Breadcrumb Trail LinksSportsBasketballNBAToronto RaptorsMilwaukee Bucks can find better offers elsewhere as Raptors surely won't dangle Scottie Barnes. Get the latest from Ryan Wolstat straight to your inbox Sign Up Published Jan 28, 2026 • 5 minute readGiannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks controls the ball against Immanuel Quickley of the Toronto Raptors during a game earlier this season. Getty ImagesArticle contentGiannis Antetokounmpo appears to finally be ready for a divorce from the floundering Milwaukee Bucks.Advertisement 2THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLYSubscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account.Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on.Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists.Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists.Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword.SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLESSubscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account.Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on.Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists.Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists.Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword.REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLESCreate an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.Access articles from across Canada with one account.Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments.Enjoy additional articles per month.Get email updates from your favourite authors.THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK.Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.Access articles from across Canada with one accountShare your thoughts and join the conversation in the commentsEnjoy additional articles per monthGet email updates from your favourite authorsArticle contentIt felt for years like an inevitability, yet Antetokounmpo never quite gave a green light to a potential move, reportedly fearing being portrayed as the “bad guy” the way many other superstars have in these scenarios.Article contentArticle contentBut the writing was on the wall. The Bucks flat out stink, sitting 24th of 30 teams and 12th in the Eastern Conference alone, with a dreadful supporting cast around the two-time MVP.Milwaukee has lost in the first round of the playoffs three straight seasons and most recently won two or more series in 2021, when Antetokounmpo led them to the NBA title. The all-time great big man wants to have a shot at more rings — all he cares about is winning — and he has no shot at another title if he stays put.ESPN reported Wednesday that Antetokounmpo has agreed that the time is right for a trade and hopes it will get done by the Feb. 5 NBA trade deadline.“Multiple teams have received a sense that the Bucks are more open than ever to Antetokounmpo offers between now and the deadline,” league sources told ESPN.“However, Milwaukee has indicated to interested teams that the organization is not in a rush to complete a move and is willing to navigate Antetokounmpo’s future in the off-season if its believed price point of a blue-chip young talent and/or a surplus of draft picks isn’t met, sources said. By waiting until the summer, the Bucks could also see which teams are able to offer more appealing draft picks in June.”Your Midday SunYour noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond.By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc.Thanks for signing up!A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder.The next issue of Your Midday Sun will soon be in your inbox.We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try againArticle contentAdvertisement 3Article contentTwo-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo is ready for a new home at the Feb. 5 NBA trade deadline or in the offseason as several rival teams make aggressive offers to the Milwaukee Bucks for him, and the franchise is starting to listen, league sources tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/OejatbQjDy— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) January 28, 2026Still, an imminent deal makes sense for Milwaukee. Yes, it would mean trading away the best player in franchise history after previously doing that in 1975 when Kareem Abdul-Jabbar forced his way to the Los Angeles Lakers after three MVP wins in six seasons and a seven-game NBA Finals loss to Boston the year prior (at least Oscar Robertson, the other franchise legend, retired a Buck).But Antetokounmpo is 31 now and has suffered through a run of calf injuries to both legs in recent years, including one last week to his right leg that will keep him out at least through February and possibly beyond.If the team can get good draft picks and/or prospects in exchange for one of the best players in the world, suddenly a dire future could at least give way to some hope. Milwaukee will get the worst of its own first-round pick this year or New Orleans’ first (Atlanta gets the better of the two) so it needs to finish as low as possible in the standings (the Pelicans are currently the NBA’s third-worst team) to make sure they get a chance at one of the super prospects in this year’s draft class.Advertisement 4Article contentIf they fail to land a star this summer, Milwaukee won’t have a shot at another until 2031 since they’ve either dealt outright or given swap options on their 2027, 2028, 2029 and 2030 first-round picks in prior deals aimed at extending their championship window around Antetokounmpo.The Greek Freak is eligible to sign a four-year supermax contract extension worth $275 million US on Oct. 1, so you can bet any deal will not just be a rental. The suitor will need assurances he’ll be staying put long-term at his new destination (similar to Toronto’s trade for Brandon Ingram last year and possibly Washington’s recent acquisition of Trae Young).Do the Raptors make sense for a trade?It’s no secret the Raptors have been after Antetokounmpo since his draft year and would love to have him today — who wouldn’t? But that doesn’t mean there’s a good chance he comes north.The asking price for Antetokounmpo is a lot more than what San Antonio was willing to take for Kawhi Leonard. It starts with Scottie Barnes and that’s a non-starter for the Raptors, as it should be.Advertisement 5Article contentIngram wouldn’t make sense for a Milwaukee franchise that will be starting a rebuild, so Toronto’s best non-Barnes or Ingram offer would probably be something like first-round picks in 2026, 2028 and 2030, as well as swap options on 2027 and 2029 first-rounders, plus some combination of R.J. Barrett, Jakob Poeltl or Immanuel Quickley and Collin Murray-Boyles, Jamal Shead, Ja’Kobe Walter or Gradey Dick.Even if the Bucks agreed, Toronto — while a bulldozer and the biggest team in the NBA — would also have the worst collection of shooters and a barren bench.As nice as Giannis, Barnes and Ingram would look on paper, would that group even be a title contender given all of its flaws? Unlikely.Not only will the Bucks receive better offers from elsewhere, Antetokounmpo also likely will steer himself to a team closer to title contention.Who are the best matches for Giannis?Milwaukee’s best play is to figure out which teams are willing to pony up a super asset (preferably more than one) for Antetokounmpo.Advertisement 6Article contentWith the East wide open, Atlanta looms as an intriguing option for both sides. What if the Hawks gave Milwaukee the New Orleans 2026 first (meaning the Bucks would get two shots at Top 5 selections), Milwaukee’s 2027 first back, another future first, plus 2024 No. 1 overall selection Zaccharie Risacher, a big expiring contract (Kristaps Porzingis) and filler, while also taking on the onerous contract of Myles Turner, too?With a healthy Giannis, the Hawks could win the East since Jalen Johnson is having a breakout season.Sticking with the East, the New York Knicks have been rumoured as key Giannis suitors in the past and could re-enter the fray. They likely would have to sell the Bucks on talented-but-flawed big man Karl-Anthony Towns, plus a boatload of future first-round picks. It doesn’t feel like that would be enough for Milwaukee.A Miami deal involving Bam Adebayo has similar limitations, but the Heat could instead offer youngsters Kel’el Ware and Jaime Jaquez Jr., along with lots of future first-round picks, former all-star guard Tyler Herro and filler. With Adebayo now mixing in three-point shots, he’d pair interestingly with Antetokounmpo.Advertisement 7Article contentRead More NBA trade deadline ruined by run of injuries, including to Giannis Raptors will make a trade, the only question is how big Giannis Antetokounmpo to the Raptors? Breaking down likelihood of blockbuster deal for Bucks star In the West, teams like San Antonio (only if they’d part with one of Dylan Harper or Stephon Castle), Houston and the Los Angeles Clippers (though they only control their 2030 first-round pick) probably make the most sense, though others will make offers.One interesting wild-card idea: Portland surrendering former high lottery picks Donovan Clingan and Scoot Henderson, along with Jerami Grant and filler, while returning some of the future Milwaukee first-rounders the Blazers previously acquired in the Damian Lillard-Jrue Holiday trade.Article contentShare this article in your social networkComments Join the Conversation