Following a rather slow first night of free agency, the Milwaukee Bucks have been hard at work Tuesday. Amid a shocking move regarding one of their star players, one NBA insider dove into the latest regarding Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Things started heating up for the Bucks when reports surfaced that they agreed to terms on a four-year deal with veteran big man Myles Turner. Shortly after, a stunning update emerged about Damian Lillard. In order to make things work financially with the Turner signing, the team decided to waive-and-stretch the All-Star guard. Lillard was set to miss most of the 2026 campaign after suffering an Achilles injury during the postseason.
Lillard was acquired from the Portland Trail Blazers back in 2023 to help the Bucks contend alongside Giannis Antetokounmpo. However, the duo did not end up reaching their full potential. Now, Lillard finds himself on the open market as he works his way back to full health.
In light of his running mate being waived, Giannis did not take kindly to the decision. Chris Haynes reported Tuesday that the two-time MVP wasn't pleased with how the organization handled things. While appearing on NBA TV later in the day, the insider dove further into this recent development.
"He just didn't like how it was handled," Haynes said of Giannis. "Since this season ended, he's been weighing his options and trying to figure out what he is going to do. Trying to navigate his future. This is just one more thing added to the equation in which he's seeing that there are some suspect things happening."
"He just didn't like how it was handled." 😳@ChrisBHaynes reports on Giannis' reaction to Milwaukee waiving Damian Lillard pic.twitter.com/cyLzAvtcGS
— NBA TV (@NBATV) July 1, 2025
Since the Bucks were eliminated from the playoffs, there has been endless speculation about the superstar forward requesting a trade. Now without a legitimate co-star, Milwaukee's chances of contending are even slimmer. In light of Lillard's departure, there is no telling if Giannis will have a change of heart regarding playing elsewhere in the future.