The Milwaukee Bucks have needed to cope with Giannis Antetokounmpo commerce rumors for years, however each time he’s returned to the crew and performed at an MVP degree. Lastly, it feels like Antetokounmpo is prepared for a change of surroundings: the famous person and his agent have began conversations with the Bucks about “whether or not his finest match is staying or elsewhere,” in accordance with ESPN insider Shams Charania. A decision in anticipated within the coming weeks.
That is Giannis asking out, and he’s going to be traded quickly. The Bucks are 9-13 on the season after a 4-1 begin, and most just lately gave the tanking Washington Wizards their third win of the season on Monday evening. Dropping to the Wizards actually pushed Giannis over the sting, and now he’s speaking to the entrance workplace about the place he’s going subsequent.
That is devastating information for Bucks followers, but it surely’s additionally sensible for the group to commerce him now. The Bucks might even have a really excessive choose in a loaded 2026 NBA Draft this yr because the house owners of the least favourite choose between themselves and the New Orleans Pelicans. With the Pelicans trying horrible and the Bucks probably tanking post-Giannis commerce, Milwaukee might have good odds to choose probably as excessive as No. 2 total.
Antetokounmpo has been wonderful as soon as once more this season when wholesome. He’s averaging 30.6 factors, 10.7 rebounds, and 6.4 assists per sport on wonderful 66.8 p.c true taking pictures. He’s about to show 31 years previous, and he’s beneath contract subsequent season for $58.4 million after which has a $62.7 million participant possibility for the 2027-28 season.
The place might Giannis find yourself? Listed below are a couple of choices.
This commerce would work by Feb. 4, two days earlier than the commerce deadline, as a result of it will mark six months since Fox’s extension. The Spurs actually ought to really feel no stress to do a commerce like this as a result of the crew was trying actually good earlier than Victor Wembanyama exited the lineup with a calf damage. The remainder of this crew is younger and on Wemby’s timeline, and it was be extraordinarily daring to push all of the chips in for a championship push whereas Wemby is barely 21 years previous. Nonetheless, a Giannis-Wemby pairing may very well be terrifying for the subsequent few years and put the Spurs in place to push the Thunder for championships.
A Rockets commerce goes to be actually sophisticated if it entails Jabari Smith Jr’s poison capsule contract, however one thing like this might work in broad strokes. Amen Thompson may be the absolute best younger participant Milwaukee might convey again in a Giannis deal, and he stays a beautiful long-term prospect regardless of an uneven third season. I might see the Rockets together with one among Jabari Smith Jr. or Reed Sheppard with a bunch of tantalizing future draft picks. A Giannis commerce makes extra sense for Houston’s timeline now that they’ve Kevin Durant, and a Giannis-KD-Alperen Sengun entrance line can be improbable. The Rockets really feel like one of many 5 almost definitely champions this season proper now, and getting Giannis would definitely enhance their odds.
The Raptors are the shock crew of the East thus far, and it’s early sufficient within the season that they’ll discuss themselves into making an Jap Convention title run even earlier than doing a Giannis commerce. I didn’t assume this Toronto crew can be pacing on the No. 2 seed within the East, so I don’t wish to put a ceiling on what they may probably accomplish proper now. If the Raptors really feel like they’re a long-shot, although, making a daring transfer for Giannis would give them one of the best participant within the convention in a dilapidated discipline. For as a lot as I really like Collin Murray-Boyles, the gamers coming again to Milwaukee right here aren’t as engaging as Amen Thompson or Stephon Fortress. Meaning there would most likely must be extra picks within the deal, and only for kicks I included all 4 that Toronto might commerce right here. Milwaukee might most likely additionally flip Ingram and Barrett for future draft capital. Toronto received a championship in 2019 with a equally daring commerce for Kawhi Leonard, although that one solely value them a single first-round choose. Giannis in Toronto can be must-see TV if he purchased in.
The Lakers can solely commerce one distant first-round choose proper now, and so they don’t have a lot to supply by way of tradable property exterior of Austin Reaves. This most likely solely occurs if Giannis says he’s taking part in for the Lakers and nobody else. Nonetheless, the Lakers simply discover a method to land famous person gamers in each era of the franchise, so it is smart to incorporate them on any listing.
Giannis mainly stated he needed to be with the Knicks this summer time when Milwaukee and New York engaged in an unique negotiating window however couldn’t comply with a deal. The Knicks already traded a Giannis degree package deal for Mikal Bridges, from what I can inform, can’t actually commerce a first-round choose exterior of the top-8 protected 2026 Wizards choose they personal which can finally convey into two seconds. ESPN’s Brian Windhorst reported that Giannis will choose his vacation spot, and that places the Knicks within the highlight as soon as once more. Perhaps there’s a three-team model of a deal right here with Mikal Bridges goes to a 3rd crew and picks return to the Bucks. Cities and Anunoby would serve no objective on a tanking Bucks crew, however they may very well be flipped for good commerce returns over the summer time. We all know Giannis needs the Knicks. Do the Knicks need Giannis? Would the Bucks truly ship him there?
The Warmth are a giant shock within the East this season, trying like a possible dwelling courtroom benefit playoff crew even with Tyler Herro simply returning to the lineup. Pat Riley is at all times famous person looking, and Giannis is as huge because it will get. I really like Ware and even I feel this isn’t an excellent package deal for the Bucks, however the cash would work out after Jan. 15. They’ll additionally do a model of this commerce with Andrew Wiggins, however I’m unsure that’s any higher for them. Touchdown Giannis can be the last word swan music for Riley, and put Miami in place to probably win the East proper now.
That is the commerce the Bucks needs to be looking, one that will give them a second crack at an elite prospect within the 2026 NBA Draft and an excellent asset for the 2027 draft. The Hawks are cruising proper now behind Jalen Johnson with out Trae Younger out, and this can be a deal that might have them dreaming about profitable the East proper now. There’s a robust argument that Atlanta needs to be gradual roll it, take its possibilities with New Orleans within the lottery, and attempt to land one among Darryn Peterson, Cameron Boozer, or AJ Dybantsa themselves as an alternative of setting Milwaukee up with one among them. If the Bucks are controlling the state of affairs, they need to be urgent Atlanta earlier than some other crew.
