Giannis Thread - 13th Season with the Bucks

[jakecronus8]

Bucks are not far away from actually being a decent contender with an updated conceptual approach and some decent moves for roleplayers.

I just wholeheartedly disagree. 3 straight first round losses with either the oldest or near oldest team in the league, no young studs or assets, and no cap space.

I wish I had the blind optimism but reality sucks.

[Frank Nova]

I mean, have you not been watching the NBA the last 15 years? It happens all the time. This would be no different

Steph Curry played 63 games in 20-21, they went 39-33 and he won mvp and they didn’t even make the playoffs. GSW won the finals the following year. I’m not sure why Giannis’s situation has to be much different than that?

That has nothing to do with what you said. But yea, that's the selling point and what my initial post said, that is 100% going to be the Bucks spin/sell and I think also what 90% of us here want. Wit the down East due to Tatum hurt, Cle likely shedding a salary, etc the East is open and Giannis is so good they could hang with anybody. Couple good moves and a new coach and who knows.

Your point was basically that players can't force teams hands to trade them, when its pretty clear the exact oppositive is true since it happens every year and usually more than once

My point was Giannis doesn’t have any more leverage in the situation besides good faith from the team and that’s a 2 way street. I realize what you’re saying it happens often where players try to force the organizations hand but usually the leverage comes from refusing to resign in a contract year and risk losing that player for nothing in FA. That’s the leverage Giannis doesn’t currently have.

[aboveAverage]

So do we here anything on the meeting today?

Does this count from Jim O in today's article from JSOnline?

By the time the NBA Combine ended on May 18, Antetokounmpo had some conversations with organizational leadership about the future of the team and remained happy in Milwaukee with no real intent to leave, and therefore no trade request had been made. In all his years, he has never requested a trade, even though he has regularly applied pressure on the team to keep upgrading to the roster.

Longtime NBA reporter Chris Haynes said Antetokounmpo was going to meet with Horst the week of May 19 for one of their annual offseason conversations about the direction of the team. Other conversations have typically occurred in the summer months.

https://www.jsonline.com/story/sports/nba/bucks/2025/05/22/is-giannis-getting-traded-damian-lillard-future-milwaukee-bucks-reader-questions/83721971007/

So basically they met last weekend and everything was fine and Giannis was happy with no intention of requesting a trade? So what the hell are the national media on about?

[DingleJerry]

Steph Curry played 63 games in 20-21, they went 39-33 and he won mvp and they didn’t even make the playoffs. GSW won the finals the following year. I’m not sure why Giannis’s situation has to be much different than that?

That has nothing to do with what you said. But yea, that's the selling point and what my initial post said, that is 100% going to be the Bucks spin/sell and I think also what 90% of us here want. Wit the down East due to Tatum hurt, Cle likely shedding a salary, etc the East is open and Giannis is so good they could hang with anybody. Couple good moves and a new coach and who knows.

Your point was basically that players can't force teams hands to trade them, when its pretty clear the exact oppositive is true since it happens every year and usually more than once

My point was Giannis doesn’t have any more leverage in the situation besides good faith from the team and that’s a 2 way street. I realize what you’re saying it happens often where players try to force the organizations hand but usually the leverage comes from refusing to resign in a contract year and risk losing that player for nothing in FA. That’s the leverage Giannis doesn’t currently have.

He's two years away and it really doesn't matter. Star players stomp their feet and get traded all the time. Dame just did it with 4 years left on his deal. The star players have all the leverage at all times, thats been clear for the last 10-15 years.

Giannis is a good guy so if he did it I'm sure he'd do it the professional way so they could search the best deal without public fighting. I doubt he does the Harden style bs. But once it gets leaked by someone and it becomes out there, then it is what is, just like all the countless other ones.

I think something different with his situation vs a public negative standoff thing is that I think Bucks love him and respect him enough that they'd want to do right by him. Like if in that meeting he says 'sorry, I only have 3-4 elite elite years left. I wanna try somewhere else since we're in a tough spot here'. Like Por with Dame, I don't think MKE will play hardball. They'll try to help get him to a good spot while also getting a good return. Logically, it would be tough to tell him he's wrong. But I don't think they're gonna say "F you, you're under contract and we're not trading you", which then force him to be a public jerk like Harden

[tedbrogen]

The hits keep coming.

Read on Twitter

?s=61&t=9rpMwNqOSwMJrvAAN06wgA

If SA is saying no Castle, no Harper, I’d rather have two more first round exits with Giannis and then lose Giannis for nothing just to spite them.

[rayallenscalves]

3-way with the Bucks, New Orleans and San Antonio:

Bucks out: Giannis, A-Jax, Livington
Bucks in: Trey Murphy, Castle, Harrison Barnes, Champagnie, #2, picks back from NO with our option to swap, 2026 2nd from Spurs, 2030 2nd from NO

Spurs out: Castle, Vassell, Barnes, Keldon Johnson, Champagnie, #2, #14, 2027 1st, 2026 2nd
Spurs in: Giannis, McCollum, A-Jax

Hornets out: Murphy, McCollum, swaps with Bucks, 2030 2nd
Hornets in: Vassell, Johnson, Livingston, #14, 2027 1st from Spurs

2025-26 Bucks:
PG: Castle/Porter/Rollins
SG: Harper/Green
SF: Murphy/Champagnie
PF: Barnes/Kuz
C: Bobby/Sims

Pretty good size, lot of switchability.

[LUKE23]

Bucks are not far away from actually being a decent contender with an updated conceptual approach and some decent moves for roleplayers.

I just wholeheartedly disagree. 3 straight first round losses with either the oldest or near oldest team in the league, no young studs or assets, and no cap space.

I wish I had the blind optimism but reality sucks.

This. We won one playoff game this year and our roster will be worse next year barring a miracle, with the same horrendous coach. I do not see it.

[CharityStripe34]

Bucks are not far away from actually being a decent contender with an updated conceptual approach and some decent moves for roleplayers.

I just wholeheartedly disagree. 3 straight first round losses with either the oldest or near oldest team in the league, no young studs or assets, and no cap space.

I wish I had the blind optimism but reality sucks.

This. We won one playoff game this year and our roster will be worse next year barring a miracle, with the same horrendous coach. I do not see it.

In fairness, yes, this does hinge A LOT on the coaching staff actually realizing they need to play more modern basketball. And Horst needs to keep and/or find players who fit the mold of Game 5 against Indy. Totally agree that Cleveland, Boston and NY are better rosters and should be favored. Still, the East is fairly weak and there's no dominant roster. And yeah Giannis not being healthy in 23 and 24 obviously made a huge difference. If Giannis doesn't go anywhere Horst and co. have a ton of work to do this summer (which I'm sure they're aware of).

All I will say is that as bleak as things may look, we never know what interesting roster moves may happen, who becomes available, who's disgruntled, etc. etc. I'm not optimistic but I'm not doom and gloom either. Just waiting to see.

[RRyder823]

So do we here anything on the meeting today?

Does this count from Jim O in today's article from JSOnline?

By the time the NBA Combine ended on May 18, Antetokounmpo had some conversations with organizational leadership about the future of the team and remained happy in Milwaukee with no real intent to leave, and therefore no trade request had been made. In all his years, he has never requested a trade, even though he has regularly applied pressure on the team to keep upgrading to the roster.

Longtime NBA reporter Chris Haynes said Antetokounmpo was going to meet with Horst the week of May 19 for one of their annual offseason conversations about the direction of the team. Other conversations have typically occurred in the summer months.

https://www.jsonline.com/story/sports/nba/bucks/2025/05/22/is-giannis-getting-traded-damian-lillard-future-milwaukee-bucks-reader-questions/83721971007/

So basically the national media sucks and are basically trying to talk Giannis requesting a trade into existence.

Im shocked

Sent from my SM-S918U using RealGM mobile app

[sidney lanier]

If it's a Pacers-OKC finals this year, I think that would be validation of a new manic, frenzied style as a paradigm for NBA success. With a few changes I think a Giannis-led Bucks team would have that shot and can emulate that style. I hope that's the pitch Horst makes to Giannis.

We have players to play in a frenzy
To make Giannis see things that are trendsy
Ajax Porter and Bobby
Can run hot as wasabi
You can build it without getting spendsy

A go-go Bucks team would be entertaining and probably pretty good.

[tedbrogen]

If it's a Pacers-OKC finals this year, I think that would be validation of a new manic, frenzied style as a paradigm for NBA success. With a few changes I think a Giannis-led Bucks team would have that shot and can emulate that style. I hope that's the pitch Horst makes to Giannis.

We have players to play in a frenzy
To make Giannis see things that are trendsy
Ajax Porter and Bobby
Can run hot as wasabi
You can build it without getting spendsy

A go-go Bucks team would be entertaining and probably pretty good.

Until the Doc starts Portis at SF next year since he hates our guts.

[humanrefutation]

Truth of the matter is, if Giannis hasn't demanded a trade knowing, full well, that we're going into a reset over the next season, he's not going to do so anytime soon.

Do we shop him regardless? I don't think so. But, we risk being **** over if he flat out refuses to consider extending in October 2026. We're stuck with a lame duck Giannis who will be had for relative peanuts on the trade market. It's the worst case scenario.

[chonestown]

If it's a Pacers-OKC finals this year, I think that would be validation of a new manic, frenzied style as a paradigm for NBA success. With a few changes I think a Giannis-led Bucks team would have that shot and can emulate that style. I hope that's the pitch Horst makes to Giannis.

We have players to play in a frenzy
To make Giannis see things that are trendsy
Ajax Porter and Bobby
Can run hot as wasabi
You can build it without getting spendsy

A go-go Bucks team would be entertaining and probably pretty good.

It's time for the Bucks to play go-go
Instead of being stuck in the slo-mo
Put the old ones to stud
Where they can graze and chew cud
We're not good with the status quo? No!

[Frank Nova]

If it's a Pacers-OKC finals this year, I think that would be validation of a new manic, frenzied style as a paradigm for NBA success. With a few changes I think a Giannis-led Bucks team would have that shot and can emulate that style. I hope that's the pitch Horst makes to Giannis.

We have players to play in a frenzy
To make Giannis see things that are trendsy
Ajax Porter and Bobby
Can run hot as wasabi
You can build it without getting spendsy

A go-go Bucks team would be entertaining and probably pretty good.

It's time for the Bucks to play go-go
Instead of being stuck in the slo-mo
Put the old ones to stud
Where they can graze and chew cud
We're not good with the status quo? No!

The national media isn’t trusting
All these Giannis trade ideas are disgusting
Tell Giannis stay here
He’ll see in a year
The Bucks can be the contender he’s lusting

[ShootingtheJ]

Bucks are not far away from actually being a decent contender with an updated conceptual approach and some decent moves for roleplayers.

I just wholeheartedly disagree. 3 straight first round losses with either the oldest or near oldest team in the league, no young studs or assets, and no cap space.

I wish I had the blind optimism but reality sucks.

This. We won one playoff game this year and our roster will be worse next year barring a miracle, with the same horrendous coach. I do not see it.

Why would our roster be worse?

[ShootingtheJ]

Giannis is all in with the Bucks. Not surprising, now let's build the right type of team around him for once.

[tedbrogen]

I just wholeheartedly disagree. 3 straight first round losses with either the oldest or near oldest team in the league, no young studs or assets, and no cap space.

I wish I had the blind optimism but reality sucks.

This. We won one playoff game this year and our roster will be worse next year barring a miracle, with the same horrendous coach. I do not see it.

Why would our roster be worse?

Let KPJ, Sims, and GTJ walk. Bobby gets a big new contract. Keep Prince and Brook around. And a full season of Kuz. That’s one path they could take since Doc has a large say in roster decisions.

Even just losing one of KPJ or GTJ makes them worse unless they also make addition by subtraction moves to get rid of Kuz.

[CharityStripe34]

Giannis is all in with the Bucks. Not surprising, now let's build the right type of team around him for once.

Pics or didn't happen plz thx

[Matches Malone]

Giannis is all in with the Bucks. Not surprising, now let's build the right type of team around him for once.

Pics or didn't happen plz thx

Our favorite parody insider SeanWrightNBA said Giannis didn't ask for a trade in his meeting, so I'll just go with that

[RiotPunch]

Ah, the hot take AI generated headshot guy with zero sources or credibility confirmed no Giannis trade request?

Pop them bottles.