Giannis Antetokounmpo
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Giannis Antetokounmpo prior to a game against the Cleveland Cavaliers in October 2025
The Milwaukee Bucks viewed Cleveland Cavaliers All-Star Evan Mobley as a dream trade target for Giannis Antetokounmpo at the trade deadline. An exciting trade deadline story saw the Bucks entertaining offers for Antetokounmpo until they backed out in the final week. Both Giannis and Milwaukee felt comfortable staying together to see if they could make the relationship work.
However, more rumors are circulating about a trade finally coming this summer. ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne reported the following about the Bucks desires:
“Multiple sources across the league said the Bucks’ asking price was enormous, with an executive from a third team describing the Bucks’ process as “gauging the market” and their price as ‘all our draft picks and good young players.’
The players the Bucks did seem interested in were younger building blocks such as VJ Edgecombe of the Philadelphia 76ers or Evan Mobley of the Cleveland Cavaliers, sources said.”
Mobley was one of two players mentioned by name that Milwaukee felt would be worth trading Giannis for. The Cavaliers were looking to make a big move, but they ended up moving Darius Garland for James Harden to improve the backcourt. Mobley was able to stick around as a major key to Cleveland’s success.
Chances Of A Giannis Trade Improving
Another recent report featured a Bucks co-owner confirming that the franchise would trade Antetokounmpo if he doesn’t sign a contract extension. Giannis only has one year left on his current contract and will enter free agency in the summer of 2027 as it currently stands.
Milwaukee and Antetokounmpo hoped to contend for a late playoff spot with the chance of pulling off an upset or two this season. Unfortunately, more injuries to Giannis and generally terrible play from the team sees them likely to miss the play-in seeds altogether unless something drastic changes.
This season failing and the future creating more complications will see Antetokounmpo most likely to get traded this summer. Giannis doesn’t seem willing to sign an extension with the Bucks’ roster currently failing to be anywhere near contender status. The clock is running out on Antetokounmpo’s time in Milwaukee.
Would Milwaukee Still Want Mobley For Giannis?
Milwaukee only sharing Mobley and VJ Edgecombe as the obvious pieces that they’d want to build around makes it clear they’d love to have these players. Mobley is already a former Defensive Player of the Year Award winner and should have another decade left of his prime years.
Cleveland would likely be the ones less inclined to make a move since they have a lot of big names under contract. The Cavaliers’ current vision sees them hoping to win an NBA Championship this season. Donovan Mitchell requires an extension after next season, but he reportedly wants to see the team get past the second round before signing.
Harden also requires an upcoming extension after the franchise traded to make him their starting point. More rumors are out about LeBron James considering Cleveland for a retirement run. Giannis may be too complicated of a trade for the Cavaliers to make Mobley a pipe dream.