The Milwaukee Bucks are on the verge of collapse as they stand to see their most valuable asset, Giannis Antetokounmpo, consider the possibility of leaving the team for the first time in his professional career.
Antetokounmpo has undoubtedly been the best player for the Bucks for the better part of the last decade. From being DPOY, two-time NBA MVP, and even winning the Finals MVP with a title to his name, the Bucks have seen the Greek forward grow into the player he is today.
Unfortunately, Milwaukee hasn’t been able to deliver a team that can compete for the title, at least in the past two seasons. Although they tried to bring sharpshooting guard Damian Lillard over in an attempt to help their forward make a run at the championship, this was to no avail.
The Bucks star saw another season come to an end after a 4-1 loss to the Indiana Pacers in the first round of the playoffs. Although Antetokounmpo stood out with his brilliance, recording 33.0 points, 15.4 rebounds, and 6.6 assists per game, it was not enough to see his team through to the next round.
An early exit also meant more questions being asked of the franchise. However, the Greek forward made it abundantly clear that he would be open to considering a move via trade in the summer.
This announcement shook up the league as several trade rumors started flowing in involving the Bucks’ star. However, a recent rumor has suggested that Antetokounmpo has certain preferences when considering his potential destinations.
His preferences highlight his desire to stay in the East and build with a team that gives him control over some roster-building and coaching decisions. It is also important to note that he wishes to play in a market where other stars would be readily willing to join forces with him.
It is important to note that teams such as the Los Angeles Lakers and Golden State Warriors are not viable fits in this case. The Lakers lack the trade capital and young talent, while the Warriors are amid a reset around a fading core.
In light of this, we take a look at 4 potential trade destinations with trade packages that could benefit Antetokounmpo’s desire for a title and help the Bucks structure a rebuild.
New York Knicks
Proposed Trade Details
Milwaukee Bucks Receive: Karl-Anthony Towns, Mikal Bridges, 2025 First-Round Pick (WAS), 2026 Second-Round Pick (DET/MIL/ORL)
New York Knicks Receive: Giannis Antetokounmpo
If winning now is the goal, few teams are better positioned than the New York Knicks. The Knicks are on a roll as they find themselves cruising towards the Eastern Conference Finals. Although they came up with a loss in Game 5 against the Boston Celtics, their recent run of performances has made it abundantly clear that they are constructed to compete for a title.
With players such as Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart, and OG Anunoby contributing to the team’s success, the addition of a superstar like Giannis Antetokounmpo could do wonders for an already elite Eastern Conference team.
In addition to this, playing in one of the biggest markets in the country is bound to draw in more talent. With several gifted players entering free agency in the next two years, the Knicks could look to acquire some solid role players to play alongside their core to contend for the championship.
Meanwhile, this trade also sets a solid foundation for the Bucks to kickstart their rebuild. Along with enough draft capital to facilitate more trades or build from the ground up, Milwaukee would find themselves in a solid position for the future.
Miami Heat
Proposed Trade Details
Milwaukee Bucks Receive: Tyler Herro, Kel’el Ware, Nikola Jovic, 2029 First-Round Pick, 2030 First-Round Pick
Miami Heat Receive: Giannis Antetokounmpo
The Miami Heat remain the franchise most suited to Antetokounmpo outside of Milwaukee. They are gritty, defensive-minded, and built around a culture of winning. Joining the likes of Bam Adebayo gives the Greek a possibility to form one of the best defensive frontcourts in the league.
Add in Miami’s ability to recruit free agents, and it’s easy to imagine a scenario where the Heat add someone like Fred VanVleet or Jonathan Kuminga in free agency to complete the puzzle.
Erik Spoelstra’s coaching prowess and Pat Riley’s urgency to win align with Giannis’ priorities. He wouldn’t be asked to carry the entire load, but he’d find himself on the timeline to compete for a title very soon.
Meanwhile, this deal also works for Milwaukee. The Bucks can benefit from developing a big like Kel’el Ware, who offers interesting upside. Herro is a proven scorer and facilitator who could pair well with Lillard in the backcourt. Meanwhile, Jovic is a versatile forward with real potential.
The two future picks also allow the Bucks to stay competitive. On the flip side, they can also pair the assets together to make a move to add another foundational piece before the season starts.
Toronto Raptors
Proposed Trade Details
Milwaukee Bucks Receive: Scottie Barnes, Ochai Agbaji, 2026 First-Round pick, 2028 First-Round pick, 2030 First-Round pick, 2026 Lakers Second-Round pick
Toronto Raptors Receive: Giannis Antetokounmpo
Toronto might seem like a surprising destination, but they’ve made bold moves before to ensure their chances of winning. Much like Kawhi Leonard cemented his legacy in the North, the Greek forward could have a chance to become something akin to “King in the North” should he choose to head over to Canada.
The Toronto Raptors could look at pairing Antetokounmpo with an interesting mix of players. From effective scorers and facilitators like Brandon Ingram and RJ Barrett, to veterans with defensive instincts like Jakob Poeltl, Toronto features a blend of talented players who have the potential to transform into contenders.
Toronto also boasts a cutting-edge front office, a global fanbase in an international market, and a history of building championship-caliber squads quickly. With these things in mind, the Raptors could very easily lure free agent talent along with other stars to bolster their roster to contend for a title within Antetokounmpo’s timeline.
For the Bucks, the acquisition of Scottie Barnes would be the jewel in the crown. For all intents and purposes, Milwaukee would be acquiring an Antetokounmpo-like player in this trade, along with an abundance of draft picks.
Meanwhile, a player like Agbaji has proven to be a strong rotation wing. In many ways, this might be the best package available when it comes to a rebuild.
Brooklyn Nets
Proposed Trade Details
Milwaukee Bucks Receive: Nic Claxton, Cam Thomas, 2026 first-round pick, 2029 Knicks first-round pick, 2030 first-round pick, 2031 Lakers second-round pick
Brooklyn Nets Receive: Giannis Antetokounmpo
This trade proposal could be the most interesting one of the lot. The Brooklyn Nets offer much more from a point of view of market opportunity and cap flexibility at the moment than they do for title contention.
However, the Nets have some intriguing pieces on their roster, including the likes of wings like Cam Johnson and a solid floor general in D’Angelo Russell. The acquisition of Giannis Antetokounmpo suddenly transforms Brooklyn into a title contender, purely by means of drawing more stars to join the team.
The Nets aren’t afraid of spending big on acquiring star-caliber players. However, as the sole star on the team at the moment, along with a lot of leeway to make decisions, Antetokounmpo could find himself exercising a lot of liberties to build the team he wants to win.
A decision to sign-and-trade Russell would also give the team more latitude to attract a second star. They could also consider moving to sign a big man like Myles Turner out of free agency to fill the absence of a stretch 5.
On the flip side, the Bucks stand to gain a lot of young potential and draft compensation from this trade. Nic Claxton is a terrific defensive center, and Cam Thomas has looked like one of the NBA’s most explosive young scorers. The three picks span multiple timelines, giving the Bucks strong control over both immediate assets and long-term value.
This trade doesn’t see Milwaukee in a position to contend for a title in the near future. However, it certainly gives them the necessary assets to remain competitive.
