A new layer of intrigue has crept into the already noisy Giannis Antetokounmpo trade universe: his representation.
According to a report by TrueHoop’s Henry Abbott, Antetokounmpo was “close to firing” his longtime agent, Alex Saratsis, amid frustration that a trade out of Milwaukee hadn’t materialized. Abbott’s piece frames the situation as unusual precisely because Giannis has historically been defined by stability, one franchise, one agent, since entering the league in 2013.
The report also suggests Klutch Sports CEO Rich Paul has interest in representing Antetokounmpo, with Abbott noting contact in recent weeks involving Giannis’ brother Thanasis. That detail has quickly ricocheted around the league, in part because Paul’s client list and relationships across front offices often make him a central figure whenever superstar movement becomes plausible.
For now, nothing has officially changed. The NBPA confirmed Monday that Saratsis remains Antetokounmpo’s agent, and that teams attempting to explore Giannis trade scenarios are still communicating through Saratsis.
It’s important context in a moment when Milwaukee’s direction has been under constant scrutiny and Giannis’ long-term future has become a nightly talking point. Even if an agent change never happens, the mere possibility adds fuel to the broader perception that the league is bracing for a summer – or a deadline – defined by superstar leverage. And if Giannis truly is weighing a shift in representation, it reads less like gossip and more like a signal: when the biggest decisions are coming, the people around the decision-maker matter, too.
