Milwaukee Bucks

Amid the Milwaukee Bucks' disappointing 3-8 start to the season, many are wondering if star forward Giannis Antetokounmpo will be made available for a trade this year.

However, ESPN's Brian Windhorst reported on Wednesday's episode of The Hoop Collective that the Bucks have shown no signs of being open to moving the two-time NBA MVP anytime soon.

"I know that right now the Bucks have made it clear they're not doing anything with Giannis and Giannis hasn't said anything. So right now, I think it's all speculation and conjecture," Windhorst said around the 36:46 mark.

Antetokounmpo scored 23 points to lead the Bucks to a 99-85 win over the Toronto Raptors (2-10) on Tuesday night in an NBA Cup matchup between teams that entered with the two worst record in the league. Milwaukee was without star point guard Damian Lillard, who is in the concussion protocol.

Before the start of the 2024-25 season, Antetokounmpo acknowledged that his future with the Bucks could change at any time based on the team's performance.

"Do you have it in the back of your mind, like, '[What] if this year doesn't go well?' Yeah, if we don't win a championship, I might get traded. Yeah, this is the job we live. This is the world we're living in. It's everybody," Antetokounmpo told The Athletic's Sam Amick.

Still, it doesn't sound like there's an expectation that Milwaukee is ready to blow things up by trading the 29-year-old away. NBA insider Marc Stein recently reported that Antetokounmpo would have to be the one to force his way out for the Bucks to start listening to offers.

"It is understood quite clearly in 29 other front offices that Antetokounmpo is only ever going to be made available for trade if he pushes for it," Stein wrote.

For now, Antetokounmpo will be focused on helping Milwaukee dig out of its early-season hole. The team will go for its second straight win when it meets the Detroit Pistons (5-7) on Wednesday.

The Milwaukee Bucks might make some minor moves ahead of the NBA trade deadline in February, but drastic changes might not be coming this season.

According to The Athletic's Sam Amick and Eric Nehm, it's unlikely the Bucks will part ways with head coach Doc Rivers this season amid a sluggish start to the season.

"For those asking about whether Rivers could be on the hot seat, let's not forget the Bucks paid him approximately $40 million on a three-and-a-half-year deal less than a year ago," Amick and Nehmn wrote. "What's more, (Jon) Horst is facing pressure because of how these past few seasons have gone, and league sources are skeptical he'd be given the leeway to make another coaching change this soon."

Amick and Nehm also said it's unlikely the Bucks trade any of their three stars—Giannis Antetokounmpo, Damian Lillard and Khris Middleton.

"I could certainly see the Bucks doing some kind of deal, if not more than one, before the Feb. 6 deadline," Amick and Nehm wrote. "But in terms of the big stuff that comes with their team's calculus — Giannis, Dame, Doc and Khris — I don't see anything changing."

Milwaukee has started the season 2-8 and has lost eight of its last nine games after picking up a win on opening night. The Bucks' struggles aren't due to poor play from Antetokounmpo and Lillard, who have been solid so far this year.

Antetokounmpo is putting up 31.6 points, 12.8 rebounds and 5.2 assists per game while Lillard is averaging 26 points, 6.6 assists and 4.6 boards per game.

Middleton is out indefinitely while he rehabs from offseason surgery, and he could give the Bucks a boost once he's finally back on the court.

Until then, Rivers will try to dig his team out of a hole and prove the Bucks made the right choice when they hired him halfway through last season.

In Milwaukee's defense, it has had a tough schedule to start the year, facing the Boston Celtics and Cleveland Cavaliers twice and spending plenty of time on the road. The Bucks have a more manageable schedule coming up, which could give them the chance to pick up a few wins and build some much-needed momentum.

Milwaukee Bucks point guard Damian Lillard entered concussion protocol and has been ruled out of Tuesday's matchup against the Toronto Raptors, the team announced Monday.

NBA insider Chris Haynes provided more info on Lillard:

Despite the Bucks' early-season struggles, Lillard has been great, putting up 26 points, 6.6 assists and 4.6 boards amid Milwaukee's 2-8 start.

While the Bucks would prefer to have Lillard on the court, his absence will come at a forgiving time as they'll take on the Raptors, Detroit Pistons and Charlotte Hornets this week—a very manageable slate even without Lillard.

The concussion marks Lillard's first injury of the season, but he dealt with some injuries late last season.

During the 2024 postseason, Lillard was ruled out of Milwaukee's Game 4 matchup against the Indiana Pacers in the first round due to a strained right Achilles tendon. After sitting out Games 4 and 5, he returned for Game 6 and scored a team-high 28 points, but the Bucks were eliminated from the playoffs after losing the series 4-2.

Lillard said he had been experiencing discomfort in his right Achilles dating back to Milwaukee's regular-season finale. He sat out the first few days of practice ahead of the postseason to recover in time for the Bucks' first-round series against the Pacers.

In his first year in Milwaukee, Lillard enjoyed his healthiest season in quite some time, appearing in 73 games and averaging 24.3 points, 4.4 rebounds and 7.0 assists. It was his first time appearing in 70 or more games since the 2018-19 season when he was with the Portland Trail Blazers.

The Bucks are certainly hoping Lillard can stay healthy this year as they try to bounce back from the disappointing end to last season. He'll be forced to miss a bit of time for now though, and AJ Green will likely be inserted as Milwaukee's starting point guard.

The Milwaukee Bucks already appear to be active on the trade market.

During Monday's episode of The Hoop Collective, ESPN's Brian Windhorst revealed he was on the phone with a team that received a trade call from Milwaukee during the conversation.

"I was on the phone with this team and I go, 'Hey, have the Bucks called you yet?' And they're like, 'No, they haven't called us.' I go, 'Well, I just talked to like four teams in the last day, the Bucks called.' He's like, 'Yeah, well they haven't called us.' And then he's like 'Wait a minute, Bucks on the other line,'" Windhorst recounted (51:00 mark).

While Milwaukee is reportedly contacting several teams in regards to a trade, that doesn't necessarily mean Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard will be moved.

NBA insider Marc Stein reported on Sunday that the Bucks are still trying to improve the depth around their star pairing.

Milwaukee owns a record of just 2-8 to open its first full season under head coach Doc Rivers following a loss to the Boston Celtics on Sunday, sitting at No. 14 in the Eastern Conference standings.

It's a disappointing start for the Bucks, especially since their star duo has mostly lived up to expectations.

Antetokounmpo is averaging a league-leading 31.6 points per game, pulling down 12.8 rebounds each night and shooting 60.7 percent from the field. Lillard is recording 26.0 points and 6.6 assists per game on 44.4/34.8/90.9 shooting splits.

With the Feb. 6 trade deadline still a few months away, the Bucks could make several moves before it passes as they continue to search for depth upgrades.

Boston Celtics star Jaylen Brown wasn't happy with Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo's handshake fakeout during Sunday's game, calling him "a child."

Antetokoumpo was asked about Brown's reaction after the game and was surprised that he took offense to the gesture, telling reporters that he tries to play the game with joy and he's going to keep being himself:

Antetokounmpo was called for an offensive foul in the second quarter after elbowing Brown. As the two of them walked down the court, the two-time NBA MVP faked a handshake and smiled. When he went back for a proper handshake, Brown denied him.

However, it was Brown who got the last laugh, as the Celtics earned a 113-107 win to improve to 9-2 while the Bucks fell to 2-8. Milwaukee wasted a special performance from Antetokounmpo, who went off for 43 points on 18-of-29 shooting, 13 rebounds, five assists and two blocks.

"Giannis is a child. I'm just focused on helping my team get a win, and that's what we did tonight," Brown said when asked about the interaction after the game.

Brown had 14 points, five rebounds and four assists in the win. The Celtics were led by Jayson Tatum, who had 31 points, 12 rebounds and six assists. However, Tatum also had an issue with Antetokounmpo after the game, lamenting a no-call when he rolled his ankle after shooting a jumper and landing on Antetokounmpo's foot. Tatum picked up a technical foul after arguing that a foul should've been called.

"It's certain calls I just feel like you can't miss, right? Your job is to protect the guys on the court, protect the shooter. That's something I could've been out for six weeks or whatever," Tatum told reporters.

Antetokounmpo and the Bucks will try to overcome their early-season struggles when they return to action against the Toronto Raptors on Tuesday.

Giannis Antetokounmpo's future with the Milwaukee Bucks is entirely dependent on his desire to remain with the organization.

According to NBA insider Marc Stein, rival teams don't expect the Bucks to show "any willingness" to move Antetokounmpo and will only discuss trades involving the superstar forward if he wants to be moved.

"It is understood quite clearly in 29 other front offices that Antetokounmpo is only ever going to be made available for trade if he pushes for it," Stein wrote on Sunday.

The Bucks have opened the 2024-25 season with a 2-7 record.

Milwaukee hasn't been complacent with its sluggish start, but luxury tax restrictions have reportedly prevented the team from making progress in trade negotiations.

Per Stein, the Bucks are still trying to improve their depth around Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard but they've been "foiled more often than not" by restrictions they face as a team operating above the second tax apron.

Head coach Doc Rivers has also made changes to his current rotation to try and provide a spark, replacing sharpshooter Gary Trent Jr. with athletic wing Andre Jackson Jr. in the starting lineup on Thursday.

The move initially helped the Bucks secure a 23-point win over the Utah Jazz, but they couldn't maintain the momentum and suffered a lopsided 116-94 loss to the New York Knicks on Friday.

After the defeat, Antetokounmpo called out the lack of competitiveness that Milwaukee showed.

"At the end of the day, we've got to compete," Antetokounmpo said, per ESPN's Chris Herring. "Teams are not just going to give us games. They're not going to feel bad for us. We've got to compete every single possession. Every loose ball, we've got to get a body on the floor and put it on the line. But we didn't compete at all."

After winning the second championship in franchise history during their 2020-21 campaign, the Bucks have fallen short of the Eastern Conference Finals in three seasons since. Antetokounmpo previously acknowledged his uncertain future with the organization when speaking to Sam Amick of The Athletic.

"Do you have it in the back of your mind, like, '[What] if this year doesn't go well?' Yeah, if we don't win a championship, I might get traded. Yeah, this is the job we live. This is the world we're living in. It's everybody," Antetokounmpo said before the start of the regular season.

The eight-time All-Star has averaged 30.1 points, 12.8 rebounds and 5.3 assists per game while shooting 60.5 percent from the field to begin the year.

Frustration is mounting for Giannis Antetokounmpo after a 116-94 loss to the New York Knicks on Friday night dropped the Milwaukee Bucks' record to 2-7 to start the season.

Speaking to reporters after the game, the two-time MVP said the Bucks didn't "compete" and called out their effort against the Knicks:

"Did we compete the previous game? Yes. Did we compete the two [games before that]? Yes. Did we compete today? No. ... If you don't compete your ass off, you're not going to win the game. [You have to] at least give yourself a chance.

"We came to New York after playing great last night. Then we come here and lose by 30. Are you OK with not competing? I'm not OK with that s---. We've got Boston in two days. We don't compete, we're going to lose by 30."

The Bucks were playing the second night of a back to back after defeating the Utah Jazz on Thursday. They had one of their best outings of the season in that game with Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard combining for 65 points, 20 rebounds and nine assists.

Granted, the Jazz are arguably the worst team in the NBA right now. For a Bucks team that has been looking for any signs of life, though, it could have been spun as the start of something positive going forward.

Instead, the Knicks made the Bucks look like most of their opponents have this season. All five Knicks starters scored in double figures, led by Karl-Anthony Towns' 32 points.

One thing that has stood out all season and made abundantly clear again on Friday night is the Bucks don't have a shot if Antetokounmpo and Lillard aren't lighting up the stat sheet.

Antetokounmpo finished with 24 points and 12 rebounds, but his struggles from the free-throw line are becoming alarming. He went 2-of-6 from the charity stripe against the Knicks, lowering his success rate for the season to a career-low 54.9 percent on 10.3 attempts per game.

Lillard had his second-lowest scoring game of the season with 19 points. He shot 6-of-15 from the field and missed all four of his three-point attempts. The other three starters combined for 13 points and no one attempted more than five shots.

If the Bucks are waiting for Khris Middleton to return from offseason surgery on both ankles to save their season, things aren't looking good. ESPN's Shams Charania reported on Tuesday that the three-time All-Star has yet to be cleared for five-on-five scrimmages and will remain out indefinitely.

The Bucks' 2-7 record is tied with the Toronto Raptors for the third-worst mark in the NBA. Things won't get easier for them in their next game when they host the Boston Celtics on Sunday at 3:30 p.m. ET.

The Milwaukee Bucks suffered a lopsided defeat at the hands of the New York Knicks on Friday night, falling by the final score of 116-94.

Milwaukee has continued to struggle to start its first full season under head coach Doc Rivers, sitting at 2-7 following the loss to New York.

The Knicks jumped out to an early 17-6 lead and didn't look back, maintaining a 66-47 advantage entering halftime. New York extended its lead in the second half, sealing the victory.

Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 24 points and pulled down 12 rebounds, shooting 11-21 from the field. Damian Lillard struggled with his jumper, hitting just six of his 15 attempts.

Outside of Lillard and Antetokounmpo, no other member of Milwaukee's lineup scored more than 10 points.

Fans questioned Rivers' job security after the defeat.

For the Knicks, Karl-Anthony Towns recorded his seventh consecutive double-double. He grabbed 11 rebounds to go along with his 32 points, scoring 27 in the first half alone. Towns shot 12-20 from the field, connecting on four three-pointers.

Since Rivers was hired in the middle of the 2023-24 season, he owns a 19-26 record with Milwaukee.

While the Milwaukee Bucks may be struggling on the court, the chemistry between its biggest stars appears to only be growing.

The Bucks are currently 2-6 and will need a significant momentum shift to recover lost ground. This has come despite strong play from forward Giannis Antetokounmpo and guard Damian Lillard.

Antetokonmpo has averaged 31 points, 12.9 rebounds and 5.7 assists in seven games thus far while Lillard is averaging 28.4 points, 6.8 assists and 4.5 rebounds in eight games. While this hasn't translated to team success, Antetokounmpo spoke about the growth the two have had.

"I feel like we're getting more comfortable with one another," Antetokounmpo said, per Jamal Collier of ESPN. "We're not letting guys off the hook when we play, me and him."

Lillard also spoke about the chemistry between the two and how "natural" the connection has become, even without head coach Doc Rivers being involved.

"It's a lot more natural as far as I'm seeing it and feeling it," Lillard said Thursday about their chemistry. "Last year everybody was like oh they got to play two-man, you got to do this and in practice it was so scripted all the time.

"Just time, reps and us just getting to know each other, now we're just having a lot of communication among the two of us, without Doc or without anybody else. And talking about what I want him to do, what I see. And he'll tell me what he's trying to do, what he sees."

Bobby Portis is the only other Bucks player averaging more than 10 points, and the top-heavy nature of the roster has caused the team to struggle against others with a more diverse rotation.

This comes after the team fell in the first round in each of the last two seasons and the contention window appears to be dwindling. Milwaukee did capture a championship in 2020-21, and the addition of Lillard should have only extended that window.

While a turnaround is certainly possible, rumors surrounding Antetokounmpo's trade availability show that further struggles could necessitate a drastic change.

Even though the Milwaukee Bucks look more like a team in need of a franchise reset than a title contender, there is no indication that a Giannis Antetokounmpo trade is even on the table right now.

Per ESPN's Brian Windhorst, a deal involving Antetokounmpo is "not a reality as of now" for either the two-time NBA MVP or the Bucks even though opposing teams have made calls.

"Teams have let the Bucks know in recent months they would make an offer for the Greek Freak if that day ever comes," Windhorst wrote. "But those are incoming calls, not outgoing and it's likely to remain that way."

Windhorst did note the Bucks are making trade calls looking to add talent around Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard with Khris Middleton still on the shelf after having offseason surgery on both ankles.

Even though an in-season Antetokounmpo trade seems unlikely, the idea of him getting dealt sooner than later doesn't seem far-fetched. He joked that he could get traded if the Bucks don't win a title this season.

"Do you have it in the back of your mind, like, '(What) if this year doesn't go well?' Yeah, if we don't win a championship, I might get traded. Yeah, this is the job we live," Antetokounmpo told The Athletic's Sam Amick last month. "This is the world we're living in. It's everybody."

While that comment may have been more tongue-in-cheek than an indication Antetokounmpo might be planning an exit strategy, the Bucks are under constant pressure to win because they have a superstar in his prime and have spent a ton of money on this roster.

Only the Phoenix Suns and Minnesota Timberwolves are spending more in payroll and luxury tax this season than the Bucks' $267.9 million. They will have problems trying to add talent to their roster because of the financial restrictions they are under as a second-apron team and lack of assets.

The Bucks don't have any draft picks until 2031. Brook Lopez has the most expensive expiring contract on the roster at $23 million, but he's probably too important to their defense to be moved right now.

Despite Thursday's win over the Utah Jazz, the Bucks are off to a 2-6 start this season.