Bucks co-owner Jimmy Haslam isn't waiting around to see what happens with Giannis Antetokounmpo. The two-time MVP is entering the final year of his contract, and Haslam wants clarity before the NBA draft in June.

"I just think before the draft is a natural time," Haslam told reporters Wednesday, speaking alongside new Bucks coach Taylor Jenkins. "Because if Giannis does play somewhere else, we've got to have a lot of assets. That's [GM Jon Horst's] job to do. And if he's here, then you build the team differently."

The stakes couldn't be higher for Milwaukee. The Bucks will learn their draft fate this Sunday when the league holds its lottery, but they'll only receive the least favorable pick between their own selection and the Pelicans'. That uncertainty only adds to the pressure surrounding Antetokounmpo's future.

The "Greek Freak" has spent all 13 seasons of his career in Milwaukee, but the relationship has grown strained. After waiving Damian Lillard and his massive $120 million contract to sign Myles Turner, the Bucks missed the playoffs entirely. In a wide-open Eastern Conference, they were nowhere near contention.

Tensions boiled over in April when the team and Antetokounmpo disagreed about his health status after he hyperextended his knee. The two-time MVP insisted he was ready to return, but his absence from the final regular-season games raised eyebrows—especially since it could have helped the Bucks' draft positioning. The dispute even triggered an NBA investigation.

Here's where it gets real for fans and the front office alike: Antetokounmpo can sign a four-year, $275 million contract extension in October. If he doesn't, he'll become a free agent after the 2026–27 season. Bucks controlling partner Wes Edens told ESPN earlier this year that if Antetokounmpo doesn't commit this summer, he'll be traded.

During his introductory press conference, Jenkins kept his cards close to the vest when asked about the franchise cornerstone. But Haslam's message was clear: the Bucks need an answer, and they need it soon. Whether that means building around their superstar or preparing for a new era, the clock is ticking in Milwaukee.