21 September 2023 , 17:56
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Five teams have been listed as looking into the possibility of trading for Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo, with the megastar forward pretty open about his willingness to leave the team if he gets a better offer.
The future of the Bucks power forward has been the subject of speculation in recent months. Antetokounmpo is currently in the latter stages of continuing his recovery from a knee injury.
Antetokounmpo and the Bucks were set to challenge for the Eastern Conference title last season after being handed the No.1 seed in the division. However, a loss in the first round of the play-offs to the Miami Heat ended the franchise’s chances of following on another NBA Championship.
The 28-year-old sustained an injury during the play-off series loss to the Heat, which ended his season in April. In July, Antetokounmpo underwent surgery on a knee issue that would rule him out of competing at the FIBA World Cup with Greece.
Antetokounmpo has two years remaining on his contract with the Bucks, plus a third-year player option. However, there have been rumours that there could be a trade for the Bucks either this season or within the next 12 months.
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According to a report on The Lowe podcast, via , five teams are keeping tabs on Antetokounmpo’s contract situation in Milwaukee. Those five teams are the Brooklyn Nets, New Orleans Pelicans, Toronto Raptors, New York Knicks and the Golden State Warriors.
It’s been claimed all five teams, including 2021 NBA Finals Champions the Warriors, would have valuable draft picks and talented players that could be used as part of a trade.
Antetokounmpo signed a five-year contract worth £185million ($228m) with the option of a further year prior to the 2020/21 NBA season. As part of that extension, he is eligible for a new deal from September 22 (Friday), but there is uncertainty over whether or not a deal will be agreed ahead of this season.
Giannis Antetokounmpo's future with the Milwaukee Bucks remains uncertain (Alex Goodlett/Getty Images)Over the next two years, Antetokounmpo is set to earn $94.4 million (£76.8 million) plus an additional $51.9 million (£42.2 million) should he take up the player option for the 2025/26 NBA season.
Those figures would change, though if Antetokounmpo signed a new contract within the next few days, weeks, or months. He is eligible for a three-year deal worth $169 million (£137.5 million) from Friday, but that would only include an additional $300,000 (£244,000) in new money from the player option.
Antetokounmpo sparked rumours that his future may not remain in Milwaukee in August when he admitted that his loyalty to the Bucks would come with certain conditions. "Next summer it would make more sense for both parties,” Antetokounmpo told the on August 24, when asked about a possible contract extension. “Even then, I don't know.
"I would not be the best version of myself if I didn't know that everybody's on the same page, everybody's going for a championship, everybody's going to sacrifice time away from their family like I do. And if I don't feel that, I'm not signing."