It appears more and more likely that a Giannis Antetokounmpo trade will happen in the coming weeks, according to Jake Fischer and Marc Stein of The Stein Line (Substack link). As Fischer and Stein explain, virtually every team they talk to increasingly believes that the Bucks intend to make a deal involving the two-time Most Valuable Player prior to the start of the draft on June 23.
Bucks co-owner Jimmy Haslam previously expressed hope that a decision on Antetokounmpo would be finalized, one way or the other, before the draft. The sense at that time was that if Milwaukee was going to trade Giannis this offseason, the team would want to acquire at least one additional first-round pick in a a loaded 2026 draft.
According to Fischer and Stein, the Bucks have indeed been operating as if they’ll control at least one more first-rounder besides their own No. 10 selection. Given the perceived strength of the 2026 class, multiple high-end picks could help the Bucks jump-start their post-Giannis rebuild.
Sources around the league believe Milwaukee would prefer to wait until after the NBA Finals are over to make a deal, per The Stein Line’s duo, in case any teams feel compelled to enter the mix closer to the draft.
New York, for example, was viewed last year as a possible landing spot for Antetokounmpo. While the Knicks are no longer considered a prime suitor for the 31-year-old, the Bucks will want to see if that changes should New York blow a 2-0 lead in the NBA Finals and lose the series, Fischer and Stein explain.
There’s still a strong belief that Antetokounmpo would prefer to stay in the Eastern Conference, Fischer and Stein note, with the Heat viewed as the apparent leader and the star forward said to be reciprocating their interest. While Miami may be atop Giannis’ wish list, sources close to the process continue to mention the Celtics, who are considered a dark-horse suitor, as another option that would appeal to him, according to The Stein Line.
The Trail Blazers have also made their interest in Antetokounmpo known, but Fischer and Stein say it’s more likely the Bucks would try to include them as the third team in a deal in order to recoup some of the assets they gave up in the Damian Lillard trade. Without assurances that Giannis would sign a contract extension, Portland may not be willing to give up the sort of package for the 10-time All-Star that Milwaukee would be seeking.
Shocked…
Some tier 1 or tier 2 star would have to go to Portland if the Bucks want picks back or else it’s a pipe dream
Wiggins, Herro, Ware, Jaquez, 3 FRPs for Giannis and Bobby Portis. Money works.
Maybe they move Wiggins and Herro in separate deals for a bad contract and draft pick(s) – Pat Williams, Poeltl, Jermai Grant, Sabonis, Ja, Poole, etc…
You re-up Jaquez for something like Deni’s contract 4/55M.
A team better be sure he is the missing piece to a championship. That is a lot to give up for 1 player and you will not have much of a bench on your team if you have another star on the team.
Which is why my “Giannis to GSW makes the most sense for all sides” take is so strong. If all it takes is Jimmy, Podz, the #11 pick and a 2RP, you do that all day. Flip Jimmy to a contender in a multi-teamer so Bucks get another piece, Reaves and Lakers makes a lot of sense. The Bucks will get what they want, Giannis goes to the team where he has the best chance of winning the title next year, especially if GSW let KP walk for Lebron. Just saying.
You are also going to need to pay/extend him. A lot to gamble on Giannis, who hasn’t played more than 67 games since 2019-20 and hasn’t been out of the 1st round in four years.
The Bucks should have traded that crybaby a couple of years ago. They would have gotten a lot more.
I’m not really a “I told you so” person but I would love to know where all the folks who were so aggressive/defensive in their assertion that Giannis wasn’t going anywhere went? I’m sure now it will pivot to “He wanted to stay but the Bucks wanted him gone” or “Of course he had to leave after the way they treated him”.
Once the trade is done, I bet we see more and more of that once squeaky clean image of Giannis fade away.
Anyway, someone mentioned the Hornets the other day and I’m liking that idea more and more. Haven’t crunched any numbers, but they have a lot of young talent, solid depth and enough assets. Just too many other teams who either would be gutted afterwards, wouldn’t be a good fit for him, or are smart enough to steer clear of an unnecessarily risky short-sighted move.