A report on Thursday morning created immediate waves across the Midwest after FOX Chicago’s Lou Canellis claimed that Giannis Antetokounmpo and his representatives reached out to the Chicago Bulls about a potential move, per Bleacher Nation. According to Canellis, the Bulls front office did not show interest in pursuing the idea.
Canellis discussed the topic during an appearance on Mully and Haugh on 670 The Score. His quote drew instant attention because of the magnitude of the superstar involved. “Giannis and his representatives reached out to the Bulls about a potential deal, and the Bulls said they weren’t interested. They were not interested in breaking up their young core or changing their course of direction,” Canellis said.
His comments sparked a strong response on Chicago sports radio. Many listeners focused on the reported rationale that the Bulls wanted to protect their young core, a group that includes Matas Buzelis, Coby White and Josh Giddey. Morning host David Haugh reacted directly to that idea and questioned the logic behind it. “There is no young core to protect,” Haugh said. “The young core is in the midst of its second 5 game losing streak of this young season.”
The Bulls should be willing to offer anyone on the roster for Giannis Antetokounmpo in @DavidHaugh‘s mind.
“There’s no young core to protect,” Haugh says. “The young core is in the midst of its second 5-game losing streak of this young season.” pic.twitter.com/5JXK7c8a79
— 670 The Score (@670TheScore) December 4, 2025
Local Reaction Centers on Young Core, Contract Size
The suggestion that the Bulls turned away from an opportunity to explore a deal involving Antetokounmpo led to further discussion about Chicago’s broader direction. Several analysts noted that the Bulls have struggled to establish long term momentum with their current roster. Their losing streaks have amplified concerns about whether the core can eventually lift the franchise into the top tier of the Eastern Conference.
Another point raised in the aftermath of Canellis’ report involved Antetokounmpo’s contract. He has three years and 175 million dollars remaining on his deal, including salary figures of 54 million this season, 58 million next season and 62 million in the year after that. Analysts on 670 The Score pointed out that any team acquiring Antetokounmpo would also need to add pieces around him, which would send payroll into luxury tax territory. Chicago has rarely operated at that financial level in recent years.
While the report from Canellis surprised many fans, it resurfaced long standing questions about Antetokounmpo’s future in Milwaukee. Concerns grew over the summer when Shams Charania of ESPN reported that Antetokounmpo signaled openness to a move for the first time in his career. Milwaukee did not entertain a deal at that time, but the news placed the rest of the league on alert.
Windhorst Detail Growing Tension in Milwaukee
National outlets continued to track tension between Antetokounmpo and the Bucks throughout the offseason. Brian Windhorst of ESPN described the situation in a recent interview and revealed that Antetokounmpo directly asked for a trade over the summer. Windhorst added that Milwaukee contacted the New York Knicks after Antetokounmpo expressed interest in joining them. “The Bucks called the Knicks and asked for an offer for Giannis because Giannis said he wanted to be a Knick,” Windhorst said. “Guys, he asked to be traded already.”
Antetokounmpo remained with the Bucks and publicly supported several offseason moves made by general manager Jon Horst. The early results have not met expectations. Milwaukee currently sits near the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings and holds a 1 and 5 record in games without Antetokounmpo on the floor.
This week, attention intensified once again after Giannis Antetokounmpo removed mentions of the Bucks from his social media accounts. Players often take similar steps when they want to create pressure on their team, and rival executives closely monitor those signals. With the trade deadline a few months away, teams across the league plan to evaluate whether the Bucks become open to conversations involving their franchise star.
The Canellis report added another unexpected layer to the story. If Antetokounmpo did reach out to the Bulls, and if Chicago declined to explore the possibility, the decision reflects the confidence the Bulls have in their long term vision and financial structure. What comes next for both sides now depends on how Milwaukee responds to a disappointing start and how Antetokounmpo approaches the next stage of his career.
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