games out of a play-in spot and five games out of a top-six seed in the East.

Wizards-Bucks Full Highlights

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Giannis recently returned from a calf injury that cost him eight games, and the Bucks have gone 2-1 in the three games since he was inserted back into the lineup.

In the 20 games Antetokounmpo has played this season, the Bucks are 11-9, compared to just 3-11 when he doesn't play. Not surprisingly, he is central to the team's success, which suggests the Bucks have a chance to get back in the playoff race as long as Giannis is in the fold.

A Western Conference executive said of the Bucks-Giannis situation, "The rubber is going to finally hit the road, one way or the other," which indicates there may be at least some belief in the NBA that an in-season trade is possible.

At the same time, sources have told Bontemps that the Bucks are focused on improving the roster around Giannis this season rather than trading him.

As a nine-time All-Star, two-time NBA MVP, one-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year, one-time NBA champion and one-time NBA Finals MVP, Giannis is unquestionably among the greatest players in franchise history.