The Milwaukee Bucks face Brooklyn on Tuesday, April 7, the first of four remaining games in the 2025-26 NBA schedule. With no postseason awaiting Milwaukee, it could mark the end of an era, given what’s ahead in the offseason:
Will the Bucks trade superstar and Milwaukee pillar Giannis Antetokounmpo?
Antetokounmpo and team ownership are at odds over how to proceed in the final stretch. The Bucks star believes he’s healthy enough to play. The team could still see its chances improve for a higher draft pick with enough losses to close the year, though that likelihood is fleeting.
Barring a surprising finish from the Chicago Bulls, the Bucks will be locked into the 10th-worst record in the league and have a 3% chance to get drawn as the top team in the lottery and a 4% chance to get a top-four pick.
What should the Bucks do? Let their star suit up for one last run or play it safe, both for his sake and the possible improvement of their lottery odds? Though the Bucks’ first-round pick will be subject to a pick swap with the New Orleans Pelicans, Milwaukee could still get a top-four pick if both teams get drawn in the top four.
Before you vote, you may want to read this interview Giannis did with the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel’s Lori Nickel to get a sense of his point of view and why he badly wants to return to the floor.
Should the Bucks let Antetokounmpo play the rest of the games without restriction? After all, letting this develop into a bigger feud could harm the team’s chances to see Giannis sign another extension in October.
But should they insist he sit to maximize one avenue to improve the team for next year, and keep him healthy? Should they let him play on a minutes restriction? Should they let him play in one game, if only to suit up with brothers Thanasis and Alex?
We’d like to hear your opinion. You can vote in our survey below:
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Should the Bucks let Giannis play? Vote in our survey
Reporting by JR Radcliffe, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
