Controversial Browns owner reveals $275m Giannis Antetokounmpo trade timeline as NBA role confirmed

Jimmy Haslam has plenty to oversee this summer before the Cleveland Browns return to NFL action.

Once again, the struggling NFL franchise will hold a training camp quarterback competition to decide their Week 1 starter.

Getty

Shedeur Sanders, Deshaun Watson, Dillon Gabriel and rookie Taylen Green also all expected to battle it out for the No. 1 spot in the coming weeks and months.

But moving forward, Haslam will also be keeping a closer eye on what’s happening hundreds of miles away from the practice field in Ohio.

The 72-year-old, worth a staggering $10 billion, is also co-owner of the NBA‘s Milwaukee Bucks.

Speaking last week, he signaled a ‘deeper, more visible role’ with the basketball team moving forward.

Controversial Browns owner to commit more time to NBA franchise

At a press conference introducing new Bucks coach Taylor Jenkins, Haslam made it clear he wants to be more involved.

“Do I think we’ll be here more?” He said, via Jonathan X. Simmons of the Cleveland Plain Dealer. “I do.”

Haslam and his wife purchased a 25 percent stake in the Bucks for $800 million back in 2023, making them co-owners of the team alongside Wes Edens and Jamie Dinan.

Last week’s press conference marked the first time he had spoken publicly as a member of the ownership group.

Haslam’s decision to take a bigger role in Milwaukee might irk some Browns fans, considering many in the city will root for the Cleveland Cavaliers when it comes to basketball.

The Bucks play 450 miles away from Huntington Bank Field, but their rivalry with the city of Cleveland is strong, given they play in the Eastern Conference like the Cavs.

Getty

Milwaukee won just one of the four regular-season contests between the two teams in the 2025-26 season.

The Bucks might soon be losing their star player, too.

Jimmy Haslam calls for resolution to long-running contract issue

Giannis Antetokounmpo has spent his entire 13-year NBA career in Milwaukee, and was named the league’s MVP twice before leading the Bucks to a championship in 2021.

But he’s cut a more frustrated figure in recent seasons, and it’s possible he could leave after an injury-marred 2025-26 campaign.

Giannis is under contract through next season, but has repeatedly stressed he wants to play for a team committed to competing for titles.

Getty

The Bucks went 32-50 this time around, and missed the playoffs to raise further question marks over his future — and Haslam wants a resolution before next month’s NBA draft.

“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 (general manager) Jon (Horst’s) job to do. And if he’s here, then you build the team differently.”

The Bucks can offer their star a four-year, $275 million contract extension in October.

Getty

But if Giannis doesn’t sign, he could become a free agent after next season.

By suggesting he wants a resolution next month, Haslam appears to be putting a trade on the table, and could cash in on Milwaukee’s superstar.

Only time will tell if the Bucks can find a resolution with Giannis, but it seems whatever happens, that Haslam will be more involved with team operations than he has before.

Stay up to date with the NFL across all our talkSPORT platforms – subscribe to our YouTube channel for the latest news, opinion, exclusive interviews and our daily unfiltered, unscripted show ‘The S* Word, from 8am ET