The Milwaukee Bucks are not having the kind of 2025-26 season they imagined back in the offseason. Instead of sitting near the top of the Eastern Conference, they currently hold an 11-15 record and are stuck in 10th place.
Their inconsistent play has only added fuel to growing rumors that Giannis Antetokounmpo could look to leave Milwaukee. Now, in the middle of all this noise, a different kind of report has surfaced — one about how the Bucks might try to fix things around their franchise superstar.
NBA Insider Has a Unique Revelation Regarding the Bucks and Giannis Antetokounmpo
Ever since the offseason, there have been stories suggesting that Antetokounmpo might prefer a different situation, and those whispers got much louder recently when ESPN insider Brian Windhorst revealed that during the 2025 offseason, Antetokounmpo actually asked the Bucks front office for a trade to the New York Knicks.
Despite that noise, one NBA insider believes the Bucks are far from giving up. According to NBA writer Jake Weinbach, Milwaukee is still fully committed to building a stronger roster around Antetokounmpo rather than preparing for a rebuild.
“The Bucks are reportedly still operating under the determined mindset to upgrade the roster around Giannis Antetokounmpo. As of now, there have been no indications of Milwaukee’s front office preparing to entertain offers on the franchise superstar despite ongoing speculation,” Weinbach wrote on X.
Weinbach went a step further, outlining a potential three-team trade that could reshape the Bucks’ roster.
Under his proposal, the Sacramento Kings would acquire Jonathan Kuminga, Kyle Kuzma, Gary Harris, and Cole Anthony. The Golden State Warriors would receive Bobby Portis, along with a lottery-protected 2030 first-round pick via Sacramento. The Milwaukee Bucks, meanwhile, would add Zach LaVine and Keon Ellis.
A three-team trade idea between the Bucks, Kings, and Warriors:
• Bucks
Zach LaVine
Keon Ellis• Kings
Jonathan Kuminga
Kyle Kuzma
Gary Harris
Cole Anthony• Warriors
Bobby Portis
2030 first-round pick (lottery protected via SAC)— Jake Weinbach (@JWeinbachNBA) December 14, 2025
This would not be the first time Milwaukee has made clear it wants to keep Antetokounmpo happy. In the offseason, there were several signs that the front office was focused on retaining him long-term.
One notable move came in September when the Bucks re-signed his brother, Thanasis Antetokounmpo, on a one-year, $2.9 million deal. Thanasis had missed the entire 2024-25 season with a torn Achilles tendon, but the team still brought him back, and he has appeared in 10 games so far this season. That signing was seen by many as both a depth move and a gesture of trust toward the Greek Freak.
LaVine last signed a five-year, $215,159,700 contract with the Chicago Bulls in 2022 and is set to earn $47,499,660 in the 2025-26 season. Statistically, he is currently averaging 20.6 points per game, while Ellis is contributing 5.3 points per game with the Kings.
If both players were to join the Bucks, the impact could be significant.
LaVine would give Milwaukee a scoring option they could rely on. He would be expected to create his own shot, taking pressure off Antetokounmpo and opening the floor offensively. Meanwhile, Ellis would add perimeter defense, helping address some of the Bucks’ defensive issues in the backcourt.
