5 Teams That Should Trade For Giannis Antetokounmpo and 5 That Need To Stay Away
Can you believe Giannis Antetokounmpo has been with the Bucks for 12 years? Two league MVPs, nine All-Star games, nine All-NBA teams, and five NBA All-Defensive teams later, Antetokounmpo truly built his legacy in this small-market franchise.
In recent years, however, there’s no question that the Milwaukee Bucks have regressed since their title run in 2021. Even with the much hyped addition of Damian Lillard a couple of seasons ago, the team still hasn’t progressed as expected. With Lillard likely out for most of next season after suffering an Achilles injury in the 2025 playoffs, there are questions about whether Giannis will ask for a trade this offseason.
Although Giannis has made it known that he doesn’t want to team up with other stars, has his stance on it changed a bit due to Milwaukee’s recent shortcomings? Is it time for the “Greek Freak” to find a new home?
Let’s dive into the five teams that should trade for Giannis Antetokounmpo and the five that seriously need to stay away this summer.
Which teams should trade or stay away from Giannis Antetokounmpo this offseason?
Should Trade: Atlanta Hawks
Since the Hawks are extremely reluctant to let go of Trae Young, why not package their plethora of wings plus a few future first-rounders to acquire Giannis Antetokounmpo? A Trae-Giannis tandem would be great for overall league viewership.
A big-name star going to Atlanta is almost unheard of, but it isn’t far-fetched considering that Giannis has an affinity for small or mid-market teams. He made the Bucks a contender for about five seasons. Still at 30 years old, there’s a lot of basketball left for Antetokounmpo if the Hawks somehow manage to make a trade for him. No doubt that he can elevate the Hawks’ on-court product.
Should Avoid: Brooklyn Nets
What’s the play here for the Nets should they acquire Giannis? They aren’t contending with him with their current roster, if we are being honest here. They do have the capability to make an appealing trade offer, considering that they have the future picks to entice the Bucks. However, does Giannis, still in the middle of his athletic prime, want to play hero ball on a team that is full of rotation players?
Brooklyn should abandon their dreams of making quick fixes to assemble a contender. They did that twice before, and nothing came out of it. It’s best if they approach the rebuilding process with caution and let it play out rather than shooting for the stars again by trading for Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Should Trade: Los Angeles Lakers
Giannis might not want to team up with current stars, but he might consider being dealt to the Lakers to join Luka Doncic and LeBron James. After all, this is the Lakers we’re talking about.
With the Lakers, Antetokounmpo will have a chance to form a one-two punch combo with Luka. Just imagine the lobs and easy baskets he’ll get with Doncic on the floor. The potential is limitless. The biggest hurdle with this deal is that the Lakers lack the assets to facilitate a direct trade with Milwaukee.
But who can blame LA for trying to materialize this outcome? Rob Pelinka has already made the impossible by scooping away Doncic from Dallas in February. It’s best not to doubt his persistence when it comes to making deals.
Should Avoid: Los Angeles Clippers
The Clippers should not be overlooked when it comes to acquiring all-star talent. Their owner, Steve Ballmer, knows how to care for his players. Add a hands-on owner and a new stadium, and suddenly, stars are lining up to play with the Clippers.
The biggest problem with this pairing right now is the fit. Should the Clippers make this work without letting go of either Harden, Leonard, or Zubac, the painted area will be clogged with nonshooters with the addition of Giannis Antetokounmpo.
And might we add that Kawhi Leonard has never been fully healthy in the last four years. This spells disaster rather than success for both parties.
Should Trade: Houston Rockets
While KD is a much better fit for the Rockets, they should at least make a pitch to see if the Bucks would consider letting go of their superstar. Houston, as it’s currently built, lacks a genuine A-list player who can lead this team into title contention.
They also have the assets to make this work. A Jabari Smith Jr.-Jalen Green swap for Giannis, plus some future first-rounders, should do the trick. With Houston, Giannis will form a formidable frontcourt with Alperen Sengun. Coach Ime Udoka is one of the brightest in the league, and there’s no doubt that he can make it work with Antetokounmpo.
Should Avoid: Boston Celtics
With Jayson Tatum out for a year, and with the Cs looking at a hefty luxury tax next season, we should expect some drastic changes with Boston in the summer. Jrue Holiday, Kristaps Porzingis, and Al Horford are the names to watch.
If the Bucks somehow views any of those three guys to help with their playoff chances, there’s a path there. It doesn’t mean that it won’t be a lopsided trade, though. Holiday, Porzingis, and Horford aren’t tier one stars. No matter how persuasive the Cs would be, the Bucks should stay put and look for other appealing deals.
And Giannis Antetokounmpo in a Celtics uniform would be a weird sight to see.
Should Trade: Denver Nuggets
This trade would cost the Nuggets a lot, but it’s a necessary risk. To make it work, they would probably lose Aaron Gordon, Michael Porter Jr., and a whole bunch of rotation players. But hey, this is Giannis Antetokounmpo we are talking about here. Pairing him with Nikola Jokic would be disastrous for the entire league, except for the Nuggets.
While Jokic and Antetokounmpo might clog the painted area due to their so-so jumpers from beyond the three-point line, nobody in the league can stop those two down below. Anything from 15 feet is an automatic basket for the duo.
We would gladly pay to watch two former league MVPs who are still in their athletic prime playing on the same team.
Should Avoid: Philadelphia 76ers
Philly might want to trade for Giannis Antetokounmpo, but they are better off staying put instead of making a splash in free agency. 2023 NBA MVP Joel Embiid is too injury-prone to play for an entire season, and Giannis might be tasked to carry the load until Embiid’s knees are good enough to go.
Does the “Greek Freak” want to play second-fiddle for the Sixers once Embiid comes back? That’s a resounding no. With Embiid’s injury concerns, there’s no guarantee that this team will become contenders in the very near future. If Philly does call, Milwaukee should just slam their phones shut and look for other appeasing avenues.
Should Trade: San Antonio Spurs
Dallas gets all the attention in the upcoming 2025 NBA Draft because of Cooper Flagg. Surprisingly, nobody is talking much about the Spurs landing the second overall pick. San Antonio has a ton of scenarios they can explore in the offseason, and the potential for a pathway to a title contention is limitless.
First, they could stay in the draft, select either Dylan Harper or Ace Bailey, and continue making progress as a team. Second, they could use their draft position to entice the Bucks to let go of Giannis Antetokounmpo. The second option is gaining some serious momentum lately.
If Giannis ends up as a Spur, then it is over for the league. Opposing teams would shy away from attacking the painted area because Wemby and Giannis would be there. Seriously, who would want to drive to the basket with two seven-footers protecting the basket? This is the deal that we all want to happen.
Should Avoid: Dallas Mavericks
Just imagine if the Mavericks traded away the presumptive first overall pick, Cooper Flagg, to Milwaukee in exchange for Giannis Antetokounmpo. Would their fans welcome this scenario, or would they stage a modern-day revolution?
With GM Nico Harrison, anything can happen, though. He did trade Luka Doncic on a random February night. The Mavs are eerily silent after winning the lottery, and a deal to acquire Giannis from Milwaukee might be secretly in the works.
The only people celebrating the win are their fans, but they, too, are on the edge because Dallas still employs Nico Harrison, and draft night is fast approaching. MFFLs (Mavs Fans For Life) want the team to stay put and select Flagg. They are still a bit in shock about losing Doncic to the Lakers, and any drastic draft night moves might be met with hostility.
5 Teams That Should Trade For Giannis Antetokounmpo and 5 That Need To Stay Away
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