What happens when the house sacrifices its furniture to stop the roof from caving in? Chris Livingston, Kevin Porter Jr., Taurean Prince, and Gary Trent Jr. all waived their implicit no-trade clauses this summer, giving the Bucks more trade flexibility in a very Giannis-centric offseason. That’s four players taking a step back so the franchise can push forward. The problem is, Giannis still hasn’t said he’s staying.
Antetokounmpo has been “evaluating his future” since May, with sources claiming he’s open-minded about a potential trade if Milwaukee isn’t the best fit long term. And then there’s that Dame stretch. Allen Sliwa didn’t mince words on Hoops Talk, calling the Bucks’ move to stretch Damian Lillard’s contract for $20M in dead money annually a “desperate Hail Mary” to keep Giannis. Even with the Myles Turner addition, Sliwa doubts this is the kind of move that screams title favorites.
Chris Livingston, Kevin Porter Jr., Taurean Prince, and Gary Trent Jr. all waived their implicit no-trade clauses this offseason, via @TheSteinLine.
Essentially, all four guys gave up their rights to veto a trade after resigning with Milwaukee, giving the team added flexibility.
— BucksRealm (@BucksRealm) August 5, 2025
“Bucks and Giannis aren’t any closer to winning an NBA championship. I think those days are over, and I think Giannis probably deep down inside knows that.” So here we are. Four sacrifices in, one MVP in limbo, and a franchise walking a tightrope between loyalty and realism. What’s next? Stay tuned as we dig deeper into this Bucks balancing act. Because when the desperation, as Sliwa called it, starts showing… the exits aren’t far behind.
(This is a developing story…)
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