The Giannis Antetokounmpo era in Milwaukee is effectively over. The Bucks are actively shopping their franchise cornerstone, and if a deal finally gets done, they want to send someone else out the door with him.
According to Marc Stein’s latest reporting, Milwaukee is hoping to attach veteran forward Bobby Portis to any Giannis trade package. Portis has two years left on his contract worth just over $30 million, with a player option for $15.6 million in the 2027-28 season. That’s a decent chunk of change for a role player who’s been a fan favorite but maybe not a core piece for a rebuilding team.
The Bucks have been circling this moment for a while. Last season’s dismal performance turned Antetokounmpo’s frustration into something louder. He’s 31 now, a two-time MVP, a ten-time All-Star, and one of only three players ever to win MVP and Defensive Player of the Year in the same season. More importantly, he brought Milwaukee its first championship since 1971. But since that 2021 run, the Bucks haven’t come close to replicating that success. Their early playoff exits have been brutal. And now the front office is moving on.
Miami’s Dream Pairing
Meanwhile, the Heat are apparently planning for life with Giannis and Bam Adebayo sharing a frontcourt. Stein reports that Miami has started making calls to add some shooting around that potential pairing. It’s not a done deal by any means, but the Heat are clearly positioning themselves as a serious suitor.
Portis has been a steady contributor for Milwaukee since joining the team in 2020. He’s the kind of energy guy who can rebound, knock down threes, and get under an opponent’s skin. But at his salary number, he’s not exactly a bargain. If the Bucks can offload him alongside Giannis, they’d clear a lot of cap space for whatever rebuild comes next.
Antetokounmpo was drafted by Milwaukee in 2013 and spent 12 years there. That’s a long time for a small-market team to hold onto a generational talent. The Bucks got their ring, but the window closed faster than anyone expected. Now it’s just a matter of where he lands and what else gets thrown into the deal.
No official trade has been announced, and the Bucks have not commented on Stein’s report. But the noise is getting louder. And with Bobby Portis’s name now in the mix, the potential deal just got a little more interesting.
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