Giannis Antetokounmpo Trade Rumors, Whispers, Latest, Contenders, Milwaukee Bucks, Damian Lillard, Doc Rivers

With the potential for the Bucks to go 1-3 in Milwaukee, their superstar's future is suddenly in question.

According to a report from CBS Sports, executives from rival NBA teams are reportedly closely monitoring Giannis Antetokounmpo's situation in hopes that the MVP winner requests a trade.

It was a difficult start to the season for the aging Bucks, as Khris Middleton was sidelined and the team finished in the bottom 10 of the NBA in defensive rating heading into a four-game road trip out West.

An average of 9 LIVE regular season games per week plus the best of the NBA Playoffs, including every game of the NBA Conference Finals and NBA Finals LIVE on ESPN, available via Kayo New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited time offer.

After a tumultuous first season together that included the firing of coach Adrian Griffin, there are still questions about Damian Lillard's passing with Antetokounmpo.

So could Antetokounmpo force his way out of Milwaukee if they don't find their rhythm?

“The teams are in circles – and full of hope,” a Western Conference team executive told CBS.

A senior NBA executive told the outlet that they “wouldn't be surprised if it happened by the trade deadline,” while an Eastern Conference executive said he heard that “Miami and New York — the Nets, not the Knicks” would be the best. Greek Freak's favorite travel destinations.

The Oklahoma City Thunder, armed with a number of valuable draft picks, are another team to keep an eye on as a potential suitor for Antetokounmpo, who is under contract with the Bucks through 2028 after signing a three-year, $186 contract extension last year million US dollars.

“I haven't mentioned them yet, but yeah, if you're from Milwaukee, you might just say, 'I don't give a fuck what you want.' If you want out, we'll get you the best deal possible.' And Oklahoma City could definitely offer a good offer,” said the Eastern Conference general manager.

Just three years after the Bucks' championship win in 2021, they no longer feel like real contenders in the East.

Milwaukee is 20-26 since Doc Rivers replaced Griffin, who was sensationally fired despite the team's 30-13 record while sitting in second place in the Eastern Conference amid tension in the locker room.

The Bucks and Boston Celtics seemed destined to face each other in multiple conference finals, but Boston has truly emerged as a juggernaut while other Eastern Conference teams have arguably moved past Milwaukee.

The Jrue Holiday trade last year haunted the Bucks in many ways.

Not only did it take Boston to new levels and give them what was clearly the best starting lineup in the NBA, but Holiday was also Milwaukee's best perimeter defender and an important part of their defensive DNA during the strong season under Mike Budenholzer.

Lillard, Holiday's successor, while the eight-time All-Star title appears to be an improvement on the face of it, simply hasn't gelled with Antetokounmpo and the rest of the team as he'd hoped, and the team's defensive woes have taken a toll on him.

This move was intended to help Milwaukee return to its title heights, but had limited success, including eliminating the Bucks in the first round of the playoffs (despite missing Antetokounmpo due to injury).

The Bucks now have one of the oldest teams in the NBA, with Lillard (34), Antetokounmpo (29), Khris Middleton (33), Brook Lopez (36) and Bobby Portis (29) getting older. Having two stars at the highest level in Antetokounmpo and Lillard in the new CBA era obviously leads to limitations from a roster building perspective.

And aside from the veterans mentioned above, there aren't many exciting young players, so it's hard to get excited about the future of the squad.

Maybe they traded the wrong player, as Middleton has been severely hampered by injuries in recent years, while it's fair to say the best of him, Lillard and Lopez are now in the rearview mirror… or fast approaching.

The CBS report also states that Rivers has already been given a voice in front office decisions, which could play a role in an Antetokounmpo trade.

“This is stuff that's been around for a year. You can deny it and he can deny it, but it comes down to the basic premise that the guy wants to compete for titles,” NBA analyst Bill Simmons said on his own podcast.

“If he doesn’t feel like everything around him is title worthy, he will eventually get to a place where he can fight for titles.

“When I look at this Bucks team, it really depends on Middleton, who hasn't been 100 percent healthy for three years and is 33 years old. They have an old team in general and now they are putting so much pressure on the Middleton team.

“It can’t be ruled out, but I wouldn’t bet on it.”

As a guest on Simmons' podcast, The Ringer's Kirk Goldsberry added to the Antetokounmpo trade whisper: “That information is out there…there's a world where he's the next big trade domino to be dropped.”

Of course it's only November 1st and the new season starts with a few games.

While Antetokounmpo's patience might be tested, the team deserved a chance to work through its difficulties in a marathon 82-game season filled with constant twists and turns.

In two weeks, we may be talking about Milwaukee in a completely different context.

So much seemed to go wrong last year, including the coaching situation, Antetokounmpo's untimely injury setback in the playoffs, Middleton's continued inability to stay healthy and Lillard's personal issues.

So you could imagine them bouncing back this season, but they're off to a rocky start.

Antetokounmpo himself even flippantly mentioned the potential of an uncertain future if the team struggles to perform.

“If we don’t win this year, would you get fired?” Antetokounmpo said. “Do you have that in the back of your mind: '(What) if this year doesn't go well?' Yes, if we don't win a championship, I might be replaced. Yes, that is the job we live for. This is the world we live in. This affects everyone.”

Of all the bona fide NBA superstars, Antetokounmpo would have to be the one paying the most attention to “Trade Me.” If the Bucks' current development continues, we can expect the discussions to only continue to grow.