Monday was an eventful day in the NBA. Not only did Shams Charania of ESPN report that Giannis Antetokounmpo is open to leaving the Milwaukee Bucks for the first time in his career, but the Dallas Mavericks also won the 2025 draft lottery.
The Mavericks, who traded Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers in February, now have the first overall pick in the 2025 draft one NBA analyst proposed that Dallas trade the first pick to the Bucks for Antetokounmpo.
Dan Favale of Bleacher Report proposed the following trade idea between the Mavericks, Bucks and New Orleans Pelicans:
Dallas Mavericks Receive: Giannis Antetokounmpo
Milwaukee Bucks Receive: Max Christie, Daniel Gafford, Jordan Hawkins, Caleb Martin, Kelly Olynyk, 2025 No. 1 overall pick, 2026 first-round pick (their own, via New Orleans), 2027 first-round pick (their own, via New Orleans' swap rights)
New Orleans Pelicans Receive: Klay Thompson, Dereck Lively II, 2031 first-round pick (via Dallas)
Cooper Flagg is expected to be the first pick in this year's draft. Favale thinks the Mavericks would be better off trading the Flagg pick to the Bucks for Antetokounmpo, a two-time MVP who is only 30 years old.
If this trade happened, Dallas would have a "Big 3" of Antetokounmpo, Anthony Davis and Kyrie Irving.
"Yes, the cost is high. But Cooper Flagg is, for now, a theory. Giannis is the real deal—no worse than a top-five NBA player who, at 30, provides you with a championship-contention lifeline for the next three or more years," Favale wrote. "Flagg is also most valuable to franchises hitting the reset button. The Mavs, at the moment, aren't doing that.
"Losing Lively stings, but he's somewhat redundant with Giannis and Davis, the latter of whom would need to play more center. Dallas would be without a backup big while sending out Gafford, but whatever. You can approximate second-string center play on the cheap."
Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34).
Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34).
Benny Sieu-Imagn Images
The Bucks signed Antetokounmpo to a three-year, $175 million extension in October 2023. Antetokounmpo will make $54.1 million next season.
Some believe The Greek Freak should ask out of Milwaukee since Damian Lillard could miss all of next season recovering from his left Achilles tear.
Antetokounmpo is a two-time MVP, a one-time Finals MVP, a one-time Defensive Player of the Year and a nine-time All-Star. The superstar forward has career averages of 23.9 points, 9.9 rebounds, 5.0 assists, 1.1 steals and 1.2 blocks.
A future Hall of Famer, Antetokounmpo doesn't have a no-trade clause in his contract.