While the NBA Playoffs are still ongoing, several teams are preparing for the offseason. With the offseason comes the speculation of star players potentially moving to new teams.
The basketball world was stunned when former Dallas Mavericks star Luka Doncic was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers in exchange for Anthony Davis and other assets during the season. Now, another top player could be on the move: Milwaukee Bucks star forward Giannis Antetokounmpo.
The 12-year NBA veteran has spent his entire career in Milwaukee, leading the team to its first championship since 1971 when the Bucks won the title in 2021. Antetokounmpo is the franchise leader in several categories, including games played, points, rebounds, assists and blocks.
Giannis Antetokounmpo
Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) looks to pass the ball as Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo (13) defends during overtime at Kaseya Center.
Jim Rassol-Imagn Images
According to a report by ESPN's Shams Charania, following another early playoff exit for Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Bucks, the star is considering potential teams that might be a better fit for him outside of Milwaukee. This has sparked speculation about where he could end up next season.
Antetokounmpo further fueled these rumors during a Q&A session on X. When asked which city, apart from his hometown of Athens, Greece, has made him the happiest to visit, he responded by saying it was the "Florida cities."
Florida has two NBA teams: the Miami Heat and the Orlando Magic. NBC Sports suggested that the Heat could be a potential destination for Antetokounmpo. Writer Kurt Helin pointed out that Miami has struggled in recent years and needs to make significant changes to compete.
Helin feels the challenge is that the Heat lack the draft picks that the Bucks would want in a trade. A deal involving Andrew Wiggins, Duncan Robinson and Nikola Jovic could work salary-wise, but the Bucks would likely prefer Tyler Herro. Miami can only offer a limited number of future first-round picks, which may not satisfy a rebuilding Bucks team. Nevertheless, expect ongoing trade rumors, as Pat Riley is known for making bold moves.
This follows reports indicating that Antetokounmpo is 'intrigued' by the prospect of playing in a state without income tax. This speculation has led some to believe he might be considering teams like the Houston Rockets, San Antonio Spurs or Dallas Mavericks, since Texas has no state income tax. However, it's worth noting that Florida also has no state income tax.
The rumors continued during his recent Q&A session. When asked about his favorite city to play in on the road, he mentioned New York, which prompted discussions about potential interest from the New York Knicks.
Helin compared the Knicks to the Los Angeles Lakers as potential landing spots for Antetokounmpo, noting both teams lack the necessary picks and players for a trade. The Lakers can offer Austin Reaves, Rui Hachimura, plus other smaller-salaried players and might need a third team, but they only have one tradable first-round pick. Similarly, the Knicks, having traded away their picks in the Mikal Bridges deal, cannot offer anything appealing to the Bucks. A possible trade involving OG Anunoby and others wouldn't provide the young talent or picks Milwaukee desires.
Only time will tell if Antetokounmpo will no longer wear a Milwaukee jersey next season.