Latest Giannis Trade Rumors Reveal 'Frustration' Teams Had with Bucks at NBA Deadline
Despite the Milwaukee Bucks' willingness to hear offers for Giannis Antetokounmpo in the final two weeks before the trade deadline, opposing teams came away from discussions feeling like a deal was never going to happen.
On the latest episode of The Zach Lowe Show (starts at 48:30 mark), NBA insider Zach Lowe explained clubs had "frustration" coming out of their talks with the Bucks.
"They were all along skeptical that a deal was really to be had," Lowe said. "But there were real discussions. ... No team that I heard from anyway got to the point where it was—usually you get to a trade and you get the phone call that says, 'we will do this trade if you give us these five things. We will do it.' It never got to that. It was always general concepts."
Adding to that sentiment, one Eastern Conference executive told ESPN's Tim Bontemps that Antetokounmpo staying with the Bucks through the deadline was always the expected outcome.
"It isn't a surprise this was one of the outcomes," the executive said, "and this was probably a more than 50% likely outcome."
Even though there were teams trying to put together offers for Antetokounmpo, notably the Minnesota Timberwolves and Golden State Warriors, it always made more sense for the Bucks to not rush into a decision when other clubs can get in on the bidding in the summer when more picks and cap space become available.
It also can't be ignored that Antetokounmpo may not really be pushing to leave. He seemed to send a pretty loud message on social media after not being moved.
Given where the Bucks stand right now, it would seem to be in their best interest to find a way to get as many long-term assets as possible while they can. But it's also really hard to trade a generational superstar who has won multiple MVP awards and ended the franchise's 50-year championship drought.
Whatever path the Bucks and Antetokounmpo decide to take, there won't be any answer until at least the start of the NBA's offseason moratorium period in late June or early July.
