There's expected to be a bidding war for Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo during the offseason, and it remains uncertain when that's going to happen. The Bucks reportedly want to have this figured out before the NBA Draft at the end of the month, though it remains unclear whether that's how things will play out.
Most NBA teams interested in Antetokounmpo will probably want this done before the draft as well, so they understand what they're working with. One team that could make sense for The Greek Freak is the Golden State Warriors, though the Bucks might not be too interested in making a trade with Golden State because of some of their limited assets. A recent trade proposal would get the Bucks four first-round picks, but the players coming back are nothing to be excited about.
Golden State Warriors receive: Giannis Antetokounmpo
Milwaukee Bucks receive: Jimmy Butler, Brandin Podziemski, 2026 first-rounder, 2027 first-rounder, 2030 protected first-rounder, 2032 protected first-rounder
“The Warriors can offer Wisconsin native Podziemski, who is extension eligible this summer; however, Butler is recovering from a knee injury and is expected to miss the start of the 2026-27 season. At 36, Butler isn't Milwaukee's ideal piece to build around, though his expiring $56.8 million contract could be used again in trade.
“The Bucks' value lies in the draft compensation, which consists of distant first-round picks, with the hope that Steph Curry and Antetokounmpo are winding down by then. For Golden State to have a real shot, Antetokounmpo would probably need to push extremely hard to make it happen,” Eric Pincus wrote.
The idea here would be for the Bucks to bring in that salary by moving Antetokounmpo and taking on Jimmy Butler's deal. They could also look to move him in a separate trade once he gets healthy.
It's not the worst trade, but I have a feeling the Bucks can at least get better players in return, which might be what they're looking to do.
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