The Milwaukee Bucks are actively inviting trade offers for two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo ahead of next month’s NBA draft as the franchise prepares for a major rebuild.
Team officials anticipate a robust market for the Greek forward.
The asking price remains exceptionally high, with Milwaukee demanding elite young talent or a substantial package of draft picks.
This development follows a tumultuous period where the franchise cornerstone expressed a clear desire to leave the organisation.
A looming draft deadline
Co-owner Jimmy Haslam confirmed a final resolution will be reached before the NBA draft in late June.
Haslam addressed the media during the introductory press conference for new head coach Taylor Jenkins.
“Sometime over the next six or seven weeks we’ll decide whether Giannis is going to sign a max contract and stay with us or he’s going to play somewhere else.”
Jimmy Haslam
Fellow co-owner Wes Edens had previously stated the situation would ultimately end in either a lucrative contract extension or a departure.
Dysfunction and missed playoffs
Tensions between the prominent superstar and the front office have been simmering for over a year.
The highly decorated player even indicated a preference to join the New York Knicks last summer, but Milwaukee refused to sanction a move.
That decision led to a fractured relationship and a bitterly disappointing season on the court.
The former Eastern Conference heavyweights finished with a dismal 32-50 record, missing the playoffs for the first time in nine years.
A late-season knee injury further complicated matters, prompting the player to spark a league investigation into his own organisation regarding his medical shutdown.
New era in Milwaukee
General manager Jon Horst is now tasked with navigating one of the most significant transactions in recent league history.
The impending roster overhaul coincides with a massive change in leadership on the sidelines.
Doc Rivers mutually parted ways with the team following their failure to reach the postseason, paving the way for Jenkins to take charge.
Caitlin Clark returned to competitive action with a 20-point performance as the Indiana Fever suffered a 107-104 defeat to the Dallas Wings on the opening weekend of the WNBA season.
The historic 30th campaign of the premier women’s basketball league tipped off with a blend of expanding franchises, dominant upsets and high-profile returns.
All eyes were firmly fixed on Indianapolis as the Fever’s star guard stepped onto the court for her first competitive match in 296 days.
The 24-year-old had missed the majority of the 2025 season due to a series of frustrating, nagging injuries.
Rust evident but brilliance remains
Despite showing initial signs of rust during the early stages of Saturday’s encounter, the former Rookie of the Year finished with an impressive seven assists and five rebounds alongside her scoring tally.
Shooting accuracy proved elusive for the prolific playmaker, who managed to convert just two of her nine attempts from beyond the three-point arc.
She concluded the evening shooting 38.9% from the field, though her second-half performance featured trademark deep pull-up jumpers and exceptional transition passing.
Opposing defenders consistently struggled to contain the franchise cornerstone whenever she drove aggressively toward the basket.
Wings soar while champions stumble
The visiting Dallas side demonstrated remarkable offensive efficiency to spoil the highly anticipated homecoming.
Having secured only 10 victories throughout a dismal 2025 campaign, the Texas-based outfit appeared entirely transformed in their season opener.
They recorded a phenomenal 59.1% shooting accuracy from the floor, firmly putting to rest memories of last year’s league-worst offensive statistics.
Elsewhere across the league, the Las Vegas Aces experienced a turbulent start to their title defence.
New beginnings and title rematches
After receiving their diamond-encrusted 2025 championship rings, the defending champions were heavily defeated by the Phoenix Mercury.
The result provided a small measure of retribution for the Arizona franchise following their comprehensive sweep in last year’s WNBA Finals.
However, Las Vegas quickly recovered their composure, delivering a commanding blowout victory against the Los Angeles Sparks on Sunday.
The milestone weekend also featured the historic debut of the expansion Toronto Tempo, alongside the return of the Portland Fire following a 24-year absence from the league.
The Oklahoma City Thunder have pushed the Los Angeles Lakers to the brink of NBA playoff elimination following a dominant 131-108 victory to take a 3-0 series lead.
The heavy defeat at Crypto.com Arena highlights a glaring disparity between the traditional roster-building approach of the hosts and their meticulously assembled opponents.
While the California franchise has long relied on recruiting marquee superstars to secure titles, the visiting side has constructed a flawless, interchangeable squad over several years.
That contrasting ethos has left the home team overwhelmed, despite welcoming back key personnel ahead of schedule.
Reaves returns from hyperbaric chamber
Guard Austin Reaves recently spent four weeks undergoing intensive treatment in a giant hyperbaric chamber at the UCLA Medical Center.
The shooting guard suffered a Grade 2 oblique muscle tear in early April but pushed through grueling 12-hour daily rehabilitation sessions to return for the postseason.
He recovered in time to help secure an improbable first-round victory over the Houston Rockets.
However, the returning playmaker admitted that the current challenge feels entirely different.
“I mean… they’re basically perfect.”
Austin Reaves
Superstar model exposed by modern depth
The top-heavy nature of the Los Angeles roster has forced them to constantly patch holes around their leading figures.
Conversely, the Western Conference’s emerging powerhouse boasts a seamless system where backups flawlessly replicate the skills of their starting lineup.
Four-time NBA champion LeBron James acknowledged the immense difficulty of facing such a complete unit.
“It takes everything and more to beat a team like this. They have the proper personnel to be able to shape shift out there and still be productive no matter who is on the floor.”
LeBron James
Containing Gilgeous-Alexander not enough
The 17-time champions have actually managed to stifle reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander throughout the matchup.
The Canadian point guard was restricted to just 23 points on 7-of-20 shooting during Game 3.
Yet, even with their talisman contained, the relentless depth of the visiting roster has kept them firmly on course for a series sweep.
Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid has expressed total confidence in his long-term knee health after his side suffered a season-ending playoff defeat to the New York Knicks.
The standout centre saw his campaign derailed by a litany of injuries, limiting him to just 38 regular-season appearances.
Philadelphia’s season concluded abruptly with a heavy 144-114 defeat in Game 4 on their home court.
Despite the disappointing exit, the former NBA Most Valuable Player struck an optimistic tone regarding his physical future.
“I’m as confident as I’ve ever been,” Embiid said.
Focus on future availability
The seven-foot talisman admitted his knee had been his primary concern throughout the year.
However, he stressed that careful management moving forward will alleviate those worries entirely.
“I’m looking at next year, obviously being more available. I know that if I’m available and I play as much as possible, everything else is going to follow.”
Health has been a persistent obstacle for the imposing big man, who missed his first two professional seasons entirely.
Battling through playoff adversity
He has averaged just 49 games per year across his decade-long career.
This postseason proved no different, with the Cameroonian international requiring an emergency appendectomy just a month ago.
He also missed Game 2 of the series against New York due to right hip and ankle issues.
Philadelphia head coach Nick Nurse praised his franchise cornerstone’s resilience through the physical pain.
“He worked his ass off to get out there and play. I think it was really difficult for him,” Nurse noted.
Lingering surgery effects
Embiid had previously enjoyed a stellar first-round stretch against the Boston Celtics, helping his team achieve a historic comeback from a 3-1 deficit.
However, a collision with teammate Tyrese Maxey late in Game 7 of that series left him labouring against the Knicks.
The dominant pivot explained that his recent core surgery created a domino effect on his body during the tight playoff schedule.
“Because coming back early and the core is kind of weak, it’s not an excuse, but everything else is affected,” he explained.
Despite the setbacks, he finished the postseason with impressive averages of 24 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 5.4 assists across seven games.
Victor Wembanyama suffered the first ejection of his career after elbowing Minnesota Timberwolves forward Naz Reid during Game 4 of the Western Conference semifinals.
The San Antonio Spurs star was assessed a flagrant foul penalty two by officials during the second quarter of Sunday’s playoff clash in Minneapolis.
Following a fierce battle for a rebound between two opposing defenders, the reigning NBA Defensive Player of the Year aggressively swung his right arm to clear space.
The forceful motion caught Reid flush on the right side of his jaw and neck area, sending the Minnesota player spinning and crashing heavily to the hardwood.
Automatic dismissal for Spurs standout
Referee Zach Zarba reviewed the physical altercation at the courtside monitor before announcing the severe penalty to the arena.
Under NBA rules, a flagrant two foul is deemed unnecessary and excessive, resulting in an immediate and automatic ejection from the contest.
The 20-year-old Frenchman appeared confused by the unprecedented ruling, visibly asking teammate Harrison Barnes to explain the officials’ decision from the bench.
Playoff tensions boil over
The towering center subsequently departed the floor and headed down the tunnel to the locker room with 8:39 remaining in the first half.
Minnesota held a narrow 36-34 advantage over San Antonio at the exact moment of the dramatic dismissal.
The high-stakes postseason matchup had already featured immense physicality as both franchises battle desperately for a spot in the Western Conference finals.
The New York Knicks have advanced to the Eastern Conference finals after sweeping the Philadelphia 76ers with a record-breaking 144-114 Game 4 victory.
Deuce McBride scored 25 points, hitting seven of his team’s 25 three-pointers, as the visitors dominated Sunday’s contest.
Jalen Brunson added 22 points, while Karl-Anthony Towns and Josh Hart both contributed 17 in another lopsided triumph.
Historic three-point barrage
The Eastern Conference hopefuls set an NBA postseason record by connecting on 11 three-pointers in a blistering first quarter.
McBride became the first player in franchise playoff history to hit four triples in the opening period.
That early dominance propelled the team to 144 points, marking their highest-ever scoring tally in a playoff fixture.
It also secured their first best-of-seven series sweep since defeating the Atlanta Hawks in the 1999 conference semi-finals.
Brown’s remarkable impact
Mike Brown’s squad have now outscored opponents by 194 points across 10 postseason games.
This unprecedented margin represents the best point-differential in any 10-game span in NBA playoff history.
The sweeping victory also extends the franchise’s longest-ever postseason winning streak to seven consecutive matches.
They will face either the Cleveland Cavaliers or the Detroit Pistons for a place in the NBA Finals.
Sixers’ misery continues
Philadelphia had arrived full of momentum following a gutsy first-round comeback against the Boston Celtics.
However, despite 24 points from Joel Embiid and 17 from Tyrese Maxey, the hosts were entirely outclassed.
The defeat means the 76ers’ painful wait for a conference finals appearance extends, having failed to progress past the second round since 2001.
The Washington Wizards have secured the number one overall pick in next month’s selection process after winning the 2026 NBA Draft Lottery.
Going into the event, the Capital City franchise held a 14% probability of claiming the highly coveted top selection.
Joining them at the summit of the draft board are the Utah Jazz, who will make the second overall selection.
The Memphis Grizzlies have secured the third position, while the Chicago Bulls will round out the top four.
Clippers benefit from Pacers trade
Just outside the elite bracket, the Los Angeles Clippers will pick fifth after acquiring the selection from the Indiana Pacers.
This valuable draft asset originally changed hands as part of the agreement involving Croatian center Ivica Zubac earlier this year.
Because the Indianapolis-based outfit failed to jump into the top four during the lottery, the protection clauses on their traded selection were not triggered.
Crucial rebuilding phase begins
Securing the top selection provides a vital foundational block for the struggling Washington organisation as they look to revitalise their roster.
Next month’s draft will now see the league’s rebuilding franchises finalise their evaluations of the world’s top amateur prospects.
New York Knicks forward OG Anunoby has been ruled out of Game 4 against the Philadelphia 76ers on Sunday due to a strained right hamstring.
The defensive specialist remains day-to-day in the second-round playoff series after suffering the injury late in Game 2.
New York currently holds a commanding 3-0 lead over their Eastern Conference rivals in the best-of-seven matchup.
Postseason impact and injury history
Before exiting Wednesday’s 108-102 victory, the 6-foot-7 forward had been enjoying an outstanding playoff campaign.
He is currently averaging 21.4 points per game in the postseason, shooting an impressive 61.9% from the field and 53.8% from three-point range.
The highly-rated defender had registered 24 points in Game 2 before abruptly motioning to the bench and heading to the locker room.
This latest setback mirrors an unfortunate history of hamstring issues during the pivotal stages of the playoffs.
Two years ago, he suffered a similar injury in the second round while helping his team build a 2-0 series lead against the Indiana Pacers.
On that occasion, he missed four consecutive games and managed only a few minutes in Game 7 as Indiana eventually rallied to win the series.