Rumors

Shams Charania: Statements from the Milwaukee Bucks on the Giannis Antetokounmpo trade to the Miami Heat: Bucks owners Wes Edens, Jimmy and Dee Haslam, and Jamie Dinan: “From delivering a championship to transforming our franchise, Giannis' impact on the Milwaukee Bucks is lasting and profound. We are incredibly grateful for what has been a remarkable and historic journey together. For 13 seasons, Giannis gave everything to this organization and inspired our city with his relentless drive, humility and heart. He grew into one of the greatest players in the world while becoming an integral part of the Milwaukee community. More importantly, Giannis represented this organization with authenticity, character and a deep commitment to the people of Milwaukee. His unforgettable moments on the court and his influence beyond the game defined an era of Bucks basketball and elevated our franchise on a global stage. Few players have left such a meaningful mark on a team, a city and an entire generation of fans. Though this chapter has come to an end, Giannis' legacy in Milwaukee is secure. It will always be felt here -- in the rafters, throughout our community and in the countless people he inspired. Forever a Buck.”

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THE BUCKS WERE pressing up against the deadline co-owner Jimmy Haslam had set a month earlier. During a news conference to introduce new coach Taylor Jenkins and sitting alongside Horst, Haslam had made a declaration: The Bucks would have Antetokounmpo's future settled by draft night. Either he would agree to sign an extension to remain with Milwaukee -- or he'd be traded. But by then, the Bucks had their answer, multiple sources with knowledge of the situation say. Antetokounmpo was not going to sign another extension in Milwaukee.

ESPN

This time feels different. Bucks co-owner Jimmy Haslam has plainly said that either Giannis Antetokounmpo will be moved by the draft or the franchise will keep building around him, which would require a different set of moves. But throughout conversations with sources during the Finals, it appears Milwaukee has a new level of motivation to find a deal. And the rest of the league is waiting to see what will happen. "It seems like everyone else's business is on hold until we see what happens with Giannis," an East scout said.

ESPN

Tim Bontemps: In the wake of Milwaukee Bucks co-owner Jimmy Haslam's comments at coach Taylor Jenkins' introductory news conference earlier this month, it seems like the Giannis Antetokounmpo saga could finally get some clarity between now and the draft. And, after years of "will they, won't they," the growing belief around the league is that this time an Antetokoumpo trade will actually happen. "It just feels like they're done with the circus, more than anything," an East executive said. "They seem to want a clean break and to move on."

ESPN

The Bucks engaged in Antetokounmpo trade talks before the February deadline as the franchise cornerstone believed for a period of months that the time had come to part ways. They now will again after co-owner Jimmy Haslam stated a resolution is coming before the draft on June 23 and 24. Nothing has changed in Antetokounmpo's stance that the time has come for both sides to move on, sources said.

ESPN

But Jenkins did acknowledge the looming decision on which direction the team is going to take with – or without – Antetokounmpo was a key point in the hours long discussions he had with co-owners Haslam and Wes Edens, as well as Horst. “It’s a big one,” Haslam said of the decision over the future of its franchise cornerstone. “It’s a big one. And you gotta get it right. And Jon knows it and Wes knows it. And we didn’t hold back with Taylor. We just said, listen, he may or may not be with us, so don’t come because of that because you want to be straight up with people.”

Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel

Karley Marotta: Jimmy Haslam says they are going to make a decision on Giannis' future before the NBA Draft and stresses that communication has been good between them despite what some "ESPN" writers say.

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The Milwaukee Bucks have registered serious interest in Taylor Jenkins to be their next head coach, league sources tell The Athletic. Team owners Wes Edens and Jimmy Haslam and general manager Jon Horst made their way to Memphis, where the former Grizzlies head coach still resides with his family, early last week to discuss their head coach opening and a vision for the future with Jenkins in Milwaukee, those sources said.

New York Times

Multiple league sources said Giannis Antetokounmpo and Alex Saratsis took it a step further in pursuit of an amicable split. In late January, two weeks before the deadline, they met with team owners Jimmy Haslam and Wes Edens about how the Bucks should "do right" by Antetokounmpo. The player and agent recalled a handshake agreement that ownership and high-ranking officials made to trade him collaboratively should the time come, after Antetokounmpo signed contract extensions with the organization in 2020 and 2023.

ESPN

Those who have done business with the Bucks, including teams that inquired about Antetokounmpo before the trade deadline, told ESPN that Haslam was more involved in decisions than before. One team owner even had direct negotiations with Haslam rather than Edens about a potential deal for Antetokounmpo, multiple sources with knowledge of the discussions told ESPN. "We mostly dealt with [GM Jon] Horst," an executive with one of the teams that heavily engaged with the Bucks told ESPN. "But our impression was that Jimmy was really the one who would decide this."

ESPN

Milwaukee Bucks co-owners Wes Edens and Jimmy Haslam told ESPN in a joint 90-minute interview that they will decide the path to take with their two-time MVP together, and the most important factor will be whether Giannis Antetokounmpo signs the four-year, $275 million extension he is eligible to receive on Oct. 1. "Giannis is going into the last year [of his contract]," said Edens, the team's controlling owner until April 2028. "So one of two things will happen: Either he will be extended or he'll be traded." "The likelihood you'll let him just kind of play out the last year, we can't afford that. It's not consistent with what's good for the organization. That's not a Giannis issue. That's any player that's in their last year."

ESPN

Wes Edens and Jimmy Haslam told ESPN this setup has worked well since Haslam purchased a 25% stake in the team from Marc Lasry in 2023. "The Jimmy partnership is unbelievably good," Edens said. "And that's really, really important because ... the likelihood is, just given the season we just had, the things we've got in front of us, we've got to make some hard decisions, and it'd be great to make hard decisions with somebody who you really like and trust." As Edens' term as controlling owner wanes, however, there are strong indications that Haslam's power within the organization is growing.

ESPN

Shams Charania: Right now, the Bucks, their executives, their ownership, they're sorting through and they're sifting through trying to figure out is there an aggressive offer so far from one of these teams that have interest, Miami, New York, Minnesota, Golden State, is there an offer that rises to their threshold? And Jimmy Haslam, the Bucks owner, he said yesterday at a Browns press conference that this is what it's always been with the Bucks. What's best for Giannis Antetokounmpo? What's best for Milwaukee? We're going to figure it out. And does an offer and what value reaches that threshold? My understanding is Giannis is ready for a move whether it's now or in the off season. But there's been such a major difference in conversations going on in Milwaukee right now. On one hand, you're discussing Giannis trades and offers. On the other hand, my understanding is they're canvasing the league for potential cash deals and exchanging minimum salaries and talking about draft assets. So, what is that signal about their approach? The entire NBA is waiting because Giannis is the biggest domino whether it's right now or in the summer.

YouTube

The Cleveland Browns introduced a new head coach, Todd Monken, earlier today. Browns owner Jimmy Haslam, who is also a co-owner of the Milwaukee Bucks, spoke with media members following today's introductory press conference and briefly addressed the prospect of the Bucks trading Giannis Antetokounmpo. "Giannis is a top three, top four player in the world," Haslam said. "He brought Milwaukee its first championship in 50 years several years ago, and he's a really good person too. He's no problem. He's a great leader, tries hard. "And I think Giannis and the Bucks — and I think this goes back before we were involved — have always worked closely to see what's best for Giannis and what's best for the Bucks, and we'll continue to do so. "

New York Times