‘Wild’ Giannis Antetokounmpo Trade Pitch Lands Former No. 1 Pick in Haul

The Milwaukee Bucks have spoken like an organization with no plans to move on from its franchise cornerstone, Giannis Antetokounmpo. But every deal has a price, and the Bucks could find some trade offers more difficult to turn down than others.

An offer that includes a trio of former first-round picks, plus additional draft capital, could be enticing enough to get Bucks general manager Jon Horst to answer the phone.

One of those former first-rounders, being the No. 1 pick in his class, could put it over the top

Bleacher Report’s Connor Thoms presented a series of “wild trade ideas,” and one of them indeed saw the Bucks parting with Antetokounmpo, sending him to the Atlanta Hawks for a package headlined by Jalen Johnson and 2024 No. 1 overall pick Zaccharie Risacher.

Bucks get:

• Jalen Johnson
• Kobe Bufkin
• Zaccharie Risacher
• First-round picks (x4)
• First-round pick swap

Hawks get:

• Giannis Antetokounmpo

“Jalen Johnson, great young player, who had a phenomenal season last year before, ultimately, an injury derailed the second half of his year,” Thoms said during a live stream on July 17. “Risacher just was the No. 1 overall pick. Great wing to build around. Kobe Buffkin, an interesting young guard, too.”

Thoms speculated that, at best, the odds favor Antetokounmpo remaining with the Bucks over a trade “80/20” or “70/30,” and that his hypothetical offer was “pretty good” for a “big return.”

The key is how the Bucks might view that proposed return in an Antetokounmpo trade.

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Bucks Could Reload With Trade for Versatile Wing Duo & More

Thoms argued that his offer is “a lot” for the Hawks to surrender, but that a trade for the Bucks star, Antetokounmpo, demands it and would make them a true title contender.

The Bucks would not exactly be the “losers” in Thoms’ trade scenario, though.

“If you’re the Bucks, you get a phenomenal return, in my opinion,” Thoms said. “Jalen Johnson, I think, could be a legitimate All-Star for you as soon as next season. Risacher, so much upside still. I still think there’s upside, too, with Kobe Buffkin,” Thoms said.

“You get back four first-round picks and a swap. Those Hawks picks could be interesting. Atlanta’s also got some selections from other teams, so you could kind of mix and match, choose. Because I’m sure you don’t want all Hawks picks if you’re giving them Giannis Antetokounmpo. It’s probably not the way you want to go.”

Johnson (No. 20 overall in 2021) was on an All-Star (and Most Improved Player) trajectory before a shoulder issue cut his season short. He has battled injuries for much of his career.

Risacher came on strong as his rookie season wore on, earning First Team All-Rookie honors.

Like Johnson, Bufkin has dealt with injuries in his career, playing in 27 games since becoming the No. 15 pick in 2023. Still, the Grand Rapids, Michigan native, is young enough to fit with Johnson, a native of Wasau, Wisconsin, and Risacher’s timelines in a trade to the Bucks.

Moreover, the Bucks could grow enchanted by the prospects of adding so many young players with ample draft capital attached, given their dearth of first-round draft capital.

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Bucks Face Grim Reality About Giannis Antetokounmpo

Antetokounmpo has often teased that he could seek greener pastures if he felt the Bucks were not a true threat to win a title, which has fueled trade speculation. However, he has yet to put that kind of pressure on the organization to the point where a decision was viewed as imminent.

Thoms believes it would take a change of heart from Antetokounmpo for the Bucks to consider trading him.

“I don’t think he’s getting dealt if he doesn’t say, ‘I want to be traded,’” Thoms said. “But if Giannis says he wants to be traded, you’re not going to hold him hostage, or I don’t imagine the Bucks will. The reason the Bucks waved and stretched Dame [Lillard] … is to try and keep Giannis in town. But if Giannis goes, ‘I want to be dealt,’ then you’re just – you’re out of luck. You have to trade him. You have to get a return, and that’s what it all kind of comes down to.”

Antetokounmpo is starting a three-year, $175.4 million contract this season.

That gives the Bucks some bit of leverage back. However, Antetokounmpo has a player option for the final season in 2027-28, which could make the 2026-27 season – or even the offseason prior – as the real timeline to monitor for a potential Bucks trade of the two-time MVP.

He will be heading into his age-32 season that summer, and on what is functionally an expiring deal, and that could ramp up the pressure on the Bucks to pick a lane, possibly even a trade.

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