Why the Bucks should talk to just two teams in a Giannis Antetokounmpo trade

After getting off to an awful start to the 2024-25 season, the Milwaukee Bucks are in turmoil. Aside from underperforming, recent reports have superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo potentially wanting out this season. That has led to plenty of trade speculation, with teams likely eagerly waiting for any cracks to emerge between him and the Bucks.

If the Bucks can't turn their season around and it becomes clear that he wants out, then which team should they consider trading him to? While there will be plenty of teams interested in him, only two would be worthwhile trade partners for the Bucks. Although the Heat have been linked to Giannis over the years, they don't have much in the way of tradable first-round picks.

They do have some interesting young players, such as Jaime Jacques Jr. and Kel'el Ware, as well as Tyler Herro and Duncan Robinson, but the Bucks would need more in return for one of the five best players in the NBA. As a result, the two teams they should listen to in the event of a trade should be the Brooklyn Nets and San Antonio Spurs. 

Why the Bucks should talk to just the Brooklyn Nets and San Antonio Spurs in a Giannis trade.

The Nets seem to be in a rebuild after trading Mikal Bridges for five first-round picks over the summer. They also reacquired their own picks back from the Houston Rockets in the hopes of tanking, though it would also be a useful trade chip.

Trading some combination of those five picks, as well as the expiring contract of Ben Simmons, might be an attractive trade package. After all, they wouldn't have to take back any undesirable long-term contracts and save $8 million in salary this season. Plus significantly more in luxury tax payments.

As for the Spurs, they can offer Jeremy Sochan, Keldon Johnson, and Harrison Barnes, as well as five firsts. That includes the Atlanta Hawks' 2025 and 2027 unprotected firsts, the Dallas Mavericks' unprotected 2030 first, the Chicago Bulls' 2025 top-10 protected first, and the Charlotte Hornets's lottery protected 2025 first. 

Will the Milwaukee Bucks trade Giannis Antetokounmpo this season?

The Bucks have gotten off to a poor start and the pairing of Giannis and Damian Lillard doesn't appear to be working. Nor does the decision to hire Doc Rivers, who is 18-24 in his first 42 games as the Bucks' head coach dating back to last season.

Add in that they don't have many picks and haven't made the most of the picks they have had and the Bucks' title window appears to be closing. Therefore, Giannis forcing his way off the Bucks may happen sooner than later and he may possibly end up on the Nets or Spurs.