“It’s like any star in the league that stays with one team, you just expect them to be in one jersey, and anywhere else just doesn’t seem right at all,” said Brandin Podziemski about a potential Giannis Antetokounmpo trade. Over the last few months, rumors about a potential Giannis trade have been gaining momentum. In fact, Sports Betting AG already has listed teams like the New York Knicks, the San Antonio Spurs, the Miami Heat, and the Brooklyn Nets as interested parties if Giannis decides to leave the Bucks. But even amid the stirring rumors, Giannis’ teammate did not back off from highlighting his loyalty to Milwaukee.

ESPN Milwaukee’s KPN podcast recently hosted Bucks star Bobby Portis on their show. During the conversation, the host asked if Portis had the chance to interact with Giannis in recent days. Portis answered in the affirmative, stating that “He’s my teammate”. That led the host to bring up the trade rumors and outright ask Portis if he thinks the Greek superstar will be with the Bucks in the coming season. Without hesitation, Portis answered that “I think Giannis bleed Green. That’s all I can say”. That is all that is needed to be said!

This isn’t the only reassurance that a member of the Milwaukee Bucks recently gave out. Even the team’s social media squad is working to shut down the rumors. It was about a week ago when the team’s official X account simply posted a “🥱” emoji. Many fans believed this was in response to Shams Charania’s claim that “there is nothing definite about whether Giannis Antetokounmpo is staying in Milwaukee or considering other options.”

Even after getting so many reassurances from the Bucks squad, you have to question why people would still continue to speculate that Giannis’s future might be with another team. Well, in the aftermath of another disappointing playoff run, and the team now having lost Damian Lillard, the ‘Greek Freak’ would be motivated to find a franchise that gives him a chance to win a championship. Even the acquisition of Myles Turner doesn’t seem to have done much to appeal to Giannis, since, according to reports, he was upset that Lillard was waived to get him. Plus, teams would not be ‘sniffing around’ with training camp now just being six weeks away if there wasn’t a chance for them to get the power forward/center.

It is important to remember that blockbuster trades, like that of Kyrie Irving and Karl-Anthony Towns, came quite later in the offseason. Therefore, an Antetokounmpo trade request is still possible this offseason.

Well, Bobby Portis has now spoken. For now, Giannis Antetokounmpo’s blood contains Green. However, if Shams Charania is to be believed, then the player is simply waiting things out until he is in a win-win situation.

Shams Charania Predicts Giannis Antetokounmpo Will Lock In With Bucks While Simultaneously Gaining Leverage

Despite the message from the Bucks that was reportedly directed towards him, Shams Charania won’t stop speculating. He pulled out one of his most recent predictions, only a day after being called out by the team on X. During an interview with Kyle Wallace, Ben Brust, and Brad Nortman on KBN, the ESPN analyst once again stirred the pot on the ‘Greek Freak’s fate. During the interview, he was asked if there is a point till which, if Giannis stays, then that means he will be a Buck at least for this upcoming season. Charania replied, “I think right up until training camp. Figuring out, at least for me, is when I’m told Giannis Antetokounmpo is good. He is 100% good from every single avenue, every single side that I trust and rely on. That’s when I’ll be comfortable”.

Even then, however, the Bucks won’t be safe. After all, as Charania added, “during the season, it’s really just a matter of every year, every day that goes by, you’re getting closer to the end of Giannis’s contract. He’s got this upcoming season, then he’s got one year after that, and then he’s got a player option. So, essentially, by next summer, he’s going to be entering the last year of his deal because the following year is a player option.”

In easy language, this means that if the Bucks struggle next season, Giannis will gain major leverage next summer. He could easily be free to decide his next destination since, by 2025-26, his base salary of $54 million would match his cap hit. Yikes!

Even in certainty, there is a level of uncertainty present. Therefore, even if the Milwaukee Bucks don’t have to bid adieu to Giannis by training camp, they will not be out of the woods. Therefore, let this be a message to Bobby Portis and the rest of the Bucks squad. As Ed Harris said in ‘Apollo 13’, “Failure is not an option”.