As you may know, we’ve spent the last few weeks going over trade candidates the Bucks could pursue at the deadline, operating under their reported desire to be buyers before next Thursday’s trade deadline. While there’s been no public indication they’ve changed that stance, Giannis strained his calf again on Friday. a game which capped off five losses in six games (three of which came at home), moving Milwaukee back to the East’s 11th spot and three games back of Atlanta for the 10th seed.
There’s
no timetable for Giannis’ return right now, and this being his second calf strain of the season (he missed eight games with one in December too), that margin looks more insurmountable than it would otherwise. So it’s possible, probably even likely, that GM Jon Horst holds onto his trade chips right now. If he traded both Bobby Portis and Kyle Kuzma, he could take on up to $45.1 in return for them, a figure which drops to $43.8 come summer. He also has a future first-round pick and a first-round pick swap, which he’ll also have this summer, which will be joined by a second future first. Adding salary, however, isn’t a bad idea, especially if it nets them an asset, even if it’s marginal.
In this week’s Tuesday Tracker, weigh in on the Bucks’ approach from here out, including regarding playing for a higher pick in the 2026 draft. Also, as speculation (not rumors—there is a difference) rebuilds around Giannis’ future in the last week or so, tell us if your prediction has changed from a couple weeks ago when he stated he wanted to remain a Buck long-term.
As always, this poll will be open until midnight Central on Friday, and we’ll post the results later that day. Thanks for voting!
