NBA Central

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.

More than two weeks have passed in the 2024-25 NBA season, and the Cleveland Cavaliers have yet to lose a game.

Darius Garland scored 27 points against the Golden State Warriors as the Cavs improved to 10-0 with a 136-117 home win on Friday night.

The Cleveland Cavaliers are the best basketball team in the NBA and it's not remotely close! pic.twitter.com/pevzdXF81W

— DynastyCLE (@DynastyCLE) November 9, 2024

The Cavaliers look absolutely terrifying

— Playoff RB (@RyB_311) November 9, 2024

The Cleveland Cavaliers have tied the franchise record for 130+ point games in a season with five.

They have played 10 games.

— Danny Cunningham (@RealDCunningham) November 9, 2024

The Cleveland Cavaliers have scored 130 points five times this season.

The Cleveland Cavaliers scored 130 points four times ALL OF LAST YEAR.

— Colb (@___Colb___) November 9, 2024

The Cavaliers started out Friday night's game by scoring 20 of the night's first 22 points.

DARIUS GARLAND FROM DEEP.

20-2 OPENING RUN FOR THE UNDEFEATED CAVS 🤯 pic.twitter.com/3sVqAl2iKq

— NBA (@NBA) November 9, 2024

By the end of the first half, the Cavs had taken a 41-point lead while shooting over 65 percent from the field.

This is the most points the Cavaliers have scored in a first half during the play-by-play era (since 1997-98).

It ties the most they've scored in any half. https://t.co/XC1XfDvs7X

— NBA.com/Stats (@nbastats) November 9, 2024

The @cavs first half...

83 PTS (TIES FRANCHISE RECORD FOR POINTS IN A HALF)

41-POINT LEAD (BIGGEST HALFTIME LEAD IN TEAM HISTORY)

14 3FG (TIED FOR 2ND-MOST IN A HALF IN TEAM HISTORY)#LetEmKnow

— Cavs Notes (@CavsNotes) November 9, 2024

The Cavs got out to their hot start with Donovan Mitchell only contributing seven points.

https://twitter.com/Moose_NBA/status/1855062004668432871

The Cavaliers hit a double-digits points total with more than five minutes left in the third quarter.

The core four of Garland, Donovan Mitchell, Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley combined for 75 points in the win. Allen recorded his third straight double-double, while Garland added six assists to his team-high points total.

Garland with ANOTHER triple 🔥

He knocked down 6 from outside as the @cavs move to 10-0! pic.twitter.com/ymiLjXC5no

— NBA TV (@NBATV) November 9, 2024

JB Bickerstaff almost convinced us that Darius Garland was bad at basketball

— Joey- Cade Smith enjoyer (@GuardsJoey) November 9, 2024

Darius Garland is an elite playmaker NO DEBATE. special passer

— 🧙🏾‍♂️🧣 (@Precision80) November 9, 2024

Imagine if we fired Koby Altman.

Imagine if we traded Darius Garland.

Imagine if we traded Jarrett Allen.

Imagine if we did anything that the doubters said we needed to do.

The Cavs are about to compete for championship, for years. All because they doubled down.

— Nikki Goel (@MrNikkiG) November 9, 2024

Isaac Okoro contributed 16 points in his second time starting this season while effectively guarding Steph Curry on the other side of the court.

CLAMPED.@isaacokoro303 | #LetEmKnow pic.twitter.com/tXRYl2SbBN

— Cleveland Cavaliers (@cavs) November 9, 2024

Isaac Okoro hitting threes and blocking Steph Curry yeah this the best non LeBron Cavs team ever.

— Colb (@___Colb___) November 9, 2024

Isaac Okoro is wheeling and dealing, playing elite defense, and knocking down shots. This is the player the Cavs thought they were getting all along.

— Mack Perry (@DevaronPerry) November 9, 2024

Ty Jerome added 20 points off the bench while shooting 7-for-8 from the field.

Ty Jerome is generational backup point guard

— year 23 (@johnrivers131) November 9, 2024

Ty jerome just walked into a 30 footer like what are we supposed to do with that 💀

— Denver📈🇵🇸 (@doubledworth) November 9, 2024

when does ty jerome start getting 6th man of the year mentions

— gabb (@gabbgoudy) November 9, 2024

ty jerome going band for band with curry are yall scared yet

— preethi💋 (@preethimasina) November 9, 2024

Jonathan Kuminga led the Warriors with 21 points off the bench, while Steph Curry was held to 12 points in the loss.

The Cavaliers are now the first team since the 2014-15 Warriors to start out a season with a 10-0 record. Some fans think that, like Golden State in 2015, Cleveland could go on to win it all next spring.

June 2025: Your 74-8 Cleveland Cavaliers have won the NBA championship for the first time since 2016

— Sag (@Lilsagger) November 9, 2024

The Cleveland Cavaliers are winning the NBA Finals.

— Terrence ✨️ (@KingTerrbear) November 9, 2024

Cleveland is the only undefeated team in the NBA since the Oklahoma City Thunder suffered their first loss of the season on Wednesday to the Denver Nuggets.

The Cavs will look to stretch their season-opening streak to 11-0 with another home win on Saturday night, this time against Cam Thomas and the 4-4 Brooklyn Nets.

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.

Giannis oop. Giannis coast-to-coast. pic.twitter.com/G6rhNQxtgU

— Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks) November 9, 2024

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.

The fact Doc Rivers just continues to let this go on is insane….

— Trey Crosby III Guru (@TCIIIESQ) November 9, 2024

I said a week ago Doc Rivers might not make it to Christmas as Bucks HC. Now he really may not make it to Thanksgiving.

— Jason Smith (@howaboutafresca) November 9, 2024

Doc Rivers has been an absolute disaster with the Bucks. At what point will NBA teams realize that the dude just isn’t a good coach!?

— Matt Langone (@MattLangone) November 9, 2024

I'm still dumbfounded about Doc Rivers' decision to defend Karl Anthony Towns with Brook Lopez, who is the prototype center for drop coverage. I'm not gonna let this go.

— Stefan Bondy (@SbondyNBA) November 9, 2024

doc rivers is the problem hes gotta go

— scoob (@MostCrucified) November 9, 2024

Doc Rivers broke The Bucks

— Bleek (@4_GROUND) November 9, 2024

Serious question, how does @DocRivers have a job still with that roster?

— BeatinTheBookie.com®️ (@BeatinTheBookie) November 9, 2024

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.

KAT at the half vs BUCKS 🥶

27 PTS | 4 3PM | 7 REB

Knicks up BIG, 66-47 pic.twitter.com/Er9WWzFlGD

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) November 9, 2024

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.

"I don't think help is on the way through the trade market. ... They called pretty much the whole league." 😳 @WindhorstESPN on what the 2-6 Bucks are doing behind the scenes to improve their team 👀 pic.twitter.com/2YuavjEsRI

— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) November 8, 2024

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.

Now that the NBA season is fully underway, it's time once again for the Chicago Bulls to let everyone know that Zach LaVine and Nikola Vučević could be available in trades if anyone wants to meet their asking price.

Per ESPN's Jamal Collier, the Bulls are expected to put LaVine and Vučević on the trade block at some point after giving them time to rebound from their disappointing seasons in 2023-24.

LaVine and Vučević have spent most of the past year on the trade block with no movement to this point.

NBA insider Marc Stein reported in July that a Vučević deal is "more likely to materialize" at some point during the 2024-25 season. He cited the dearth of available big men and Vučević's contract as being more amenable to making a trade happen than LaVine.

Vučević is under contract through next season with salaries of $20 million in 2024-25 and $21.5 million in 2025-26.

Money has been one of the biggest obstacles preventing a LaVine trade. He has two guaranteed years remaining on his contract including this season with salaries of $43 million and $46 million, plus a $48.97 million player option for 2026-27.

In a ranking of the worst-value contracts in the NBA posted in March, Keith Smith of Spotrac had LaVine's deal as the third-worst primarily because of injuries that have limited his playing time.

LaVine was limited to 25 games last season due to a foot injury that required surgery. He has only hit the 70-game threshold in a season once since 2016-17 (77 in 2022-23).

The addition of Josh Giddey at point guard during the offseason has opened things up for the offense, creating easier opportunities for LaVine and Vučević.

Vučević is averaging 20.8 points per game with a career-high field-goal percentage (56.1) and three-point percentage (45.7) in eight starts. LaVine was healthy to start the season and averaged 22.7 points per game on 45.8 percent three-point shooting in six starts, but he has missed the past two games due to a right adductor strain.

If both players continue to perform well and stay healthy, it will at least help the Bulls' negotiating leverage in talks with other teams leading up to the trade deadline on Feb. 6.

A lingering back injury might be playing a role in the slow start for Indiana Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton.

Yahoo Sports' Kevin O'Connor reported Tuesday on his podcast that Haliburton isn't being dogged by his hamstring trouble from last year but had back spasms in the postseason that could be impacting him now.

"I've had some sources around the league tell me that they believe it's not his hamstring that's the cause of his struggles this year, it's his back," O'Connor said.

He added: "I think that would make sense with the trends and the way in which he's playing, the declining efficiency, because back issues are tough to deal with."

Haliburton is averaging 15.6 points per game after having posted a scoring average above 20 points the past two seasons. He's also shooting just 38.2 percent overall and 24.1 percent from beyond the arc, which are both on pace to be career lows.

O'Connor also pointed to the two-time All-Star's shot distribution as an indicator that something could be up. He's attempting nearly half as many shots inside three feet (8.8 percent) compared to his career average (15.7 percent), according to Basketball Reference.

The Pacers are getting strong contributions from Pascal Siakam, Myles Turner, Bennedict Mathurin and others, which helps to explain why they're 3-4 and don't have a worse record with Haliburton performing so badly.

Maybe the 6'5" playmaker is starting to find his shot and offensive aggressiveness again. In Monday's 134-127 loss to the Dallas Mavericks, he had 25 points on 10-of-16 shooting along with 12 assists.

But that's still just one game, so it's too soon to draw any firm conclusions. What is clear is that Indiana needs a lot more from its best player right now.

Milwaukee Bucks forward Khris Middleton remains out indefinitely as he recovers from his offseason ankle surgeries, according to ESPN's Shams Charania.

Charania reported Tuesday on NBA Today that the Bucks "have recognized that this is taking much longer than they anticipated." Middleton has yet to resume five-on-five action on the court.

The three-time All-Star experienced issues with each of his ankles during the 2023-24 season and used his time off over the summer to have arthroscopic surgeries. It marked the third successive offseason in which he had a procedure of some kind after getting a torn wrist ligament repaired in 2022 and then alleviating some knee soreness in 2023.

There's no question the 33-year-old's absence has played a role in Milwaukee's start. He'd give the team another proven scorer, and he'd help the Bucks' three-point shooting as they sit 13th in average makes (13.0) and 15th in three-point percentage (35.4).

It's nowhere near as simple as putting Middleton back in the rotation and watching Milwaukee thrive, though.

The Bucks are 22nd in defensive rating (116.5), per NBA.com, and they sorely lack the kind of presence they had on the perimeter with Jrue Holiday. Having the NBA's seventh-oldest roster is showing up in how opposing guards are blowing by whoever Milwaukee is throwing at them, too.

Cleveland Cavaliers star Donovan Mitchell dropped 30 points in a 114-113 win over the Bucks last Saturday. Two nights later, Darius Garland went off for 39 points as the Cavs won again, 116-114.

In short, turning around a 1-6 start will require more than a healthy Middleton.

Milwaukee Bucks center Bobby Portis said during a message on social media Sunday that his home was burglarized on Saturday and posted a video of the alleged perpetrators.

I consider Milwaukee my home. Last night, while I was at work, my home was burglarized, and many of my prized possessions were stolen. If you have any tips or info, please send them to info@bobbyportis.com. Rewards for info leading to recovery or arrests! pic.twitter.com/ORNYHxNC1c

— Bobby BP Portis (@BPortistime) November 3, 2024

In the video, a pair of people were seen attempting to gain access to Portis' property through one of his doors.

Portis requested that any information or tips regarding the burglary be sent to his email.

The 29-year-old has become a fixture as Milwaukee's de facto sixth man off the bench. In parts of five seasons, he's averaged 13.5 points and 8.3 rebounds while shooting 40 percent from three. The Bucks are built around the star trio of Giannis Antetokounmpo, Damian Lillard and Khris Middleton, but Portis has become an incredibly valuable role player.

Portis, who has a $13.4 million player option for the 2025-26 season, also has felt embraced and at home in Milwaukee.

"The love you guys give me here isn't something that I ever felt before in my NBA career, and I've been in the league for 10 years," he said in his video. "... I've always felt like I've had to give it right back to you guys. I've tried to uplift the community and make Milwaukee a better place."