Bill Simmons said which team is pursuing a trade for Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo. He says “it’s a real thing” and the Bucks are “terrified”.
The Antetokounmpo saga has stretched the entire summer, with the NBA MVP and champion considering leaving the Bucks as they fall further and further away from contention.
Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images
Much like LeBron James’ LA Lakers fallout, Antetokounmpo seemed most likely to stay with his current team. The Bucks are worried about one team’s plan to pry the Greek superstar away from Milwaukee, however.
LA Clippers targeting Giannis Antetokounmpo, says Bill Simmons
Antetokounmpo loves Milwaukee and seems inclined to stay. At least for the time being. But Simmons believes that just because he might not leave via trade, he could walk out the door in free agency, and teams are preparing themselves for that eventuality.
The LA Lakers are targeting the summer of 2027, when Antetokounmpo’s contract expires, to go after free agents, and Simmons says their Los Angeles rivals are also clearing the books.
Speaking on The Bill Simmons Podcast, he said, “Here’s the game the Clippers are actually playing. If you gave the truth serum and said, ‘Do you really think you can win the title?’, they’d be like, ‘Alright, we have a haymaker’s puncher’s chance. But what they’ve really done is clear the books for the summer of 2027.
“This is a team that’s on a short-term, two-year window. And you ask why? It’s because Giannis is a free agent in the summer of 2027. I think this is a real thing, and I think the Bucks are terrified of it.”
Milwaukee Bucks’ panic moves make it more likely Giannis Antetokounmpo leaves
Milwaukee spent the offseason scrambling. The Bucks waived Damian Lillard, and will be paying him around $140 million to play for the Portland Trailblazers, in order to sign Myles Turner, NBA Finalist with the Indiana Pacers last season.
That makes them slightly more likely to win the East next season at the cost of their future, but Simmons says a fear of the 2027 offseason is motivating the Bucks’ choices.
He said, “I think it’s a big reason the Myles Turner thing happened. The Bucks knew they’re on a two-year window with Giannis, and they’re trying to do as much as they can to make it so that if anyone’s winking at him, they’ll at least have enough of a foundation to try to keep him.”
The Milwaukee Bucks went through one of the most dramatic offseasons of any NBA team.
◻️ Waived Damian Lillard
◻️ Signed Myles Turner
◻️ Brought back six of their own free agents
Are they destined for the NBA Finals next season? pic.twitter.com/UE1ZGsFpy4
— The Athletic NBA (@TheAthleticNBA) July 16, 2025
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The Eastern Conference is wide open this season following Jayson Tatum’s Achilles tear with the Boston Celtics, and with Antetokounmpo, you always have a chance.
But the Bucks’ short-term thinking means they are likely to be in a worse position in 2027, and Antetokounmpo may be more inclined to leave.