The Bucks “remained engaged with teams that have interest” in trading for Giannis Antetokounmpo over the weekend and submitted counteroffers to a few of them, ESPN’s Shams Charania said on a SportsCenter appearance (Twitter video link, hat tip to Real GM).
Charania listed the Heat, Timberwolves, Warriors and Knicks as “the most serious suitors” so far, although several other teams are rumored to be involved. He adds that it “comes down to the price point” for Antetokounmpo, which means parting with young talent, “a surplus of draft picks” or possibly a combination of both.
The Bucks have been sending mixed signals about whether they intend to part with their franchise player by Thursday’s deadline or wait until the summer in hopes of negotiating a better deal. Charania’s report is the strongest indication so far that Milwaukee is serious about making a trade this week.
The Bucks were hoping to put together a late-season run toward the playoffs and were originally approaching the deadline as buyers with an eye on upgrading the roster and convincing Antetokounmpo to stay. Those plans seemed to change on January 23 when Antetokoumpo suffered a calf injury that will keep him out indefinitely, virtually sinking the team’s postseason hopes. Milwaukee lost its fifth straight game Sunday at Boston and has fallen to 12th in the East at 18-29.
As Charania points out, there are pros and cons to the Bucks waiting for the offseason to make the deal. Interested teams will have additional draft capital to offer, but Antetokounmpo will also have more control over where he wants to go. After making $58.5MM next season, he holds a $62.8MM player option for 2027/28 and can threaten not to re-sign with a team that trades for him if it’s not one of his preferred destinations.
Bucks coach Doc Rivers addressed the trade rumors Sunday in an appearance on ESPN’s NBA Countdown (Twitter video link), stating, “I think everyone will be here” past the deadline. He also said he’s looking forward to the end of the week so speculation can be put on hold for a few months.
“He wants to be a Buck, he loves the city and that’s all I can go by as a coach right now,” Rivers said of Antetokounmpo. “Has it been difficult? Yeah. My favorite day of the year this year will be the day after the trade deadline. I think everyone will be here.”
Rivers added that Antetokounmpo expects to play again this season and is hoping to “get into the playoffs healthy.”
If Bucks want talents, Heat win the offer
If Bucks want draft capital, Warriors win
If Bucks want both, ……
Knicks or Wolves need 4 team trade, …..
This is going to be a massive seven or 8 team transaction. Many of the players we’re reading about in the Hoopsm rumors trade Deadline articles will be involved.
That is why it surprised me that Cleveland already completed the Hunter deal.
If they would have done a subsequent deal, maybe it could have been folded into the Antetokounmpo deal?
Even if they couldn’t aggregate salaries, for the other teams it could have been useful?
And Chicago could have also kept Carter as a salary matching piece plus could have aggregated using Saric …
And Kings could have been looking to aggregate with Hunter…
I really see no merit in not waiting, but then again Chicago and Sacramento are not the smarted teams when it comes to trades… They both added salary so that can also not be a reason to wait…
Maybe there is something to the Warriors offer being the best?
The Warriors efforts to get Giannis is all about this year and next. That’s it.
After curry retires, Butler is gone, and it’s over, those warrior picks will be very valuable.
I don’t think you can say the same for some other teams going after him. They would probably be better for a few years because they have better rosters than the Warriors and more importantly they are younger.
I think that could be something the Bucks look at when assessing draft pick trade compensation?
All this to say, I’m not necessarily in favor of bringing in Giannis for three first round pics plus a truckload of dudes.
Where does that leave Golden State roster wise? Steph, Giannis, and Santos lol
If Bucks are counter offering means warriors are out of it. There is not more they can offer besides draft picks.
Unless they are hoping Golden State sheds some extra players for extra draft picks or takes on a bad salary from a third team netting an extra draft pick in the deal …
GSW could always trade Butler for Paul George and first round pick? :)
I dont necessarilly want Giannis on the Warriors but I wouldnt mind them offering a bunch of post-Steph draft picks.
I think going all in now is more worth than getting some high picks that may amount to nothing 7 years from now
It’s not that the Bucks are losing, it’s how. No matter if they’re up or not, they’ll find a way to lose by 20 or more. No fight, no plan to win.
Counter offer is likely to include
Herro – injury issue
Ware – overrated
JJJ
KJ
Jovic
2 Firsts
2 swaps
Heat 2032 pick would be valuable
Doc Rivers is as unaware as always
Truth !!
Why are there any trade talks? The media repeatedly tells us Giannis never asked for a trade. I don’t think they should trade him until he actually asks for a trade.
Well, I think in a roundabout way he has.
He threw his teammates under the bus last week. I think reading the tea leaves or writing on the wall suggests he’s OK with getting shipped out.
If he won’t re-sign an extension in Milwaukee, they may as well get something for him while they can. That’s likely their thinking?
Exactly! Recognizing a player is on his way out of his current situation whether that is the teams choice or at his behest makes getting something rather than nothing when free agency arrives the only sensible solution. Then from the Bucks perspective the question becomes what can we get in return.
Those 4 “most interested” teams can’t offer anything that I’d move a generational talent for. Unless this is the NBA stepping in to ensure that wherever he goes might help the tanking ratings and interest in the NBA this season.
Warriors – doubtful given they assured Butler he won’t be dealt. Means they’d had to trade Draymond which I can’t see GSW doing. Also why would Milwaukee want draymond? Unless they can flip him to another team for additional younger assets/picks.
Knicks – KAT supposedly has low value now across the league. Unless the deal is centered around maybe some combo of Bridges and Hart, why would the Knicks do this? Don’t think it makes them better unless it is straight up for KAT.
Heat – my team and hoping they can pull it off. But skeptical Milwaukee values Tyler Herro & can’t imagine Spo has helped Ware’s value. There is value in Jaime Jaquez and Jakucionis, but not sure if it tips the scale. Not to mention the lack of picks Miami has in comparison to other teams. If they miss out on Giannis, they should blow it up and trade anyone not named Bam Adebayo.
Wolves – this is the best case scenario for Giannis from a win now perspective IMO. And a combo of Randle + Naz Reid would accelerate a rebuild. Maybe McDaniels also. My only thing is, I feel Giannis wants a bigger market.
Tbh, as much as I want my best to get him, Wolves seem like the best fit both from a basketball and win now perspective.
Randle, Reid and McDaniel’s would be needed to build around GA and are all older assets. Unless they are immediately flipping Reid for picks. None of these teams have a compelling offer IMO.
Those post Curry Warriors pics are extremely valuable.
They’ll be down the toilet by that time, and in fact they’re sort of starting to swirl around the sides of the commode right now.
The Wolves offer would be Randle and McDaniels. MAYBE McDaniels OR Reed, but NOT both. But I do agree it’s his best chance to win now. Also MSP is a big enough that you see Ant all over National TV and they talk about him being the face of the league. I honestly think a bigger market doesn’t weigh into it all, he just wants to win.
Maybe they countered with a proposal that includes both Draymond, Butler, Kuminga, Moody, Hield, Podziemski and Jackson-Davis?
Basically requesting all positive value contracts and all First Round picks?
With most of those players ending up with a bunch of other teams. Maybe Kuminga, Podziemski and Jackson-Davis to the Bucks?
And then Paul George and a first round pick to GSW for Butler…
Portland is the best trade partner for Milwaukee, because they can offer a combination of young players and enticing draft capital.
Deni Avdija and Scoot Henderson would be the centerpiece of the return along with first round picks. Milwaukee could stay competitive in the East without having to do a hard reset, get younger and build draft capital.
Portland can remain competitive for the 2026 playoffs, but also arms themselves with a big three of Giannis-Lillard-Holiday with two great young defenders in Clingan and Camara for 2027+.
Portland won’t want to give up Avdija, but Giannis is the replacement. He would reduce the draft capital sent the other way, while the Blazers have more than enough talent to field an intimidating lineup.
To make the cap work, the trade could be something like this:
PORT: Antetokounmpo, Kuzma, Prince (injured), 2-3 firsts
MIL: Avdija, Grant, Henderson, Williams III (expiring), Thybulle (expiring)
New depth charts would look like:
PORTLAND
PF Giannis, Kuzma
C Clingan, Yang
SF Camara, Kr. Murray, Cissoko (promoted from 2 way)
PG Holiday, Love (promoted from 2 way), Wesley
SG Sharpe, Krejci, Rupert
(Lillard back for 2027)
MILWAUKEE
PF Grant, Portis
SF Avdija, Trent, Coffey, Thybulle
C Turner, Williams III, Sims
PG Rollins, Henderson, Anthony
SG Green, K. Porter Jr., Harris
(waive Thanasis and Andre Jackson Jr.)