NBA: Giannis Antetokounmpo unhappy with Milwaukee Bucks decision to trade Damian Lillard
Their have been a huge number of trades in the NBA offseason.
Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo is reportedly unhappy with the team’s surprise decision to waive Damian Lillard, a move made to free up cap space for the signing of free agent center Myles Turner.
According to reports, the two-time MVP was “not pleased” with the front office’s handling of the situation, which saw Lillard released despite having two years and $112.6 million remaining on his contract.
The decision came just days after Lillard underwent surgery for a torn Achilles tendon, an injury expected to keep him out for the majority, if not all, of the 2025-26 season. Milwaukee opted to waive and stretch his contract, spreading the financial hit across five years at $22.5 million annually.
This move opened the door for the Bucks to land Turner with a four-year, $107 million deal, but in doing so, it ended what was supposed to be a championship-contending duo between Giannis and Lillard, a partnership that struggled to take off amid injuries and back-to-back first-round playoff exits.
The Warriors, Celtics and Lakers are among the teams that have interest in doing a deal with Damian Lillard sooner rather than later, sources tell @eric_nehm, @sam_amick and @joevardon.
Lillard received calls from several contending teams quickly after the news of his Bucks’… pic.twitter.com/YuonUE0mEF
— The Athletic NBA (@TheAthleticNBA) July 2, 2025
Giannis’ future in doubt
Reports suggest that Antetokounmpo not only disagreed with the decision to release Lillard but also felt blindsided by the way it was executed.
Insiders have indicated that the 29-year-old was left out of internal discussions and caught off guard by the abrupt announcement.
Further fueling speculation, Giannis shared a cryptic post on social media shortly before the news broke: “I don’t know what’s going on right now,” he wrote – a message that quickly ignited concerns about his trust in the Bucks’ leadership.
The front office had intended the signing of Turner to reinforce the team’s defense and maximise Giannis’ championship hopes. But the unexpected nature of Lillard’s departure appears to have shaken that foundation instead.
According to multiple NBA insiders, including Shams Charania, Antetokounmpo remains “open-minded” about his future in Milwaukee and is evaluating whether the franchise is still the right fit for his prime years.