The Milwaukee Bucks are facing a pivotal offseason, and co-owner Jimmy Haslam is making it clear: the future of franchise cornerstone Giannis Antetokounmpo needs to be resolved before the NBA draft next month.

Speaking at a press conference Wednesday alongside general manager Jon Horst—where the team introduced new head coach Taylor Jenkins—Haslam didn't mince words about the timeline. "I just think before the draft is a natural time," he said. "Because if Giannis does play somewhere else, we've got to have a lot of assets. That's Jon's job to do. And if he's here, then you build the team differently."

Antetokounmpo, now in his 13th season with the Bucks, has been the heart and soul of the franchise since being drafted in 2013. He led Milwaukee to its first NBA championship in 50 years back in 2021, cementing his legacy as one of the game's all-time greats. But this season was a different story—a frustrating, injury-marred campaign that saw the Bucks stumble to a 32-50 record, snapping a nine-year playoff streak.

The two-time MVP has repeatedly said he loves playing in Milwaukee but wants to compete for titles. That puts the Bucks in a delicate position: they can offer Antetokounmpo a four-year, $275 million contract extension in October, but if he doesn't sign, he could test free agency after next season.

Haslam, who also co-owns the NFL's Cleveland Browns, wants clarity long before that deadline. He described ongoing, transparent conversations between the team and Antetokounmpo. "We never had any problem communicating directly with Giannis—at all—and always knew where he stood. And I think he always knew where we stood," Haslam said. "So sometime over the next six or seven weeks, we'll decide whether Giannis is going to sign a max contract and stay with us, or he's going to play somewhere else. Jon and Taylor, along with Wes (Edens) and myself will make that call, and we understand the gravity of that call."

The Bucks also hold a lottery pick in this year's draft (the less favorable of their own or New Orleans' pick, with the lottery set for Sunday), adding another layer of urgency. Whether they're building around Antetokounmpo or planning for a new era, the next few weeks will shape the franchise's direction for years to come.