Bucks Rebuff Trade Offers for Giannis Antetokounmpo at Deadline

Milwaukee remains committed to building around two-time MVP despite interest from several teams

Feb. 10, 2026 at 2:07pm

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The Milwaukee Bucks were open to listening to trade offers for superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo ahead of the NBA trade deadline, but ultimately decided to keep the two-time MVP. Several teams, including the Minnesota Timberwolves, Golden State Warriors, and Miami Heat, were aggressive in pursuing Antetokounmpo, but the Bucks never seriously considered moving him, instead using the trade talks to gather intel on the market.

Why it matters

Giannis Antetokounmpo is one of the best players in the NBA, and his potential availability would have significantly shifted the league's landscape. The Bucks' decision to keep Giannis shows their commitment to building a championship contender around him, even as he has expressed some frustration with the team's inability to win a title so far in his career.

The details

The Bucks listened to offers for Antetokounmpo in the weeks leading up to the trade deadline, but they never made any counteroffers or indicated a willingness to actually trade him. Several teams, including the Timberwolves, Warriors, and Heat, made aggressive pitches, with the Warriors offering a package that included four unprotected first-round picks. However, the Bucks were simply gathering information and had no intention of trading Giannis, who has never requested a trade and has expressed a desire to remain in Milwaukee long-term.

  • In late January, the Bucks began listening to trade offers for Giannis Antetokounmpo.
  • The trade deadline was on February 5, 2026.

The players

Giannis Antetokounmpo

A two-time NBA MVP who has spent his entire career with the Milwaukee Bucks since being drafted in 2013. Antetokounmpo has expressed a desire to win championships in Milwaukee but has also shown some frustration with the team's inability to reach the NBA Finals.

Jon Horst

The general manager of the Milwaukee Bucks, who oversaw the team's trade discussions involving Giannis Antetokounmpo.

Minnesota Timberwolves

An NBA team that was one of the most aggressive in pursuing a trade for Giannis Antetokounmpo.

Golden State Warriors

An NBA team that made a strong push to trade for Giannis Antetokounmpo, offering a package that included four unprotected first-round picks.

Miami Heat

An NBA team that was also involved in trade discussions for Giannis Antetokounmpo.

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What they’re saying

“Brother, if you ask me deep down what I want today, I want to be a Milwaukee Buck for the rest of my career. I want to win here, another championship. And if you can tell me that's possible, let's just hang up the phone.”

— Giannis Antetokounmpo

“All the reports out there say the Bucks were negotiating and going back and forth on a Giannis trade. That wasn't the case. You could tell they weren't serious at all and just wanted information. It is possible they were just getting a head start on trading Giannis in the summer, but they got all the information they needed right now to try to flip things around in the summer.”

— Anonymous source, from a team involved in trade talks with the Bucks

What’s next

The Bucks will now focus on building a championship contender around Giannis Antetokounmpo, potentially using the intel they gathered from trade talks to make roster moves this offseason.

The takeaway

Despite interest from several teams, the Bucks remained committed to keeping Giannis Antetokounmpo and building a winner around the two-time MVP. This shows the organization's faith in Giannis and their belief that they can still win a title with him as the centerpiece.