Giannis Contract: What’s Next for the Bucks and Their Superstar?

The future of the Milwaukee Bucks is under the spotlight, with the Giannis contract at the center of NBA debates. After another tough playoff exit and a devastating injury to Damian Lillard, questions are mounting about whether the Bucks can contend or if it’s time for a major reset. In this article, we’ll break down the details of Giannis’s contract, the Bucks’ options, and what this all means for the superstar’s career and NBA landscape.

Giannis Antetokounmpo on the court, focus on giannis contract with Milwaukee Bucks

The Giannis Contract: Terms and Impact

Giannis Antetokounmpo signed a three-year, $175 million contract extension with the Milwaukee Bucks in 2023. This lucrative deal starts in July 2025 and locks Giannis in as one of the highest-paid players in the league. With both Giannis and Lillard on supermax contracts, Milwaukee faces financial limitations that make roster improvements challenging.

However, with Lillard’s Achilles injury—and uncertainty about his ability to return at a high level—the Bucks’ title window appears to be closing. According to a recent analysis by Yahoo Sports, “there is no trade to swing Milwaukee's fortunes,” and options to strengthen the roster are extremely limited due to salary cap constraints and a lack of draft picks.

Playoff Exits and Milwaukee’s Dilemma

The Bucks have now lost in the first round of the playoffs for three consecutive years. Despite Giannis’s continued dominance, injuries and aging teammates have exposed Milwaukee’s vulnerability. As CBS Sports explains, the core of the Bucks is aging, and the supporting cast isn’t improving. The team “doesn’t control their own first-round pick again until 2031,” making it difficult to rebuild quickly or add impactful young talent.

What Are the Options?

  • Run It Back: The Bucks could try again with Giannis and hope Lillard recovers. But with limited cap space and no significant draft assets, improvement seems unlikely.
  • Trade Giannis: Moving the two-time MVP could net Milwaukee a haul of young players and future picks. Many analysts believe this is the most realistic way to accelerate a rebuild and remain competitive in the long run. Small-market teams like the Bucks rarely have another chance at a superstar of Giannis’s caliber, which makes the decision to entertain trade offers extremely difficult.

MassLive underscores that “both Lillard and Antetokounmpo are on supermax contracts, leaving Milwaukee little wiggle room to add talent.” If Giannis heads to a new team, that franchise instantly becomes a championship contender.

What’s Next for Giannis and the Bucks?

Giannis has made it clear that winning a second championship is his priority. Remaining in Milwaukee may no longer be the fastest route to that goal. Trade rumors will persist throughout the offseason, and several teams with young assets and cap flexibility could make aggressive moves for the superstar forward.

The Bucks, on the other hand, must decide if short-term loyalty is worth long-term struggle. Trading Giannis now would allow Milwaukee to reset and build for the future instead of lingering in NBA mediocrity.

Conclusion: A Defining Offseason Ahead

The next few months will shape both Giannis Antetokounmpo’s legacy and the fate of the Milwaukee Bucks. The current status of the Giannis contract means Milwaukee faces tough choices. Will they keep their superstar and make another run, or pivot toward a future-focused rebuild? Whatever happens, the outcome will spark ripple effects across the NBA and set the stage for the next era of basketball in Milwaukee.

Stay tuned as the Bucks weigh their options, navigate contract dilemmas, and make decisions that could alter the league’s balance for years to come.