The Milwaukee Bucks are entering a pivotal offseason with growing questions surrounding their ability to remain contenders—and keep Giannis Antetokounmpo long-term.
Despite finishing the 2024–25 regular season with a 48–34 record and securing the East’s No. 5 seed, the Bucks were quickly ousted by the Indiana Pacers in five games, marking their third consecutive first-round exit.
According to ESPN’s Brian Windhorst, rival teams are beginning to question Milwaukee’s staying power, especially after the franchise traded its 2026 first-round pick on draft night—an asset now perceived as potentially high in value.
“There’s concern across the league about whether the Bucks will be a strong team next year,” Windhorst said Friday on Get Up, via RealGM. “And that concern is directly tied to whether Giannis will still be there.”
Antetokounmpo remains under contract through 2027 with a player option for 2027–28, but Shams Charania reported this week that the two-time MVP is “open-minded” about exploring other teams.
He has not requested a trade, but sources say Milwaukee is preparing for free agency under the assumption he will stay—at least for now.
Charania previously emphasized that Antetokounmpo could wait until late summer before making any move.
The Bucks’ flexibility is limited. Damian Lillard is expected to miss significant time next season, and Milwaukee only has one tradable first-round pick available.
The franchise is also short on salary-matching contracts, narrowing their trade options as they try to retool the roster around their superstar forward.
Internal decisions also loom, with veterans Brook Lopez and Bobby Portis facing uncertain futures and free agent Gary Trent Jr. potentially commanding interest elsewhere.
Milwaukee has reportedly proposed giving Antetokounmpo more control of the offense next season, a possible effort to increase his engagement in the team’s vision.
The 30-year-old averaged 30.4 points, 11.9 rebounds, and 6.5 assists while shooting 60.1% from the field in 2024–25, remaining one of the league’s most dominant forces.
