Giannis Antetokounmpo and his agent, Alex Saratsis, held a direct meeting with Milwaukee Bucks owners Jimmy Haslam and Wes Edens in late January to revisit an understanding tied to his 2020 and 2023 contract extensions, according to Shams Charania of ESPN.
Both sides had previously reached a handshake agreement that ownership would work collaboratively with Antetokounmpo on a trade if that situation ever arose.
Soon after that conversation, Antetokounmpo met with general manager Jon Horst at the team’s practice facility.
During that meeting, Horst made it clear that he was exploring trade discussions and even acknowledged the possibility that Antetokounmpo might not be part of the roster by the start of the 2026–27 season, sources confirmed.
Interest around the league quickly followed. More than a dozen teams reached out to Milwaukee ahead of the February 5 trade deadline, with the Minnesota Timberwolves, Miami Heat, and Golden State Warriors emerging as the most serious contenders.
Executives from those teams believed Horst was negotiating sincerely, aiming to secure either a top-tier young player or a significant package of draft picks.
“One of two things will happen: Either he will be extended, or he’ll be traded,” Edens told ESPN in March.
Giannis Antetokounmpo, Agent Met With Bucks In January To Invoke Handshake Trade Agreement https://t.co/WkGH8PK3rd
— RealGM (@RealGM) April 7, 2026
