New Giannis Rumors on Blazers' Interest in Trade, Damian Lillard Reunion Amid Buzz on Bucks Star

The Portland Trail Blazers are "prepared to make a pitch" for Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo, per Bill Oram of the Oregonian.

"Having Lillard back, especially on a bargain $14 million contract, makes the Blazers better on the court, but it also gives the front office greater urgency to go all in and chase other stars. The Blazers are prepared to make a pitch for Giannis Antetokounmpo as long as he is willing to sign an extension but are not likely to limit their options to Lillard's former Milwaukee teammate."

Oram included this note amid an article about the Blazers' current playoff run and the fact that point guard Damian Lillard, Antetokounmpo's ex-Bucks teammate, could return this postseason from a torn Achilles that's kept him out all season.

"Any appearance would need to be in a later round or 'deep, deep' in the series against the Spurs," Oram noted.

A lot of signs point to Antetokounmpo having played his last game in Milwaukee after 13 seasons in town. He has only one year left on his contract and can elect free agency in 2027, so the Bucks may have to trade him this summer and avoid losing him for nothing.

Milwaukee is in disarray, with the team and head coach Doc Rivers parting ways after a disappointing 32-50 season. The Bucks went 17-19 with Antetokounmpo on the floor and 15-31 otherwise amid an injury-shortened campaign for the two-time NBA MVP.

ESPN's Shams Charania, who has long been mentioning trade rumors and talk surrounding Antetokounmpo, provided insight into the "fractured relationship," as he put it, between the star and team.

"The Bucks will be open to trade talks regarding Antetokounmpo, and the highest levels of the organization have come to terms with the inevitability of a likely deal coming to fruition this offseason, sources told ESPN," Charania wrote in part.

The issues between the two sides reportedly got worse after Antetokounmpo suffered a bone bruise and hyperextended left knee on March 15. He said he felt well enough to play but that the Bucks were blocking his journey back to the court.

Per Charania:

"Antetokounmpo refused the Bucks' requests to shut down and told the team that he planned to return when he was feeling healthy enough to play. On March 17, multiple sources said he pushed to play against the Jazz and told the team he believed he was healthy. The Bucks overruled him, and their medical staff did not clear him to play. Antetokounmpo then told multiple people around the team that he hoped to play later in the road trip (March 21 in Phoenix, March 23 in Los Angeles, March 25 in Portland), but never returned to action."

"For somebody to come and tell me to not play or not to compete, it's like a slap in my face," Antetokounmpo told reporters on April 3, per Charania. "I'm available to play, but I'm not in the game. I'm available to play today. Right now. I'm available.

"So, I don't know where the relationship goes from there."

The relationship may be ending, but it's unclear as of now. The Bucks have a lot of question marks moving forward and shouldn't have a shortage of suitors for Antetokounmpo.

Portland reportedly wants to throw its hat in the ring, but in the meantime, its first round playoff series with the San Antonio Spurs continues Friday with Game 3. The two teams are tied at one game apiece in the best-of-seven matchup.