It’s that time of year when trade chatter starts to heat up. By mid-December, most teams start to have a good idea of who they are (or are not). Team executives start to mull around ideas of roster reshuffling and what they want their teams to look like post-trade deadline.
For the most part, mid-season trades rarely involve superstars. The Luka Doncic for Anthony Davis swap is an exception to this rule and was unprecedented on many levels. Most trades leading up to the February deadline involve role players. This season will most likely be the same, but with one major potential addition: Giannis Antetokounmpo.
The Bucks are going nowhere, sitting at 10-15 and 10th in the Eastern Conference. Since their 2021 championship season, the Bucks have won only one playoff series, and reports are emerging of Antetokounmpo’s potential unhappiness. In the coming weeks, the Bucks and Antetokounmpo will discuss his future and decide on a path forward. If that path involves trading him, Antetokounmpo will likely request a trade to a contender. Here are four teams that could shake up the title landscape and bring in the “Greek Freak.”
New York Knicks
Let’s start with the obvious — the Knicks. It’s been widely speculated that Antetokounmpo’s wish list includes New York. Mega-stars don’t often stay in small markets for their entire career. Milwaukee is no stranger to a franchise player wanting out. Kareem Abdul-Jabaar left the after requesting a trade in the summer of 1975. He was sent to the Lakers, which officially started the “Showtime Era” in Los Angeles.
The major markets make sense: bigger metropolitan areas, more fans, more sponsorship and entertainment opportunities, and so much more. Antetokounmpo is in his 13th season, all with the Bucks. It may be time for a change of scenery, and the bright lights of New York make sense. Antetokounmpo is once again near the top of MVP discussions, averaging 28.9 points per game, 10.1 rebounds and 6.1 assists, and the Knicks may want in on his stardom.
The Knicks were openly frustrated with Karl-Anthony Towns’ defensive performance during last season’s playoff run, and his salary ($53.1M) matches up almost perfectly with Antetokounmpo’s ($54.1M). He would be the centerpiece in this trade. He’s an offensive powerhouse who causes matchup problems across the league while averaging 22.5 points, 11.9 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game.
THE TRADE:
Bucks receive: Karl-Anthony Towns, Miles McBride, three first-round picks
Knicks receive: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Thanasis Antetokounmpo
It can be reasonably assumed Milwaukee will likely send Giannis’s brother Thanasis Antetokounmpo in any trade and Miles McBride makes sense for Milwaukee. He’s a young point guard who can shoot and facilitate. McBride has become a fan favorite of Knicks fans, with his high energy style and ability to contribute whether he starts or comes off the bench. This season, he’s averaging 11.6 points per game, 2.6 rebounds, and 2.5 assists. Milwaukee gets two good pieces and three first-round picks to kickstart a rebuild.
Los Angeles Lakers
This scenario will feel all too familiar for Bucks fans, but a move sending Antetokounmpo to the Western Conference may make sense. Especially considering the centerpiece in the trade from the Lakers side would be Austin Reaves.
Reaves has been shot out of a cannon this season. He’s been an ideal running mate for Luka Doncic, propelling the Lakers to a 17-6 record, second in the West. Reaves is averaging 28.4 points per game this season, 5.5 rebounds, and 6.7 assists. Reaves is only 27 and just entering his prime. Any deal for the Bucks’ superstar would almost have to contain Austin Reaves.
The good for the Lakers would be Luka Doncic is finally able to get a physically dominant front court powerhouse, far unlike anything he’s ever played with before. The Luka-Giannis duo would have defenses scrambling for answers.
THE TRADE:
Bucks receive: Austin Reaves, Rui Hachimura, Jarred Vanderbilt, Gabe Vincent, Dalton Knecht, two first round picks
Lakers Receive: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Thanasis Antetokounmpo
The Lakers get the Antetokounmpo brothers and the Bucks get their next star in Austin Reaves to pair with Myles Turner. The Bucks also receive solid bench depth and upgrade their guard rotation. The Lakers would likely need to attach a pick or two to get the deal done. Ultimately, the Lakers get a chance to pair two MVP-caliber players together and the Bucks jumpstart their mini-rebuild centered around Austin Reaves.
San Antonio Spurs
San Antonio will be at the table in Giannis discussions because of their deep bag of assets in both young players and draft compensation.
The Spurs, by many accounts, are ahead of schedule in their rebuild around Victor Wembanyama. They currently sit at fifth in the Western Conference at 16-7, but only a game out of second. A blockbuster trade for Antetokounmpo could propel them to a clear second right behind Oklahoma City. The twin towers of Wembanyama and Antetokounmpo would cause major problems for the other 29 teams in the NBA, especially the Thunder. Chet Holmgren has taken a leap this year for Oklahoma City, but they would still be vastly undersized vs this San Antonio frontcourt.
THE TRADE:
Bucks receive: Devin Vassell, Harrison Barnes, Kelly Olynyk, Keldon Johnson, three first-round picks
Spurs receive: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Thanasis Antetokounmpo, Bobby Portis
This deal has the Bucks getting a young, scoring guard in Devin Vassell (15.7 points per game, 3.7 rebounds, 2.4 assists) and a two-way forward in Keldon Johnson (13.0 points per game, 6.5 rebounds, and 1.8 assists). The Bucks also receive two expiring contracts in Harrison Barnes and Kelly Olynyk that could free up additional cap space in the summer.
The Spurs receive the Antetokounmpo brothers along with Bobby Portis, who has been in trade discussions for the past three seasons. Portis, averaging 11.4 points per game, 5.6 rebounds, and 1.4 assists, will provide additional support for the already loaded San Antonio front court. This deal enters the Spurs into championship contention right now.
Oklahoma City Thunder
Oklahoma City, sitting at 23-1 and the clear favorite to win the NBA championship this season, might not feel it necessary to trade for Antetokounmpo. But the Thunder have to be listed as a possible landing spot solely because they have a treasure chest of assets.
The Thunder have 27 picks through the 2032 draft. At this point, it’s just monopoly money. The rise of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander as the league’s MVP along with fellow All-Star Jalen Williams has propelled Oklahoma City to dominance. Add in pieces like Chet Holmgren, Cason Wallace, Alex Caruso, and Isaiah Hartenstein (among others), and the Thunder are ridiculously loaded. Most of their core is young, so the Thunder don’t necessarily need all the upcoming draft picks. It wouldn’t take much to sway the Bucks into pulling the trigger.
THE TRADE:
Bucks receive: Isaiah Hartenstein, Alex Caruso, Isaiah Joe, Ousmane Dieng, four first-round picks
Thunder receive: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Thanasis Antetokounmpo, Bobby Portis
If the Thunder have a weakness, it’s their frontcourt. This trade solves Oklahoma City’s size issue and puts them as a clear title favorite for the foreseeable future. The Bucks get a solid big man in return in Isaiah Hartenstein, averaging 12.2 points per game, 10.7 rebounds, and 3.4 assists. They also receive two young core pieces in Isaiah Joe (12.9 points per game, 2.8 rebounds, 1.5 assists) and Ousmane Dieg (3.9 points, 1.7 rebounds). The final two pieces are Alex Caruso, who can add experience and mentorship for the young guys in Milwaukee, and the haul of four first-round picks.
This trade still feels unlikely, given the Thunder’s success, but they can do just about anything they want.
Ball in Milwaukee’s Court
There are other suitors for Giannis, namely Atlanta and Toronto, but Milwaukee might prefer to send him West, so they don’t have to see him dominate quite as often. There’s also a good chance Milwaukee doesn’t trade him at all, at least not until the summer. But there will be plenty of chatter until then.
The Giannis Antetokounmpo sweepstakes are just heating up and there will be many calls into the Bucks’ front office. If they do decide to trade him, they’ll have options at how they want to rebuild. One thing is for sure though. Wherever Giannis Antetokounmpo goes, will substantially shake up the NBA title race, and who knows? Any potential suitor that doesn’t end up with Antetokounmpo could very well talk themselves into the Dallas Mavericks’ bargain-basement version of Antetokounmpo: Anthony Davis.