In the wake of Tuesday reports stating that Giannis Antetokounmpo is looking forward to teaming up with Myles Turner while not being “pleased” about how Damian Lillard ‘s release was handled, Shams Charnaia of ESPN (YouTube link ) stressed that the Bucks star won’t be making any decisions on his future simply based on what happened on July 1.
“I’m told Giannis Antetokounmpo will continue to evaluate everything. The entire offseason,” Charania said. “He took notice of this move, no doubt, but sources tell me he will evaluate more than just one day. And at the end of the offseason, my understanding is Giannis Antetokounmpo will ask himself, he’ll look in the mirror, he’ll look around him, and ask the question, ‘Can I win a championship – a second championship – with this team as currently constructed?’”
While Antetokounmpo may take some time to make a final decision on what his future holds – ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne (Twitter video link ) speculates that it might not happen until August or September – Tuesday’s activity will significantly limit the Bucks’ ability to continue being active in free agency.
As John Hollinger and Eric Nehm of The Athletic detail, Milwaukee had to make a series of moves beyond waiving and stretching Lillard’s contract just to create the cap space necessary to land Turner and is subsequently expected to use its room exception to re-sign Kevin Porter and Gary Trent . That would leave the Bucks only able to make minimum-salary signings, though the team does still have one movable first-round pick (either 2031 or 2032) that could be dangled in trade talks.
There’s more out of the Eastern Conference:
- The Nets made NBA history when they selected five players in the first round of the 2025 draft. Now, Brooklyn faces a unique challenge when it comes to finding a way to develop everyone in the short term alongside the club’s already-youthful roster, observes Brian Lewis of The New York Post . “They’re going to have to earn it,” head coach Jordi Fernandez said. “That’s how it should be. They’ll put the work in. They’ve already shown who they are. That’s why we drafted them… Then it’s going to be my decision to go and put five guys on the court, to have a 10-man rotation and go through the process.”
- Nets general manager Sean Marks registered his excitement about the additions of rookies Egor Demin , Nolan Traore , Drake Powell , Ben Saraf and Danny Wolf to the fold. “To be able to draft all of them in a draft class we just saw, that was unique,” Marks said, per Lewis. “That was something we want to take advantage of, especially in our build, where we see these young men fitting into our group and into our roster. So, it was about us capitalizing on the hand we were dealt.”
- Looking to vault up the East standings, the Hawks made a flurry of tactical offseason moves to lift up its current core of All-Star guard Trae Young , rising forward Jalen Johnson , All-Defensive guard Dyson Daniels and 2024 No. 1 draft pick Zaccharie Risacher . Jared Weiss of The Athletic wonders if the additions of center Kristaps Porzingis , wing Nickeil Alexander-Walker , and sharpshooting guard Luke Kennard can help maximize Young as an offensive focal point — or if they’ve also been brought in place to elevate the younger group, led by the 23-year-old Johnson, 22-year-old Daniels, and 20-year-old Risacher. Young, who holds a player option for 2026/27, will become eligible this weekend for an extension worth up to $222MM over four years.
- The Pistons made a pair of key moves along the wing in free agency, agreeing to deals with former Miami sharpshooter Duncan Robinson and ex-Atlanta reserve Caris LeVert . Omari Sankofa II of The Detroit Free Press (subscriber link) takes a look at the fits of both new additions to a growing young Detroit club. LeVert is an above-average play-maker at his position and can theoretically help spell All-Star Cade Cunningham off the bench, while Robinson elevates the team’s long range shooting.
Luke Adams contributed to this story.