Bucks keep Giannis Antetokounmpo trade conversation alive, reportedly waiting on Knicks’ Finals outcome

The Milwaukee Bucks are still not treating the Giannis Antetokounmpo trade market as closed, according to reporting that frames the next decision point as the NBA Finals. The idea is straightforward: Milwaukee appears more comfortable settling Antetokounmpo’s future before the NBA Draft, but it is also watching whether the New York Knicks revisit talks depending on what happens as the Finals series develops.

Milwaukee’s preference is tied to timing and roster-building math. CBS Sports reported that Bucks co-owner Jimmy Haslam has said the team would like to resolve Antetokounmpo “one way or another” before the NBA Draft. The draft is scheduled for June 23-24, and the reported logic is that teams like the Bucks want to control what happens to their own selections rather than trading after other front offices draft players whose rights they did not choose.

CBS Sports also reported that many potential trade partners have already exited the postseason, leaving more negotiating options for Milwaukee. In that telling, 27 of 29 potential trade partners have been eliminated, effectively widening the pool of teams the Bucks could negotiate with once they are ready to act.

Where the uncertainty remains is New York, which has been the most frequently linked destination for Antetokounmpo over the past year. CBS Sports noted that reports suggested the Knicks initially had the sense of being Antetokounmpo’s preferred option and that trade discussions moved at least some distance. But as the Knicks’ postseason run gathered momentum, that chatter slowed.

The turning point being watched now is the Knicks’ Finals position. CBS Sports reported that there is “increasing belief” leaguewide that Milwaukee would prefer to wait until after the NBA Finals to complete a deal, specifically to see whether New York “squander a 2-0 series lead.” In other words, Milwaukee’s hesitation is not only about a trade window, but about whether New York’s front office will feel pressure to revisit a plan after a potential, franchise-defining swing.

If the Knicks do lose the Finals, they would still be close to the championship on the calendar, based on CBS Sports’ description that New York would be no more than two wins away from the title either way as the series continues. That proximity matters because it can shape the Knicks’ willingness to change course immediately. Still, it is also possible the Knicks would not return to the table even if they fall short, leaving Milwaukee to proceed with negotiations elsewhere.

For Milwaukee, the broader stakes are about how a superstar trade reshapes a summer. If the Bucks do move on a trade, it could define their draft posture, their immediate rotation building, and how quickly they can align their roster around an updated core. If they wait, they maintain optionality, but they risk compressing decision-making if the market evolves or if draft-day dynamics change the value of future assets.