Bucks GM Talks Giannis Relationship, Possiblity of Trading Star Amid NBA Rumors

Milwaukee Bucks general manager Jon Horst discussed Wednesday where things currently stand with superstar forward Giannis Antetokounmpo and his future with the organization.

In a Q&A session with Eric Nehm of The Athletic, Horst insisted that there are no issues or hard feelings between him and Giannis despite the two-time NBA MVP being the subject of the constant trade rumors dating back to last offseason.

"I don't have any less love or respect or belief or gratitude toward Giannis or anyone that works with him," Horst said. "I really don't. I am going through a tough situation. We are going through a tough situation together, and I'm only trying to find the right outcome. I'm trying to do that together with them, and I'm trying to do what's best for us and best for them, even if it's uncomfortable. But I don't have any ill will. I don't feel a strained relationship.

"I feel the results of a strange situation of a season that's not where any of us wanted it to be. He had hopes of having a great season. He had belief. He's done everything [he] can. That's absolutely true. I have, too. So has Doc Rivers. So has Kyle Kuzma. We didn't get there. For the first time in 10 years, we didn't get there, where going into the playoffs we were like, 'Man, we got a chance,' and that sucks. I'm pretty excited about figuring it out going forward, but right now, it sucks."

Horst also responded to a question regarding why he may be open to entertaining trade offers for Giannis now when he may not have been in the past.

"The answer of 'why now' is, it's probably all the way back to when you get to these points in tenure with each other, I think it's likely, like [Bucks co-owner] Wes [Edens] said, that you either figure out the path forward and you align and you kind of agree to commit to each other on who you want to be and what that looks like and eventually an extension Or, you try to find the best resolution for everyone," Horst said. "I think that it's just the why is not that complicated. It's just different now than it might have been two years ago, or three years ago. And, that's OK. That doesn't mean the result is going to be different."

In a recent discussion with ESPN's Ramona Shelburne, Edens suggested that things between Giannis and the Bucks will come to a head this offseason, saying, "Giannis is going into the last year [of his contract]. So one of two things will happen: Either he will be extended or he'll be traded. The likelihood you'll let him just kind of play out the last year, we can't afford that. It's not consistent with what's good for the organization. That's not a Giannis issue. That's any player that's in their last year."

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On Wednesday, Horst noted that what Edens said "in most cases, is accurate," although he stopped short of calling an extension or trade the only two potential solutions.

"You either have an alignment and an understanding and not commitment necessarily, but a path forward together that you understand and you go execute it. You could call that an extension or you try to figure out the best win-win that you possibly can moving forward via a trade," Horst said.

"It's not actually the only two doors, right? There's door number 3 that actually exists, but that's just a level set, non-emotional reality of where it's at on October 1st. And I'm not saying that you do something beforehand. I'm just saying you do have to understand where you want to go, but we don't have to know that today."

Antetokounmpo, who is set to enter the final year of his contract next season before a player option in 2027-28, has been rumored to potentially be available for trade for months.

It started during the offseason, as ESPN's Shams Charania reported that the Bucks engaged in trade discussions with the New York Knicks, focused on Giannis.

Then, Charania reported that several teams made an attempt to trade for Giannis before the trade deadline, with the Minnesota Timberwolves, Golden State Warriors, Miami Heat and Knicks being the most "serious suitors."

This week, Charania reported that people at "the highest levels" of the Bucks organization have "come to terms with the inevitability of a likely deal coming to fruition this offseason," involving Giannis.

Over his 13 years in Milwaukee, Giannis has done it all, earning 10 All-Star nods, nine All-NBA selections, two NBA MVP awards, one NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award, one NBA championship and one NBA Finals MVP Award.

However, this season was the most trying campaign of his career, as injuries limited him to 36 games, and the Bucks went just 17-19 even when he played.

At 31-48, the Bucks are going to miss the playoffs for the first time since the 2015-16 season, which suggests a rebuild could be the best course of action.

Trading Giannis would be the best way to kickstart that rebuild, and while Horst isn't committing to it, his comments suggest that he is at least open to moving on from the face of the franchise.