The NBA could be in for another league-altering move this off-season, with one of the biggest names in the sport suddenly questioning his place in it.
Giannis Antetokounmpo is reportedly weighing his future and is open-minded, for the first time in his career, about exploring his best fit outside the Milwaukee Bucks, per ESPN's Shams Charania on Monday.
According to Charania, Antetokounmpo's representatives are expected to sit down with the Bucks over the off-season to discuss the forward's future and whether or not it will be in Milwaukee or elsewhere.
While teams have routinely checked in with the Bucks' front office about the superstar's availability, Charania expects them to "ramp up due diligence during combine week." The NBA Combine is underway and runs until Sunday.
Antetokounmpo is coming off one of the best seasons of his 12-year career, averaging 30.4 points, 11.9 rebounds and 6.5 assists while shooting 60.1 per cent from the field.
However, for the third-straight season, the Bucks suffered an early exit in the playoffs, getting knocked off by the Indiana Pacers in five games despite Antetokounmpo averaging 33.0 points, 15.4 rebounds and 6.6 assists in the series.
The three straight first-round exits come after the Bucks won the NBA Championship in 2022, downing the Phoenix Suns in six games to secure Antetokounmpo's first title.
That chase for a second title is a priority for Antetokounmpo, and while the Bucks have attempted to pair him with another superstar in Damian Lillard, the match hasn't resulted in team-wide success as of yet. Now, with Lillard slated to miss the 2025-26 season while recovering from a torn Achilles, the pairing feels even more in flux.
However, from the Bucks' point of view, there is no obligation to rush into an Antetokounmpo trade, as the superstar is under contract for at least the next two seasons, with a $62.8 million player option in 2027-28. He re-signed with the team on a supermax deal in 2023 after the Bucks acquired Lillard.
Beyond just the Antetokounmpo piece, the Bucks are entering a key off-season. The team doesn't have control of any of its own picks until the 2031 season, has an aging core, and doesn't have reliable prospects coming down the pipeline. Brook Lopez, Gary Trent Jr. and Taurean Prince are all set to become unrestricted free agents this summer, while Bobby Portis Jr, Pat Connaughton and Kevin Porter Jr. all have player options.
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