RealGM Basketball Wiretap

21 January 2025

• Jalen Green, Giannis Antetokounmpo Named NBA Players Of Week 13

  Jalen Green and Giannis Antetokounmpo have been named the NBA's Players of the Week for Week 13.

  Green averaged 32.5 points while shooting 60.6 percent from the floor and 63.3 percent from the three-point line as the Houston Rockets went 3-1.

  Antetokounmpo averaged 32.0 points, 12.5 rebounds and 6.5 assists as the Milwaukee Bucks went 4-0.

• Bucks May Have Interest In Trading For Bradley Beal

  The Milwaukee Bucks have not been told that they shouldn't show interest in Jimmy Butler. However, that doesn't mean that Milwaukee will make an offer for Butler either.

  Instead, the Bucks are more likely to show interest in acquiring Bradley Beal from the Phoenix Suns. That could be as part of a transaction that ultimately sends Butler to his desired destination of Phoenix, or it could be a separate deal entirely.

  Milwaukee previously showed interest in Beal when he was still a member of the Washington Wizards. It's unknown if the veteran guard would approve a trade to the Bucks or not. And, in order to trade for Beal, Milwaukee would need to get under the second apron to be able to aggregate the necessary salaries in a deal to acquire Beal. That will likely require find a team to take on Pat Connaughton's $9.4 million contract, without the Bucks taking any salary back.

• Teams Monitoring Pat Connaughton Availability

  Rival teams are monitoring the availability of Pat Connaughton, according to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype.

  The Bucks are currently $6.5 million over the second apron, with Connaughton making $9.42 million this season.

  Connaughton also has a player option for the same amount next season.

  The Pistons, who have $14 million in cap space, are seen as a logical destination for Connaughton.

• Jimmy Butler Open To Trade To Bucks

  As Jimmy Butler closes in on a return to the Miami Heat from his suspension, trade rumors continue to swirl around him and his team. Butler reportedly still wants to go to the Phoenix Suns, but that continues to be a hard trade puzzle to piece together.

  It was also recently reported that Butler's camp has told the Milwaukee Bucks that he isn't interested in being traded there. Other league sources have said that Butler hasn't ruled out a deal to Milwaukee.

  It was also reported that Butler's representatives let the Memphis Grizzlies know that he doesn't want to be traded there. To this point, no additional reporting has come out to counter that.

• Giannis Antetokounmpo Following Loss To Knicks: 'We've Gotta Get Our Stuff Together'

  The Milwaukee Bucks lost 140-106 to the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on Sunday.

  The Bucks are now 0-8 against the top three teams in the East.

  "We've gotta get our stuff together. It's as simple as that. We did not beat Boston. We did not beat the Cavs. We didn't beat the Knicks. Those are the top three teams, and we've played horribly against them," said Giannis Antetokounmpo after the game.

  Antetokounmpo finished with 24 points and 13 rebounds in the loss.

  Damian Lillard said that the results against the top three could turn come playoff time.

  "One year in Portland, we got our asses whupped every [regular-season] game by OKC. Then in the playoffs, we whupped their ass. So no; we haven't beaten the top teams. But we also have to key in, look at why, figure out the context and move forward," said Lillard.

  The Bucks are now 20-17 on the season.

• Giannis Antetokounmpo Remains Nets' Dream Target

  The Brooklyn Nets have amassed a considerable amount of draft capital for the coming years. That's a stash that Nets GM Sean Marks may continue to add to ahead of next month's trade deadline.

  In addition, Brooklyn has incredible cap flexibility going into the offseason. Despite that, the Nets are not planning on signing or trading for superstar with 2025 cap space. Instead, Brooklyn thinking bigger for a future acquisition.

  The Nets dream target remains Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks. There's no indication that Antetokounmpo will ask the Bucks for a trade, but if he does, the Nets are putting themselves in position to make the best offer.

  Antetokounmpo has four years and over $224 million left on his deal. That includes a three-year, $175.4 million extension that starts next season. In recent years, Antetokounmpo has said he doesn't know if he'll play his entire career in Milwaukee. However, Antetokounmpo has never indicated he has any desire to play for the only NBA team he's ever known.

• Khris Middleton Feels Move To Bench Is Temporary

  Milwaukee Bucks wing Khris Middleton understands why Doc Rivers moved him to a bench role. Middleton also said that he feels the change is a temporary thing.

  "It was just brought that it's probably best that with my minute restriction that with the way rotations work to come off the bench to play more meaningful minutes," Middleton said.

  The veteran wing added that this change isn't permanent in his opinion.

  "I mean, I know what type of player I am," Middleton said. "Just for the time being I need to come off the bench. It is what it is. But I'm confident in this team, I'm confident in myself and this is the role I have to play for the time being."

  Rivers said the lineup change was about being able to best utilize Middleton while he's on a minute restriction. The Bucks coach also warned anyone to not look for a deeper reason behind Middleton's move to the bench.

  "I think we're thinking about this way too much. I'm just being honest," Rivers said. "The bottom line is he's just not moving every night the way you'd like him to. One night you see he's moving great, one night he's not. His minutes go up and down. With the way we want to do this medically, it's a tough go for him."

• Bucks Moving Khris Middleton Out Of Starting Lineup

  Khris Middleton will return to the lineup for the Milwaukee Bucks on Wednesday against the San Antonio Spurs, but he will move out of the starting lineup in a reserve role.

  Doc Rivers met with Middleton on Sunday to discuss his reserve role. Middleton is on a minutes restriction after undergoing surgery on both ankles. Middleton missed Sunday's game due to tendinitis in the ankle.

  Taurean Prince will remain in the starting lineup for the Bucks.

  In 12 games this season, Middleton is averaging 12.7 points, 4.4 rebounds and 5.0 assists in 23.8 minutes.

• Rival Teams Continuing To Monitor Giannis Antetokounmpo's Long-Term Future With Bucks

  The Milwaukee Bucks turned around their season after a slow start as they are now 16-13 and in fifth place in the Eastern Conference, which silenced speculation about the future of Giannis Antetokounmpo. The Bucks also won the NBA Cup after losing in the semifinals last season.

  But Tim Bontemps of ESPN writes that "rival teams are still watching what will happen with Giannis Antetokounmpo if the Milwaukee Bucks suffer another disappointing end to the season after two consecutive first-round losses."

  Antetokounmpo signed a three-year, $186 million extension in October 2023 after the Bucks traded for Damian Lillard. Antetokounmpo cannot become a free agent until 2027. Antetokounmpo has been injured for each of the Bucks' past two playoff runs.

• Giannis Antetokounmpo, Damian Lillard Out For Monday's Game With Illness

  The Milwaukee Bucks will be without both Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard for Monday's game against the Chicago Bulls with a non-COVID illness. The Bucks have had a number of players sick since their NBA Cup title in LAs Vegas last week.

  Lillard has not played since the team's victory in Las Vegas last Tuesday, sitting for two games over the weekend.

  Antetokounmpo missed Saturday's game on the second night of a back-to-back but entered Monday listed as questionable with back spasms.