With the potential for things to go south in Milwaukee for the 1-3 Bucks, their superstar’s future is suddenly being questioned.

Executives from rival NBA teams are reportedly watching Giannis Antetokounmpo’s situation closely in hopes of the MVP winner requesting a trade, according to a report by CBS Sports.

It’s been a rough start to the season for the ageing Bucks, with Khris Middleton sidelined and the team ranked bottom 10 in the NBA in defensive rating ahead of a four-game West road trip.

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There’s still questions surrounding Damian Lillard’s fit with Antetokounmpo after an up and down first season together that included the firing of coach Adrian Griffin.

So could Antetokounmpo force his way out of Milwaukee if they can’t find their groove?

“Teams are circling — and hopeful,” one Western Conference team executive told CBS.

A top NBA executive told the outlet they “wouldn’t be surprised if it happened by the trade deadline,” while an Eastern Conference exec said they’ve heard “Miami and New York — the Nets, not the Knicks” would be the ‘Greek Freak’’s preferred destinations.

The Oklahoma City Thunder, armed with a myriad of valuable draft picks, are another team to monitor as a potential suitor for Antetokounmpo, who’s contracted at the Bucks until 2028 after signing a three-year US $186 million extension last year.

“I haven’t heard them mentioned, but yeah, if you’re Milwaukee you might just go, ‘I don’t give a f*** what you want. If you want out, we’re getting the best deal we can.’ And Oklahoma City could definitely offer a good one,” the Eastern Conference executive said.

Just three years since the Bucks’ 2021 championship win, they no longer feel like true contenders in the East.

Milwaukee is 20-26 since Doc Rivers took over from Griffin, who was sensationally let go despite the team’s 30-13 record while sitting second in the Eastern Conference amid tension in the locker room.

The Bucks and Boston Celtics seemed destined to play off in multiple conference finals, but Boston has really separated itself as juggernaut, while other Eastern Conference teams have arguably gone past Milwaukee.

The Jrue Holiday trade last year has haunted the Bucks in many ways.

Not only has it taken Boston to another level and given it the clear best starting five in the NBA, Holiday was also Milwaukee’s premier perimeter defender and a key part of their defensive DNA during its strong run under Mike Budenholzer.

Holiday’s replacement, Lillard, despite the eight-time All-Star being a upgrade on face value, just hasn’t meshed with Antetokounmpo and the rest of the team as hoped, with the team’s defensive struggles hurting it badly.

It was the move intended to help Milwaukee get back to its title heights, but resulted in limited success including the Bucks getting knocked out of the first round of the playoffs (albeit, missing Antetokounmpo through injury).

The Bucks now have one of the oldest teams in the NBA including their core of Lillard (34), Antetokounmpo (29), Khris Middleton (33), Brook Lopez (36) and Bobby Portis (29) getting on in age. Having two max level stars in Antetokounmpo and Lillard in the new CBA era of course creates limitations from a roster building perspective.

And beyond the aforementioned veterans, there’s not many exciting young players coming through, so it’s hard to get excited about the future of the roster.

Perhaps they traded the wrong player too, with Middleton having been badly hampered by injuries in recent years, while it’d be fair to say the best of him, Lillard and Lopez is now in the rear vision mirror … or fast approaching.

The CBS report also stated Rivers has already gained a voice with regards to front office decisions, which could play a role in an Antetokounmpo trade.

“This is stuff that’s been going around for a year. They can deny it and he can deny it, but it comes down to the basic premise of, the guy wants to compete for titles,” NBA analyst Bill Simmons said on his own podcast.

“If he doesn’t feel like everything around him is title worthy, at some point he’s going to go to a place that he’ll be able to compete for titles.

“I look at this Bucks team and it’s really hinging on Middleton, who hasn’t been 100 per cent healthy in three years and is 33 years old. They have an old team in general and now you’re putting all this pressure on the Middleton piece.

“It can’t be ruled out, but I wouldn’t bet on it.”

Appearing as a guest on Simmons’ podcast, The Ringer’s Kirk Goldsberry added on the Antetokounmpo trade whispers: “That intel is out there … there’s a world where he’s the next big trade domino to drop.”

Of course, it’s just November 1 and a handful of games into the new season.

While Antetokounmpo’s patience might get tested, the team deserved the chance to work through its struggles in a marathon 82-game season filled with ongoing twists and turns.

In two week’s time we might be talking about Milwaukee in a completely different context.

It felt like so much went wrong last year including the coaching situation, Antetokounmpo’s untimely injury setback in the playoffs, Middleton’s ongoing inability to stay healthy and Lillard’s personal issues.

You could therefore see a world where they bounce back this season, but it’s off to a rocky start.

Antetokounmpo himself even flippantly raised the potential of an uncertain future if the team struggles to perform.

“If we don’t win this year, would you get fired?” Antetokounmpo said. “Do you have it in the back of your mind, like, ‘(What) if this year doesn’t go well?’ Yeah, if we don’t win a championship, I might get traded. Yeah, this is the job we live. This is the world we’re living in. It’s everybody.”

Of all bona fide NBA superstars, Antetokounmpo would have to be the one most on ‘trade me’ watch. If the Bucks’ current trajectory continues, expect chatter to only further ramp up.