The Milwaukee Bucks' season came to a disappointing end on Tuesday evening at the hands of Tyrese Haliburton and the Indiana Pacers.
The night was full of drama, as Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo and Haliburton's father got into an altercation postgame. Pair this with the rumors already swirling about Antetokounmpo requesting a trade, and Milwaukee's front office is staring down a busy summer.
Milwaukee's franchise cornerstone was not tolerating the questions about his future postgame, saying, "I'm not going to do this," Antetokounmpo said. "I'm not going to do that. I know how it's going to translate. I don't know, man. I wish I was still playing. I wish I was still competing and going back and working out."
It's understandably going to take some time for Antetokounmpo to decide what's next for him. The Bucks are seemingly aiming to get ahead of the curve in convincing the two-time MVP to remain in Milwaukee, as sources are already telling ESPN's Shams Charania about the important meeting between the two parties.
"Still, the Bucks and Antetokounmpo are scheduled to meet after the season to discuss both his future and the future plans for the team, sources told ESPN's Shams Charania. It's an annual meeting between the two sides, but one that carries a different tone heading into the summer after the Bucks failed to win a playoff series even with their star putting up a dominant performance," ESPN's Jamal Collier wrote.
But the biggest question looming is how the front office will go about persuading him to stay.
Follow The Sporting News on WhatsApp
One of the most interesting ways the Bucks could approach this situation is by using Damian Lillard as a scapegoat. He suffered a torn Achilles in Game 4 against the Pacers, which not only sidelined him for the elimination game but also places the 2026 season in jeopardy due to recovery, according to Collier.
Antetokounmpo is under contract for at least two more seasons before a player option comes in for the 2028 season. This means the organization could plead with Antetokounmpo to stay for one additional year in hopes Lillard can return for next year's playoffs and give them one last shot at a title. Then, if Milwaukee comes up short yet again, Antetokounmpo can ask out with little pushback from the front office.
Antetokounmpo and the Bucks parting ways this offseason remains a prominent outcome, but if Milwaukee can unfairly point blame to Lillard's injury as the cause of the shortcomings, he may stay at least one more year with the team that believed in him from the start.
MORE MILWAUKEE BUCKS NEWS
Pelicans surprisingly named trade destination for East superstar trapped on underachieving team