On October 7th, reports emerged that the Milwaukee Bucks ever so slightly entertained trade talks for Giannis Antetokounmpo with the New York Knicks.
That doesn’t mean that Antetokounmpo is readily available, and he has long downplayed trade rumors. However, if the Bucks get off to a slow start this season, his tune could quickly change.
A two-time MVP very much in his prime, Giannis would command trade interest from pretty much every team in the NBA. The Knicks don’t nearly have the draft capital to land him, so they would certainly be outbid on the open market.
The Los Angeles Lakers, try as they might, are also unlikely to be able to land him. These five teams, however, make sense on the court and have the assets to land him.
GettyGiannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks dunks in front of Kylor Kelley #35 of the New Orleans Pelicans during the second half of a game at Fiserv Forum on April 10, 2025 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
5. Golden State Warriors
The Golden State Warriors would be the sexiest landing spot for Antetokounmpo. Pairing him with Stephen Curry would be a dream, and his timeline would allow the Warriors to quickly rebuild once their aging core retires.
Of course, their building around Antetokounmpo would have to be done through free agency. In order to land him, the Warriors would have to trade or swap most (if not all) of their six first-round draft picks.
To match Antetokounmpo’s salary, the Warriors would have to toss in youngsters Jonathan Kuminga and Moses Moody. That’s not all. Antetokounmpo is owed $54.1 million this season. Draymond Green would also have to go.
That’s a tough pill to swallow, but it’s feasible, and it keeps the Warriors moving forward.
4. Houston Rockets
The Houston Rockets just added Kevin Durant. If they wanted to go all-in on the best duo in the NBA and add Giannis, they could.
The Phoenix Suns took only their 2025 draft pick back in the deal for Durant. The Rockets boast seven first-round picks to trade and swap, coming from Houston, Brooklyn, and Phoenix.
Would a trade package of all the possible picks (there are some protections), Fred VanVleet, Jabari Smith Jr., Reed Sheppard, and Tari Eason be enough?
Milwaukee would almost certainly demand Amen Thompson as a centerpiece to build around, but with the Nets and Suns in disarray, pacifying the Bucks with picks might be feasible. If not, it’s hard to imagine Thompson ever being as good as Antetokounmpo, anyway.
3. Toronto Raptors
When the Bucks were eliminated from playoff contention last season, the Giannis trade rumors really started to heat up. The Toronto Raptors, on paper, are not a realistic trade partner, although they have a track record.
In 2018, the Raptors swung for the fences, landing Kawhi Leonard. He made it clear he did not want to be there, but they won a title, with the deal paying off. History could repeat itself, and Antetokounmpo has two seasons on his contract before his player option kicks in.
“The Raptors are a team that is starting to make noise within the league about looking for a big fish,” said ESPN’s Brian Windhorst in June. “Teams in the league are getting the impression that Toronto is going to try to do something. I had an executive tell me yesterday that he thinks this could be an explosive summer.”
The Raptors have seven first-rounders to play with, and could sweeten the pot with Ja’Kobe Walter, RJ Barrett, and Gradey Dick. Add in Jakob Poeltl to match salary, and Toronto is an overlooked possibility.
2. San Antonio Spurs
The San Antonio Spurs have been linked to Giannis since 2023, when they drafted Victor Wembanyama. A frontcourt of Antetokounmpo and Wembanyama, with De’Aaron Fox running point, would make the Spurs instant title contenders.
The only question is, would the Spurs be better off biding their time and building organically?
The Spurs are one of only two teams (see below) that can actually give the Bucks what they would want. The Spurs own seven first-round picks with various swap rights from Boston, Dallas, Sacramento, Minnesota, and Atlanta. They have young players in Devin Vassell, Jeremy Sochan, Dylan Harper, Stephon Castle, and Julian Champagnie. Vassell and Keldon Johnson could be used to match salary.
If Antetokounmpo asks out and the Spurs call, the Bucks should be excited. There is a small number of situations where trading Giannis wouldn’t be devastating to Milwaukee, and a deal with the Spurs is one of them.
1. Oklahoma City Thunder
Reports have emerged that the Oklahoma City Thunder have no interest in adding Antetokounmpo to their team.
Hogwash.
If the Thunder can pair Antetokounmpo, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Chet Holmgren, and somehow keep Jalen Williams in the deal, it would be the most league-ruining trade ever. Even if Williams is sent out, the Thunder would be the most overpowered team in history, making the Durant-led Warriors look like a JV team.
The Thunder have more draft capital than any team in the league. They boast promising youngsters in Thomas Sorber and Nikola Topic who won’t even crack the rotation, and they can match salary in a multitude of ways.
If you’re a fan of any team other than the Thunder, this would be a nightmare scenario. For Sam Presti, there’s no one better to cash in on.
Ranking 5 Best Trade Partners for Bucks to Deal Giannis Antetokounmpo