NBA insider reveals Giannis Antetokounmpo eyeing 2 Eastern Conference teams if Bucks' season heads downhill

NBA insider Bill Reiter reported on Thursday that Giannis Antetokounmpo might want to leave the Milwaukee Bucks because of the team's poor play. The Bucks have a 1-3 record to start the season, despite stars Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard being 100% healthy.

Giannis and the Bucks have their eyes on contending for another championship this season. After winning the Larry O'Brien trophy in 2021, Milwaukee hasn't gone past the second round of the playoffs. In the last two seasons, the team suffered back-to-back first-round eliminations.

By acquiring Lillard, the team attempted to counteract their dismal 2023 playoff performance. They lost to the Indiana Pacers in the first round of the 2024 postseason, though, and the outcomes were the same.

If things don't work out this season, Reiter says the Greek Freak might have to leave Milwaukee.

"There's a rising sense of confidence that if things go badly in Milwaukee, that Giannis can be available for trade," Reiter said. "Well, really, force his way out of Milwaukee in the next year. One Western Conference executive who thinks they can be on the Giannis mix thinks he could be available even before the trade deadline.

"I am told that Giannis has already let some people know the places he's eyeing are Miami and New York, the other New York. I'm told the Nets and not the Knicks he has his eyes on if he decides to move.

"One source of an Eastern Conference rival team describes it as a mess. If the Bucks aren't very good and it's early in the season, if things don't go well, the Lillard partnership continues not to work. It's sort of being haunted by that Jrue Holiday trade and how good the Celtics became."

The only way for the Bucks star to switch teams is if he requests a trade. Last year, Giannis signed a three-year, $186 million contract extension, which will begin in the 2025-26 NBA season.

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Who could the Nets and Heat offer for Giannis Antetokounmpo?

For the Heat, acquiring Giannis Antetokounmpo could get tricky. The South Beach franchise might have to give up one of its stars to convince the Bucks to execute a trade.

FadeAway World's Fran Leiva proposed a trade that would involve Bam Adebayo, Nikola Jovic, Jaime Jaquez Jr., a 2029 first-round pick and a 2031 first-round pick for the Milwaukee star.

The Nets, on the other hand, have more flexibility and assets to trade for Antetokounmpo. Sports Illustrated's Derek Parker suggests a trade that would allow Brooklyn to give up Nic Claxton, Cameron Johnson, four first-round picks and three pick-swaps.

In exchange the Bucks would give up the All-Star forward and MarJon Beauchamp.