Giannis Antetokounmpo trade destinations: Ranking each team’s chances for the Bucks star, from Warriors to Thunder

The Bucks have looked terrible starting the season 1-4, and the vultures are starting to circle.

Giannis Antetokounmpo is still playing like an MVP candidate, averaging 30.4 points per game on 65.6 percent shooting. Each team is licking their chops hoping he calls out of what is increasingly looking like an irreparable situation in Milwaukee.

The Bucks certainly wouldn’t want to trade Antetokounmpo. They have no control over most of their picks going forward, including their 2025 pick in a loaded draft. Reaching rock bottom is not an attractive option for them. It’s unrealistic to get win-now talent beyond what Antetokounmpo can offer them.

Therefore, a trade would only happen if Antetokounmpo asked for it and applied pressure. The Bucks should at least try to recruit a few guys who can contribute right away since they don’t benefit from the draft lottery.

With that in mind, here’s what each team has to offer.

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Giannis Antetokounmpo’s Trade Destination Ranking

Level 5: It’s next to impossible

29. Sunbathing

28. Gold Nuggets

27. Timber wolves

26. Knicks

25. Heat

24.Celtics

23. 76ers

22.Lakers

It is possible to get around the league’s complex salary cap rules, but only to a certain extent.

The Bucks are a second platform team, making trades with other platform teams too difficult to realistically execute due to the dollar-for-dollar matching requirement. That means these eight teams are out of the running.

These teams are not only expensive, but they also don’t have enough draft capital or young prospects to get a deal done. They have already used everything they have in their coffers to put together the best possible teams. They are not realistic options for many reasons.

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Level 3: Technically possible, but makes no sense

21. Hair clippers

The Clippers cannot include Kawhi Leonard in an Antetokounmpo trade. They would have to move James Harden, PJ Tucker and a smaller salary player like Kobe Brown, and they would have to wait until December 15 to do that. They don’t have any compelling young prospects to draft, and they only have one tradeable pick.

That’s not enough to tempt the Bucks.

20. Warriors

The Warriors could make a trade happen. It would cost them almost their entire team.

Andrew Wiggins, Gary Payton II, Jonathan Kuminga, Brandin Podziemski and Trayce Jackson-Davis would be on Antetokounmpo’s salary number. Golden State has 2025 and 2027 picks available to move.

Five-for-one trades almost never happen mid-season. The Warriors would have to fill all those roster spots with minimum-salary players and would have the same depth problem that currently plagues the Bucks. That wouldn’t be the best offer for Antetokounmpo either.

19. Kings

The Kings have two first-round picks and three swaps to offer. De’Aaron Fox and Keegan Murray would give them Antetokounmpo’s salary and add some high-level young players to the Bucks.

Would the Kings do it? It would be tough to have three non-3-point shooters in Domantas Sabonis, DeMar DeRozan and Antetokounmpo.

18. Bulls

Milwaukee is a 90-minute drive from Chicago, and Antetokounmpo grew up admiring the Bulls. Zach LaVine and Matas Buzelis could get a deal done, along with two picks, two swaps and a first-round pick from the Blazers that might never amount to anything.

That’s an offer, but not near the best. The Bucks would hang up the phone.

MORE: Bulls have a major Zach LaVine problem

Level 2: They have things, but they are not good enough

17. Blazers

16. Pistons

15. Wizards

14. Hornets

These teams all have draft picks and young prospects to throw at the Bucks, but would Antetokounmpo agree to go to them? They are all extremely far from contending for a championship, even after adding an MVP talent.

Level 3: Teams that can make a bid

13. Pacers

Antetokounmpo and Tyrese Haliburton could average 150 points per game. The Pacers still have two picks and three swaps available after the Pascal Siakam trade. The expiring contracts of Myles Turner, Obi Toppin (tradeable December 15), Bennedict Mathurin and Jarace Walker would give the Bucks some young talent in the pipeline.

This would be great for Indiana, but Milwaukee can get more out of other teams.

12. Misfits

Dallas has two firsts and three swaps to offer. Kyrie Irving and Dereck Lively II will receive Antetokounmpo’s salary.

The combination of Antetokounmpo and Luka Doncic would be terrifying for the rest of the league, but this is another combination that makes little sense for the Bucks.

11. Hawks

The Hawks have a maximum of five first-rounders to trade. Trae Young and No. 15 pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, Kobe Bufkin, would make the salaries work.

Having Damian Lillard and Trae Young wouldn’t help the Bucks, especially when they already have so many defensive issues. This falls apart quite quickly.

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Level 2: Teams that can make a good offer

10. Tracks

The Spurs have a maximum of nine first-round picks left. Devin Vassell and Harrison Barnes would help match the salary.

The combination of Antetokounmpo and Victor Wembanyama would be crazy athletic and no one would score on them. But the Bucks would be terrible and risk sending away the No. 1 pick this summer.

9. Missiles

The Rockets have up to four first-rounders to move. That could include Dillon Brooks, who would give the Bucks a good defenseman, along with Reed Sheppard and Amen Thompson.

This would be an attractive package for the Bucks. They would get picks, two very high-level prospects and a veteran who could fill their biggest hole outside of the Antetokounmpo format they would create.

The Rockets could make a much-needed consolidation trade to take their mediocre team to the next level. Antetokounmpo and Alperen Sengun would be an odd combination, but Sengun would have suits next season if he is considered for a trade.

8. Magic

The Magic have four picks, three swaps and a protected first-rounder they could include in a trade. They have a ton of young prospects who could be included in a consolidation trade.

Jonathan Isaac (eligible for trade on Jan. 2), Cole Anthony and Anthony Black could be brought in to match the salary, giving the Bucks some young players who are winning now and a nice prospect at guard in Black.

7.Jazz

The Jazz have a ton of picks: eight unprotected first-rounders and two protected. They have a big star next to Antetokounmpo in Lauri Markkanen, who is not eligible for a trade this season. They need everything else.

John Collins, Jordan Clarkson and Cody Williams could be the matching salaries in a trade. Would the Jazz make six picks in that deal and go all-in on Antetokounmpo?

6. Birds of prey

The Raptors have a maximum of five first-rounders to trade. They have rising All-Star Scottie Barnes, who is eligible to be traded on January 4. The Bucks would certainly ask for Barnes, who could be combined with Bruce Brown Jr.’s salaries. and Kelly Olynyk to make the financials work.

Would the Raptors accelerate their rebuild and part ways with their young star? Antetokounmpo is worth the price.

MORE: Raptors will be without Scottie Barnes for an extended period of time

5. Cavaliers

The Cavs are on a roll right now, so breaking up their core would be a bold move.

Darius Garland and Evan Mobley match Antetokounmpo’s salary. The Cavaliers could add a first-round pick and have three swaps available. This would keep the Bucks afloat, and the Cavaliers have Donovan Mitchell and Jarrett Allen to make up for the loss of Garland and Mobley.

4. Grizzlies

The Grizzlies have four picks they can move. Desmond Bane and GG Jackson II could give the Bucks two good young players, and Brandon Clarke would be brought in to make the salaries work.

Shooting would be an issue for the Grizzlies after this trade, but is there anyone who can stop the pick-and-roll of Ja Morant and Antetokounmpo? Antetokounmpo and Jaren Jackson Jr. would also be a crazy defensive combination.

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3. Pelicans

The Pelicans control several of the Bucks’ upcoming picks. If Milwaukee wants to rebuild, regaining control of those choices is critical. The Pelicans also have four unprotected picks they can deploy, giving the Bucks more leverage over their picks in 2025, 2026 and 2027.

The crown jewel of this trade would be Zion Williamson. The Pelicans could include Williamson (or Brandon Ingram in his place) along with Jordan Hawkins, promising newcomer Yves Missi and Jeremiah Robinson-Earl to make the financials work.

2. Nets

The Nets have an easy-sliding salary of Ben Simmons’ $40.4 million, which they could match 1-for-1 with Antetokounmpo. They have twelve first-round picks they can move.

Would Simmons and a huge amount of picks tempt the Bucks? They would be very bad and send good picks to other teams for a while. That is a difficult proposition for them, but this is the cleanest path to reconstruction.

Level 1: The best option

1. Thunder

The Thunder are already close to a championship. Antetokounmpo would put them over the top. They have a lot of high-level young players who can keep the Bucks afloat, and they also have nine first-rounders they can move.

Jalen Williams would be the prized asset for the Bucks in this trade. He’s a two-way player with an easy path to multiple All-Star appearances. Lu Dort and Isaiah Hartenstein would make the salaries work with him, giving the Bucks some much-needed defensive help.

Throwing in a whole load of picks and some high-level role players would be worth it for the Thunder to land a player of Antetokounmpo’s caliber. This would be a win-win trade and one of the few on the board that makes sense.