All summer long, there were rumblings and rumors that Giannis Antetokounmpo was leaning towards a split with the Milwaukee Bucks.
While there reportedly was a period when the Bucks and New York Knicks were in talks on a deal before the start of the season, the two-time MVP remained in Milwaukee, quieting trade speculation.
Now, almost three months later, Antetokounmpo has changed his stance with the organization that drafted him, and the Greek Freak is wondering if the Bucks are the best fit for the final chapter of his career.
According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, Antetokounmpo and his representatives have “started conversations” with the Bucks about his future.
With the 2021 Finals MVP seemingly on his way out of Milwaukee, what kind of return could the Bucks get for their best player since Kareem Abdul-Jabbar?
Lakers Land Giannis Antetokounmpo in Trade Pitch
In a trade idea first proposed by Fadeaway World’s Siddhant Gupta, the Los Angeles Lakers would acquire Antetokounmpo from the Milwaukee Bucks for a haul.
Milwaukee Bucks receive: Austin Reaves, Rui Hachimura, Gabe Vincent, Maxi Kleber, Dalton Knecht, 2026 first-round pick swap, 2028 first-round pick swap, 2032 first-round pick
Los Angeles Lakers receive: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Amir Coffey
In a trade headlined by MVP-candidate Austin Reaves, the Bucks can finally start rebuilding their roster after a half-decade of exhausting resources in pursuit of building a contending team around Antetokounmpo.
“Aside from the potential first-round picks the Bucks would acquire in this trade, Milwaukee may also see a lot of merit in the players they acquire. Especially with players such as Austin Reaves and Rui Hachimura joining the team in this proposal, the Bucks could have an opportunity to remain competitive,” wrote Gupta.
“Given that the Bucks will essentially be in rebuild mode, adding a star-caliber player such as Austin Reaves next to their own young star, Ryan Rollins, could help the Bucks form their backcourt for the future.”
Milwaukee can remain competitive even after losing their franchise player after this hypothetical trade.
A starting five of Reaves, Ryan Rollins, Rui Hachimura, Bobby Portis, and Myles Turner is certainly enough to remain competitive in a weakened Eastern Conference.
Not to mention all the depth they add in Gabe Vincent, Maxi Kleber, and Dalton Knecht.
Lakers Create Big Three of Giannis, Luka Doncic, and LeBron James
The Los Angeles Lakers, meanwhile, create a star-studded lineup with enough firepower to contend with the likes of the reigning champion Oklahoma City Thunder.
“For the 2025-26 season, Antetokounmpo and Luka Doncic have been viewed as the top contenders for the MVP award. By pairing the two together, the Purple and Gold would be forming one of the most formidable duos the NBA has ever seen,” continued Gupta.
“Among the many things Giannis Antetokounmpo brings to the table, the primary aspect is his defensive upside. Given L.A.’s current defensive woes, having a superstar who can actively address this issue would be a massive upgrade.”
While the starting lineup certainly becomes better with the addition of Antetokounmpo, the Lakers would be gutting their depth.
They would find themselves in a similar position to last year after the Luka Doncic trade.
Regardless, the prospect of adding a player of Antetokounmpo’s caliber would be too sweet to pass up and would be a first-world problem after the trade is complete.
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