If Giannis Antetokounmpo decides that he no longer wants to play for the Milwaukee Bucks, there will be several times in the mix for the soon-to-be 31-year-old. ESPN's Brian Windhorst said on Wednesday, after Shams Charania's report, that the Bucks would try to get the best possible offer from a team (or teams) of Antetokounmpo's choice. However, Windhorst said he's since heard that Milwaukee may not need Giannis' agreement on his next team.
He said so on Friday's episode of the "Brian Windhorst & The Hoop Collective" podcast. Windhorst, Vince Goodwill, and Anthony Slater pondered how much control Giannis will have on where he ends up if he requests a trade.
Windhorst brought up Jimmy Butler's situation with the Heat. He pointed out that it was different than what Giannis would be, as Butler had a player option the following season. As Windhorst said, Giannis still has two postseasons left on his current deal, with a $62.8 million player option in the 2027-28 season. Unlike Butler, Giannis couldn't sign a new contract with a team in conjunction with the trade.
Teams that were discussing a Butler trade with Miami were also speaking with Butler's camp about an extension, given his contract situation. Windhorst said he assumed it would be the same with Giannis, but he's heard from "multiple people from teams with rings" who don't know whether Antetokounmpo would have sway over where he goes.
Giannis may not have control over where he is traded
Now, teams that want to trade for Giannis before the deadline will seek a commitment that he will sign an extension with them. He will be eligible to sign a four-year, $275 million extension with the Bucks, or another team, on Oct. 1, 2026. Teams won't want to give up a combination of first-round picks and key players for Giannis, only to risk losing him after a season.
Milwaukee may want to do right by Giannis, given everything he's done for the franchise, but if the only other team he says he is willing to play for is New York (as he did this summer), the Bucks would be committing malpractice if they caved to that demand. The Knicks don't have the assets that a team like the Spurs, Hawks, or even the Thunder (just because they don't need him doesn't mean you can rule them out) can offer.
Giannis wants to be in the best position possible to win a second championship, but there are teams outside of New York that can give him that opportunity. By no means should Milwaukee banish him to some low-level squad, but the Bucks also have to consider their future.
Milwaukee can't afford to act on Giannis' own terms, so he shouldn't have complete control over where he goes.