Chris Paul Trade Rumors: Bucks Never Engaged in Talks with Thunder on PG

As the Oklahoma City Thunder shopped Chris Paul, the Milwaukee Bucks "never engaged" on the 10-time All-Star, according to Sports Illustrated's Chris Mannix.

Paul is headed to the Phoenix Suns, a year after the Houston Rockets sent him to the Thunder in a trade for Russell Westbrook and draft picks. Last season, the 35-year-old was named an All-Star for the first time in four seasons, posting 17.6 points, 6.7 assists, 5.0 rebounds and 1.6 steals per game.

A move for Paul could have helped the Bucks' chances at bringing back two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo, who has been noncommittal about his future with the team that drafted him 15th overall in 2013. Antetokounmpo told Swedish daily newspaper Aftonbladet that his future in Wisconsin "depends on what decisions they make" (h/t Alexander Nilsson).

"If they make the right decision, I'll be there for many years. If they do not, we'll see," he said. "The NBA is business and we take it day by day. Hopefully we can succeed together."

According to Ben Standig, Mike Vorkunov and others of The Athletic, one NBA agent was more explicit about what it would take for the Bucks to convince Antetokounmpo, who is entering the final year of his deal, to sign a five-year super-max contract this offseason.

"They're on the clock with Giannis. I think it would be they just have too much at stake. They have potential championships hanging in the balance if you lose this guy and I think he's going to want to see some kind of improvement from them. I think Chris Paul, financially they'd have to figure it out, but he's exactly what they need there."

Paul's decision to head to Phoenix and a reported lack of effort on behalf of the Bucks to pursue him could have major implications on the future of Antetokounmpo and the Bucks' success.