The Milwaukee Bucks have pushed through a tense season while trying to keep Giannis Antetokounmpo fully bought in. Trade chatter has hovered over the team, but recent reports indicate Milwaukee prefers to pursue upgrades and surround Antetokounmpo with more talent rather than move him and reset the franchise. The organization seems intent on retooling on the fly and chasing contention instead of hitting the rebuild button.
Milwaukee’s roster flaws have become hard to ignore, and Giannis Antetokounmpo is well aware of them. He recently acknowledged the situation by saying that “half the team could be gone” if the Bucks fail to turn things around.
Any move Milwaukee makes would likely involve shipping out Myles Turner, as the headline offseason addition has not matched the level he showed earlier in his career. The Bucks clearly need a true point guard after losing Damian Lillard, and while the price to land one would be steep, that kind of move could be enough to steady the situation and keep Antetokounmpo on board, at least in the short term.
The Five-team trade to keep Giannis Antetokounmpo happy
Dec 11, 2025; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) looks on from the bench while recovering from an injury in the second quarter against the Boston Celtics at Fiserv Forum. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-Imagn Images
Eric Pincus of Bleacher Report floated a five-team trade concept he called a move the Bucks “actually need to make.” The deal would require Milwaukee to part with several rotation pieces and a first-round pick, but it would reset the lineup and inject the roster with much-needed talent.
In the proposed five-team deal, the Milwaukee Bucks land the headline pieces. They bring in Darius Garland, Jarrett Allen, Thomas Bryant, and Terance Mann, along with two small trade exceptions. The move would dramatically reshape Milwaukee’s core by adding a true point guard, interior size, and wing depth in one sweep.
Cleveland pivots toward the future by acquiring Jonathan Kuminga, Bobby Portis, and two protected first-round picks, while also creating multiple trade exceptions. Golden State turns Myles Turner into its primary return, with Day’Ron Sharpe added for depth, and Indiana picks up Trayce Jackson-Davis. Brooklyn absorbs the largest haul, taking in Kyle Kuzma, Cole Anthony, Amir Coffey, Al Horford, and Buddy Hield, plus multiple second-round picks, cash, and a trade exception to balance the deal.
The Bucks’ season so far
Apr 10, 2025; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) reacts in the second quarter against the New Orleans Pelicans at Fiserv Forum. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-Imagn Images
Milwaukee would pursue this move largely out of desperation. Even with Antetokounmpo back after nearly a month on the sideline, a 13–19 mark has left the Bucks lagging behind in the Eastern Conference.
The current group has not shown it can deliver wins on a consistent basis, and while there are some young players trending upward, that is not enough. If Milwaukee wants to climb back into the race, Antetokounmpo needs proven contributors around him, not a roster still searching for reliability.
Even with the obvious risk involved, it is difficult to imagine the Bucks turning down a move that upgrades the roster and gives them a real chance to convince their franchise star to stay.