RealGM Basketball Wiretap

21 November 2024

• Rockets Not Currently Interested In Breaking Up Young Core To Trade For Giannis Antetokounmpo

  The Houston Rockets are not interested in breaking up their core to trade for Giannis Antetokounmpo should the Milwaukee Bucks choose to make him available, sources tell Kelly Iko of The Athletic.

  The Rockets are 10-5 this season with one of the NBA's yougnest cores.

  When the Rockets traded multiple future first round picks originating with the Brooklyn Nets in exchange for picks via the Phoenix Suns, there was speculation that they were positioning themselves to acquire either Kevin Durant or Devin Booker. The Rockets have also been linked with Antetokounmpo considering their future draft picks and promising young players.

  The reporting on Milwaukee's position on Antetokounmpo has been consistent that they will not consider trading him unless he specifically requests a trade.

• Doc Rivers Fined $25K For Public Criticism Of Officiating

  Milwaukee Bucks head coach Doc Rivers was fined $25,000 for public criticism of officiating. Rivers comments came following the Bucks loss at the Charlotte Hornets on Saturday afternoon.

  With Milwaukee leading by one with seven seconds to play, Giannis Antetokounmpo was called for foul against LaMelo Ball, when the Hornets guard was driving to the rim. Replay later showed that Ball tripped over his own feet and there was no contact made by Antetokounmpo. Because the Bucks had previously used their challenges to overturn calls earlier in the game, Rivers was unable to challenge the call.

  Following the game, Rivers aired his complaints about the officials. The Bucks coach was upset at the call at the end of the game and a lack of foul calls for Antetokounmpo throughout the game.

  "There was clearly not a foul. When you watch the video, the ref was blocked out by one of our players. You can't guess at the end of the game," Rivers said.

  In a postgame pool report, crew chief Curtis Blair confirmed that the foul call was incorrect. In addition, the NBA's Last Two Minute report also confirmed that the foul call was incorrect.

• Jon Horst Doesn't Have Leverage To Move On From Doc Rivers

  Jon Horst reportedly doesn't have the leverage to hire a new Milwaukee Bucks head coach, league sources told Sam Amick of The Athletic.

  Horst signed Doc Rivers to a four year, $40 million contract last season. Horst is facing pressure due to the Bucks' struggles over the past couple of seasons.

  The Bucks are currently 3-8 this season.

  While the team is not considering trading Damian Lillard or Giannis Antetokounmpo, they are looking to upgrade the roster.

• Damian Lillard Enters Concussion Protocol, Out For Tuesday's Game Against Raptors

  Damian Lillard has entered the NBA's concussion protocol and has been ruled out for Tuesday's game when the Milwaukee Bucks play the Toronto Raptors.

  In 10 games this season, Lillard is averaging 26.0 points, 4.6 rebounds and 6.6 assists in 35.8 minutes.

  Lillard appeared in 73 games last season, which was his highest output since the 18-19 season.

• Bucks Haven't Discussed Damian Lillard Trade

  The Milwaukee Bucks have no interest in entertaining a trade of either Giannis Antetokounmpo and the same appears to be true of Damian Lillard as they attempt to pull out of their 2-8 start to the season. The value of Antetokounmpo is undeniable and while Lillard may not have as much value as he did when the Portland Trail Blazers traded him in 2023, he would still have suitors.

  "I was talking to people in the league about the Bucks and I started hearing from people who were saying to me, 'You know the Bucks called us about trades,'" said Brian Windhorst on Monday's episode of ESPN's Hoop Collective.

  "'And I go about who?

  "'Not Giannis and not Dame,'" Windhorst relayed as the reply from the executive.

  Windhorst added that an executive he was speaking on the phone with received a call from the Bucks during their call, which speaks to the extent of the team's efforts to find a trade.

  "Not Dame is interesting," said Tim MacMahon. "And I wonder, and this is just a pure hypothetical: I wonder if they put Dame on the market, how much interest there would be?"

  "There would be interest, sir," replied Windhorst.

  Lillard is signed through 26-27 and he has a player option in 2026. The size of Lillard's contract would also make an in-season trade complicated from a salary cap perspective.

• Jaylen Brown Calls Giannis Antetokounmpo 'Child' After Fake Handshake

  Jaylen Brown was annoyed by Giannis Antetokounmpo when the Milwaukee Bucks' forward offered a fake handshake in the second quarter of the Boston Celtics' 113-107 win on Saturday.

  Antetokounmpo offered Brown his hand after being whistled for an offensive out, but pulled it back and ran it through his hair as Brown reached to accept. Antetokounmpo laughed and smiled before reaching his hand back out again. Brown did not accept this time, shaking his head on the court.

  "Giannis is a child," Brown said after the game. "I'm just focused on helping my team get a win. And that's what we did tonight."

  Antetokounmpo was surprised when informed how Brown didn't care for the gesture.

  "We always joke around with the flow of the game," Antetokounmpo said. "It's something that I do to my kids, I play around.

  "This is who I am. I play the game with fun, joy."

  Brown was called for a flagrant foul against Antetokounmpo after challenging him in the air while Antetokounmpo was driving to the basket. The game official deemed the contact was excessive and unnecessary, which led to it being ruled as flagrant, but Brown said the play was not intentional or a response to the fake handshake earlier in the game.

  "I think he's an incredible player," said Antetokounmpo, who finished with 42 points and 13 rebounds. "I'm just going to continue to be me. And at the end of the day. If I'm called a child, so be it.

  "I just try to go out there and have fun. But again, [he is a] great player, great competitor. If I have another opportunity, I'll do it again."

• Bucks Would Only Consider Trading Giannis Antetokounmpo If He Pushes For It

  The Milwaukee Bucks are not expected to any willingness to discuss Giannis Antetokounmpo and "it is understood quite clearly in 29 other front offices that Antetokounmpo is only ever going to be made available for trade if he pushes for it," writes Marc Stein.

  Several rival teams have begun internally planning for the possibility of an Antetokounmpo trade in the future if he decides to push for a trade.

  The Bucks continue to search for possible trades to upgrade their roster around Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard. But the Bucks hold limited assets and are also restricted by the second apron.

  Antetokounmpo previously could have been a free agent in 2025, but he is not currently eligible until 2027. The Bucks signed Antetokounmpo to a three-year, $186 million extension before the 23-24 season after the team traded for Lillard.

• Giannis Antetokounmpo Criticizes Bucks' Effort Level In Loss To Knicks

  Giannis Antetokounmpo criticized the Milwaukee Bucks' effort in the second night of a back-to-back as they were defeated at the New York Knicks by a final score of 116-94. The Bucks were coming off a win at home against the Utah Jazz that was preceded by a pair of close losses to the undefeated Cleveland Cavaliers.

  "Did we compete the previous game? Yes. Did we compete the two [games before that]? Yes. Did we compete today? No.... If you don't compete your ass off, you're not going to win the game," Antetokounmpo said. "[You have to] at least give yourself a chance.

  "We came to New York after playing great last night. Then we come here and lose by 30. Are you OK with not competing? I'm not OK with that s---. We've got Boston in two days. We don't compete, we're going to lose by 30."

  The Bucks rank 21st on offense and are ranked 28th in defending pick-and-roll ball handlers.

  "At the end of the day, we've got to compete," said Antetokounmpo, who finished with 24 points and 12 boards. "Teams are not just going to give us games. They're not going to feel bad for us.

  "We've got to compete every single possession. Every loose ball, we've got to get a body on the floor and put it on the line. But we didn't compete at all."

• Lakers Could Have Interest In Brook Lopez

  The Los Angeles Lakers have interest in an upgrade at center and Brook Lopez is a player they could pursue via trade. Lopez re-signed with the Milwaukee Bucks during the 2023 offseason on a two-year, $48 million deal. The Bucks are exploring the trade market and Lopez was in trade rumors this past offseason.

  "He is someone I was told was on the Lakers' list of potential center targets and acquisitions this past summer," said Jake Fischer of Lopez. "Jonas Valanciunas is another name I would keep an eye on for the future there."

  Lopez will be a free agent in 2025 and was previously with the Lakers before signing with Milwaukee in 2018.

  Lopez is represented by Darren Matsubara.

• Bucks Have No Interest In Trading Giannis Antetokounmpo

  The Milwaukee Bucks have no interest in entertaining trades for Giannis Antetokounmpo, sources tell ESPN.

  "Teams have let the Bucks know in recent months they would make an offer for the Greek Freak if that day ever comes. But those are incoming calls, not outgoing and it's likely to remain that way," writes Brian Windhorst.

  Because the Bucks don't control their future draft picks, they are "heavily incentivized" to exhaust all options with Antetokounmpo.

  "The East doesn't look that formidable right now. If I were them I would play the long game and believe in Giannis and Dame," an East executive told ESPN. "The problem is I don't think they're beating Boston even if they hit their stride."

  Antetokounmpo previously could have been a free agent in 2025, but he is not currently eligible until 2027. The Bucks signed Antetokounmpo to a three-year, $186 million extension before the 23-24 season after the team traded for Damian Lillard.