The biggest story in the NBA involved the Bucks.
Unfortunately for reporters gathered in Milwaukee on draft night, they weren’t going to hear much about it from general manager Jon Horst.
Before taking questions following the first round of the NBA Draft, Horst made it clear that the agreed-upon trade sending Giannis Antetokounmpo to the Heat was off limits.
“Good evening, everybody. Thanks for hanging around. Exciting night, exciting few days. Look forward to taking questions for a few minutes,” Horst said, via The Athletic.
Then came the disclaimer.
“Before I start, just to be clear, until trades are approved by the league, we’re not allowed to comment on anything. So there won’t be conversations about that.”
Horst never mentioned Antetokounmpo by name.
He didn’t mention Miami, either.
Of course, everyone in the room knew exactly what he was talking about.
Just a night earlier, ESPN broke the news that the Bucks had agreed to trade Antetokounmpo and Bobby Portis to the Heat in a blockbuster package that includes Tyler Herro, Kel’el Ware, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Kasparas Jakucionis and multiple draft assets.
The trade cannot become official until July, which explains Horst’s reluctance — and league restrictions — regarding public comments.
Still, it made for an unusual scene.
The Bucks held a press conference just a day after agreeing to move the face of the franchise, only for the team’s top executive to immediately announce that he couldn’t discuss the move everyone wanted to discuss.
Such is life during NBA trade season.
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