Six potential trade destinations for Bucks’ Giannis Antetokounmpo

The NBA really ought to stand for the Never Boring Association, considering the endless narratives it provides.

One of the craziest moments in league history added an epilogue on Monday night to a story that was supposed to be done for the season.

Armed with just 1.8 per cent odds, the Dallas Mavericks won the 2025 draft lottery mere months after the back-alley dealing of Luka Doncic. The San Antonio Spurs also got in on the fun, jumping seven spots to No. 2 despite just a 6.3 per cent chance of that outcome.

And if that somehow wasn’t enough, another shockwave was felt on Tuesday when Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum ruptured his Achilles. The forward will presumably be sidelined for about one year, drastically impacting the complexion of the Eastern Conference.

In true NBA fashion, it all immediately kicked the league’s rumour mill into overdrive, with most of the trickledown gossip surrounding two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo.

Shortly after the Milwaukee Bucks were bounced in the first round — for a third consecutive season — it was reported that the superstar is “open-minded” about playing elsewhere for the first time in his 12-year career. Representatives from both sides will discuss the pairing’s future this summer, and while it wouldn’t be easy saying goodbye to Antetokounmpo after he helped end the franchise’s 40-year title drought, Milwaukee is running out of alternatives as its aging, cash-strapped roster has nearly nudged its window shut entirely.

Ultimately, a fresh start might be needed to maximize the former champion’s prime — having just averaged 30.9 points, 11.9 rebounds and 6.5 assists in the regular-season while being named an MVP finalist — and it wouldn’t be difficult for the Bucks to fetch a haul while finding a mutually beneficial trade partner, especially after the lottery.

Only time will tell if the noise was harmless off-season chatter or a subplot that eventually drives next season’s storylines. Until then, here are six teams well-positioned to make a move for Antetokounmpo.

San Antonio Spurs

After walking away with two lottery picks on Monday, bringing their total number of trade-eligible first-rounders to eight, the Spurs might be in pole position to make a big swing.

The team underwent massive changes throughout this past season, welcoming all-star guard De’Aaron Fox, transitioning from Hall of Fame coach Gregg Popovich to the relatively unknown Mitch Johnson and losing time with Victor Wembanyama because of a blood clot after 46 stellar games. So as they navigate the choppy waters of uncertainty next year, adding Antetokounmpo could quickly calm those tides.

The Greek Freak and French phenom would make a vaunted frontcourt pairing that could wreak havoc against opposing offences. Antetokounmpo’s downhill pressure would immediately open up shots for Fox and reigning Rookie of the Year Stephon Castle (should he stay put).

With Wembanyama’s ascension all but undeniable, the Spurs will want to maximize the roster for contention sooner rather than later. And there aren’t many better ways of accomplishing that than by adding a nine-time all-star.

What could they offer? The No. 2 and 14 selections in 2025 would be a strong start since Milwaukee doesn’t control any of its first-round picks until 2031. Also considering that fact, the Bucks will have little interest in tanking, which makes the Spurs’ plethora of up-and-comers good additions to any deal — i.e., Castle (20), Jeremy Sochan (21), Devin Vassell (24) and Keldon Johnson (25).

Dallas Mavericks

When general manager Nico Harrison made the stunning decision to ship off Doncic, he kept reiterating that the Mavericks still want to “win now” and that “defence wins championships.”

Adding a former Finals MVP and DPOY in Antetokounmpo then feels like a no-brainer to check those boxes — especially after the Mavs’ season ended with an injury-ravaged squad getting bounced from the Play-In.

While a miracle leap up the draft board provided fans with newfound hope, would Cooper Flagg be ready to contribute toward title aspirations right away? The pressure could mount quickly in a loaded West, especially with Kyrie Irving likely sidelined to start next season and Anthony Davis’s health routinely in question. Top prospects have routinely crumbled under the weight of lofty expectations.

Admittedly, trading away the No. 1 pick right after winning the draft lottery for the first time in franchise history might be too big-brained even for Harrison, which is why reports indicate the Mavericks don’t plan on sending out the “gift” they were given.

But reportedly no one saw the Doncic-Davis swap coming. So, trying to anticipate anything from this Dallas front office feels like a fool’s errand.

Whether or not the fanbase could handle another blockbuster deal is another question. But if there’s any return that might soften the blow of saying goodbye to the first overall pick, it’s a perennial MVP candidate.

What could they offer? The No. 1 selection would have to do the heavy lifting in any package the Mavericks put together. While they do have a solid mix of youngsters (Max Christie and Dereck Lively II) and veterans (Klay Thompson, Caleb Martin and Naji Marshall) that could be included, they’ll have to try and oversell on the upside of existing trade candidates in P.J. Washington and Daniel Gafford, both of whom are extension eligible and seemingly looking for pay raises in any proposed deal.

Houston Rockets

We might as well complete the Texas trifecta.

For what it’s worth, the Rockets are the favourites (plus-475) to land Antetokounmpo, per BetMGM.

Houston took a major step towards contention this season by earning the No. 2 seed and boasting the NBA’s fifth-best defence. But that pluckiness only carried them so far as the late-game scoring woes that troubled the Rockets all season (ranked 23rd during fourth quarters) came back to haunt them in the playoffs as they got eliminated by the seventh-seeded Golden State Warriors.

Despite being primed with picks and prospects throughout the past season, Houston’s front office pushed back on the idea of swinging for a star until it gave the group a chance in the playoffs. Well, here we are.

The Rockets’ glaring need for a go-to scorer will need to be addressed, and what better way than by adding someone who was top 10 in fourth-quarter points in the playoffs and top 15 throughout the regular season (min. 60 games).

What could they offer? Houston has seven first-rounders from now until 2031 that could be packaged, including this year’s 10th overall pick and Phoenix’s 2027 selection, which presents as enticing given the Suns’ murky situation. Beyond that, take your pick of the litter in terms of promising youth.

While the Rockets would try to keep at least one of Alperen Sengun and Jalen Green, third-year forwards Tari Eason and Jabari Smith Jr. could presumably be had. Meanwhile, underutilized sophomore Cam Whitmore and similarly situated Reed Sheppard (drafted No. 3 in 2024) offer plenty of future upside.

Oklahoma City Thunder

It might seem greedy for a team that’s one win away from a Conference Finals appearance, helmed by one of the other MVP finalists, to even consider adding the Bucks superstar.

But for a Thunder squad that’s steadily built up its treasure chest of assets to the brim, all names should be considered. And as special as OKC was in the regular season — 68 wins, third on offence and first on defence — the playoffs have proven that, while still impressive, it’s not quite as infallible when the stakes get raised.

Budding youngsters Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren have shown flashes of ascension while also demonstrating a lack of composure at times. But will Shai Gilgeous-Alexander remain patient much longer while he’s already hit his prime? Although that remains unclear, what we do know is that if the Hamilton, Ont., native paired up with Antetokounmpo, there’d be nothing to wait for.

What could they offer? It’s almost a given that the Bucks would ask for at least one of Williams or Holmgren. But with a whopping 11 first-rounders on the table, maybe a package surrounding their other prospects (Cason Wallace, Jaylin Williams, Aaron Wiggins or Nikola Topic), a combo of cost-controlled vets (Alex Caruso, Lu Dort, Isaiah Hartenstein or Isaiah Joe) and a boatload of picks could be enough anyway.

Brooklyn Nets

According to the New York Post’s Bryan Lewis, the Nets have long been amassing capital with hopes of acquiring the Antetokounmpo. They view the superstar as “Plan A” in the team’s effort to revamp, all while hoping to take advantage of their league-high cap room to build a serious roster around him.

And while a path to contention doesn’t appear clear in Brooklyn right now, offering Antetokounmpo a blank canvas might be just as appealing.

Per NBA insider Brian Robinson, the eight-time All-NBAer is interested in staying in the East, having a voice in roster and coaching decisions and being in a market that other stars would like to join. Count all three boxes checked by the Nets.

What could they offer? If Brooklyn is going to entice Milwaukee into a deal, it’ll likely be with its abundance of draft assets rather than its pool of prospects. The Nets would try to avoid including either of their Cams, Thomas, who’s a UFA and exciting scorer, and Johnson, a recently re-signed 3-and-D stalwart.

Instead, it’s likelier they’d try to dangle a combo of Nic Claxton, Noah Clowney, Ziaire Williams or Day’Ron Sharpe and plenty of their league-leading 31 available picks. Within that treasure chest, Brooklyn has 15 first-rounders, four of which are for the 2025 draft and include the No. 8 overall selection.

Toronto Raptors

While Canada’s lone NBA franchise may be a long shot to land Antetokounmpo (plus-3000), don’t count it out entirely.

For starters, per Robinson’s report, the Raptors (along with the Nets) have “emerged as destinations of interest” for the Greek star.

And it’s no secret the organization has long admired the Bucks forward, stemming from his well-documented relationship with Masai Ujiri. Toronto’s team president once helped Antetokounmpo’s family secure Greek citizenship and even tried desperately to trade into the 2013 draft with hopes of selecting the unheralded Nigerian-born prospect.

Fast forward to 2025, and it’s unlikely the desire to add him has waned much, if at all.

While the Raptors are in the midst of a rebuild, as proclaimed by Ujiri himself, his end goal of bringing Toronto another title remains at the forefront. And we all know he’s no stranger to making big swings in pursuit of a championship.

Bringing in Antetokounmpo would undoubtedly be his boldest move since acquiring Kawhi Leonard, and given the forward is under contract for at least two more seasons (with a player option for 2027-28), it’d be far less anxiety-inducing than when the Raptors acquired the Leonard ahead of his impending free agency.

Toronto also checks plenty of boxes for Antetokounmpo. Not only is the team in the East, but it offers a large international market he could immediately dominate, all while having crafted the high-level culture he’s looking for.

What could they offer? The Raptors would have to seriously leverage Antetokounmpo’s reported interest in the franchise to keep up in trade talks with other suitors. But if the team gets to the negotiating table, it definitely won’t show up empty-handed.

A trio of extension-eligible Raptors in RJ Barrett, Jakob Poeltl and Ochai Agbaji could help Milwaukee win now while allowing Toronto to match Antetokounmpo’s $50 million-plus salary. The Raptors also have a pair of recent first-rounders in Gradey Dick and Ja’Kobe Walter they could include to fill out the prospect portion of a deal — or by tossing in some of their other promising 2024 rookies. As far as picks go, Toronto has 13 between now and 2031 and is in control of all seven first-rounders (including No. 9 in 2025) that could be packaged in any trade.

Even if the Raptors make it that far, they may face another conundrum should the Bucks ask for any of the team’s three highest-paid players in Scottie Barnes, Brandon Ingram or Immanuel Quickley — presumably Barnes, considering his age and Antetokounmpo-like physical upside. And while Toronto would ultimately have to give it real consideration, expect Ujiri and co. to try and make it happen without depleting the team’s top-end talent too heavily.

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