Milwaukee Bucks co-owners Wes Edens and Jimmy Haslam stated that Giannis Antetokounmpo will either sign an extension or be traded this offseason. They emphasized that letting the 31-year-old star play out the final year of his contract is not an option for the organization. The comments came in an interview with ESPN's Ramona Shelburne.
In an interview with ESPN's Ramona Shelburne, Bucks co-owners Wes Edens and Jimmy Haslam addressed the future of Giannis Antetokounmpo, who enters the last year of his contract. Edens said, “Giannis is going into the last year [of his contract]. So one of two things will happen: Either he will be extended or he'll be traded.” He added, “The likelihood you'll let him just kind of play out the last year, we can't afford that. It's not consistent with what's good for the organization. That's not a Giannis issue. That's any player that's in their last year.” Antetokounmpo, drafted by the Bucks in 2013, could sign a four-year, $275 million extension starting October 1. The owners' stance simplifies the situation amid mixed public messages from the player. However, questions remain about the team's strategy. Last summer, the Bucks used the stretch provision on Damian Lillard to sign Myles Turner, a move now viewed critically. Potential trades could involve multiple first-round picks or young stars, but acceptable returns are unclear. Ownership dynamics add complexity, with Edens as controlling owner until 2028, followed by Haslam, who bought Marc Lasry's 25% stake in 2023. League sources express uncertainty over decision-making. One source told ESPN, “This has nothing to do with Giannis and whether he asks out. It's about who's making the decision on whether to trade Giannis, and I don't think anyone knows that. I deal with them all the time and honestly it depends on the day.” Teams that inquired about Antetokounmpo near the trade deadline felt the Bucks were not serious about moving him then. Executives noted increased involvement from Haslam in discussions.