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NBA Insiders
Jun 18, 2025, 07:00 AM ET
The Milwaukee Bucks person been NBA rubric contenders, connected astatine slightest immoderate level, for the past 7 seasons, dating to their 60-win play successful 2018-19. This qualifies arsenic an outsized model successful the modern era, wherever repeater taxes and aprons person been installed to marque this benignant of tally a existent challenge.
But astir importantly, they won a title successful 2021 and validated everything and everyone. Having said that, they person mislaid steam. They've exited successful the archetypal circular of the playoffs successful 3 consecutive years and haven't made it past the 2nd circular since the rubric run. They person traded their first-round prime oregon its swap rights for the adjacent six years and traded their second-round enactment for the adjacent six years, hampering their quality to restock the roster.
Over the past 4 years, they person paid astir $940 cardinal successful salaries and luxury taxes and won 1 playoff series. In April, their chances were submarined by Damian Lillard's devastating torn near Achilles. The Bucks volition wage him $54 cardinal adjacent play uncertain however overmuch helium volition beryllium capable to contribute.
There is simply a batch successful those 3 paragraphs. They don't outcry retired for maintaining the presumption quo. Their franchise player, Giannis Antetokounmpo, is fully alert of the situation but has not taken immoderate action.
The Bucks consciousness arsenic if they person travel to a crossroads: proceed to physique astir Antetokounmpo contempt their challenges oregon look for a caller mode forward. Here's a look astatine some paths.
-- Brian Windhorst
Jump to a section:
Milwaukee's options this summer
Three trades to physique astir Giannis
Giannis to: HOU | TOR | SA | DET | GS
What tin the Bucks bash this summer?
Nearly 8 years ago, then-Cleveland Cavaliers GM David Griffin made a connection regarding LeBron James that resonates with the Bucks and Antetokounmpo.
"You're fundamentally charged with the bequest of Babe Ruth, and it's our work to let that bequest to turn and evolve," Griffin told The Vertical. "So it's astir similar a ineffable spot that the kid gives you. He's truthful good, successful his ain right, by himself, that helium benignant of mandates you person to beryllium a rubric contender conscionable by his beingness unsocial ... and if you don't capitalize connected the years helium has left, past shame connected us."
The aforesaid doctrine applies to Bucks GM Jon Horst this offseason.
It would beryllium casual for the Bucks to enactment Antetokounmpo connected the commercialized market, particularly successful airy of Lillard's Achilles wounded and consecutive losses successful the archetypal round. However, sources confirmed to ESPN that Milwaukee volition beryllium aggressively exploring options successful escaped bureau and trades to complement Antetokounmpo.
Due to the Khris Middleton-Kyle Kuzma swap before the February commercialized deadline, the Bucks tin usage the $14.1 cardinal nontax midlevel objection to motion escaped cause Gary Trent Jr. oregon a impermanent defender replacement for Lillard. They besides person the $5.1 cardinal biannual objection available. It is improbable that Milwaukee tin clasp escaped cause Brook Lopez, Bobby Portis and besides usage some exceptions.
The Kuzma woody has besides fixed the Bucks flexibility to usage much than 100% of the traded subordinate objection (taking backmost much salary) and aggregate contracts successful a trade.
Pulling disconnected a commercialized that impacts the roster presents a occupation due to the fact that 79% of the Bucks salaries are owed to Antetokounmpo, Lillard and Kuzma. The lone sizable declaration is Pat Connaughton's $9.4 cardinal expiring salary. Because of a regularisation successful the CBA, Milwaukee is not allowed to connect contracts of AJ Green, Chris Livingston, Andre Jackson Jr. and Tyler Smith to Connaughton and bring backmost a subordinate earning $25 million. To offset that rule, Milwaukee could adhd Lopez oregon Portis (if his subordinate enactment is declined) successful a sign-and-trade.
-- Bobby Marks
Three trades to physique astir Giannis
1:37
Stephen A.: Giannis volition person underachieved if helium doesn't triumph different title
Stephen A. Smith breaks down wherefore winning different title is important for Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Milwaukee Bucks get:
Wendell Carter Jr.
Ayo Dosunmu
Jett Howard
Orlando Magic get:
Pat Connaughton
Jalen Smith
Jevon Carter
2031 first-round pick
2032 first-round prime swap (with Milwaukee)
Chicago Bulls get:
Kyle Kuzma
Andre Jackson Jr.
2031 second-round pick
More than immoderate squad successful the league, the Bucks should beryllium acceptable to get progressive if immoderate of these clubs statesman trimming wage and parting ways with talented players. One that would beryllium a cleanable fit, peculiarly if the Bucks don't bring backmost Lopez: Kristaps Porzingis from Boston. It's hard to ideate the teams moving retired a deal, but support successful caput that Jrue Holiday recovered his mode to Boston aft Milwaukee dealt him to the Portland Trail Blazers initially.
With regards to the projected woody above, this would evidently beryllium rather a gamble to get retired from nether the Kuzma deal, fixed that it would fundamentally bare Milwaukee's draught cupboard. But it besides answers immoderate contiguous questions for the Bucks successful presumption of who holds down Lillard's spot portion helium rehabs and who replaces the aging, escaped cause Lopez successful the middle. Milwaukee's defence improves -- possibly considerably -- with these moves, making the nine younger and giving it much upside.
Chicago, apt to manus shot handler Josh Giddey a large woody this summer, mightiness beryllium good getting a instrumentality for Dosunmu arsenic his woody gets person to winding down. And Orlando parts ways with Carter (handing the reins to Goga Bitadze) but gets backmost immoderate draught superior aft paying handsomely, to the tune of 4 first-rounders and a swap, to get Desmond Bane from Memphis earlier this week.
-- Chris Herring
Milwaukee Bucks get:
Brooklyn Nets get:
Kyle Kuzma
2031 first-round pick
2032 first-round prime swap
Given the Bucks' highly constricted resources, who is the champion existent subordinate they could conceivably adhd to enactment Giannis successful a win-now posture? Johnson has ne'er been an All-Star, but he's made immense strides successful Brooklyn; ever a tremendous shooter (39% vocation connected 3-pointers). He's go an accomplished multi-level scorer who could effort to capable the Middleton-shaped spread connected Milwaukee's perimeter.
Would the Nets bash this deal? It's a reasonably airy instrumentality for trading Johnson -- an charismatic commercialized people astir the league -- portion taking backmost Kuzma's contract. But the Bucks' unprotected 2031 and 2032 picks mightiness beryllium truthful enticing that Brooklyn would spell for it. Antetokounmpo would beryllium pushing 37 years aged astatine that constituent and possibly gone from Milwaukee entirely. The Nets could besides worth holding immoderate of Milwaukee's draught superior for a aboriginal script successful which they effort to commercialized for Antetokounmpo and would beryllium capable to connection the Bucks their picks back.
-- Zach Kram
Milwaukee Bucks gets:
Bradley Beal
Royce O'Neale
2025 first-round prime (No. 29)
Phoenix Suns get:
Pat Connaughton
Damian Lillard
On paper, determination is logic to a swap of Beal for Lillard. The Bucks were linked to Beal during the season, erstwhile it would person meant gathering a bundle astir the now-departed Middleton and getting thing retired of Lillard's $54 cardinal wage portion helium recovers from Achilles country mightiness not beryllium tenable.
Beal, who would request to waive his no-trade clause to marque the woody work, could acceptable amended successful Milwaukee than helium has with the Suns, getting much opportunities to grip the shot and spacing the level for Antetokounmpo successful a mode Lillard wasn't arsenic comfy doing. The Bucks besides triumph the undercard here, adding helping extent with O'Neale successful a swap that's indispensable to debar hard-capping Phoenix astatine the little luxury taxation apron and getting a precocious first-rounder to usage upgrading the remainder of the roster.
If the Suns are acceptable to determination connected from Beal, waiting for Lillard's instrumentality mightiness not look truthful bad. And if helium is capable to instrumentality astatine thing adjacent to his All-Star signifier astatine property 35, Lillard would beryllium a amended acceptable alongside Devin Booker successful the Phoenix backcourt. However, it's improbable the 2 sides volition hold connected however overmuch much invaluable Lillard is portion injured than Beal.
-- Kevin Pelton
Five trades for Giannis
1:26
JWill: There's a satellite successful which Giannis says helium wants to beryllium a Warrior
Jay Williams and Brian Windhorst sermon the anticipation of Giannis Antetokounmpo teaming up with Steph Curry successful Golden State.
Houston Rockets get:
Giannis Antetokounmpo
Pat Connaughton
Milwaukee Bucks get:
Alperen Sengun
Cam Whitmore
Reed Sheppard
Jock Landale
2025 first-round prime (No. 10)
2027 first-round prime (via Phoenix)
2028 first-round pick
More than immoderate different nine that held home-court vantage to statesman the playoffs, No. 2-seeded Houston desperately needs much offense. Between their bottommost 5 3-point effort complaint and Jalen Green's inconsistency arsenic a scorer -- helium exploded for 38 points successful Game 2 against the Warriors but scored 12 points oregon less successful the different six contests during that first-round matchup -- the Rockets request to manufacture easier scores.
Yes, Sengun is an All-Star who tin beryllium the hub of a decent offense, and helium has a higher ceiling arsenic helium continues to improve. But Antetokounmpo, a two-time league MVP successful his prime, is elite capable to beryllium the No. 1 enactment for immoderate club's violative attack.
This mightiness autumn close wrong a saccharine spot, depending connected wherever your fandom lies. If you're a Rockets fan, you apt hatred the thought of parting with Sengun. But the request for a large arsenic the violative hub -- adjacent 1 with the playmaking chops of Sengun -- lessens considerably if Giannis joins the roster.
Beyond that, if you had to take 1 young prima to see betwixt Sengun and two-way standout Amen Thompson, Sengun mightiness beryllium the preferred choice, if lone due to the fact that of their contracts. With his hold opening this coming season, Sengun is owed to gain astir $34 cardinal successful 2025-26, portion Thompson volition get a small little than $10 million.
That would springiness the Rockets much flexibility successful remaking the roster (one with Thompson, Fred VanVleet, Green, Dillon Brooks, Jabari Smith Jr., Tari Eason and others) astir Giannis implicit the adjacent mates years.
-- Herring
Toronto Raptors get:
Giannis Antetokounmpo
Milwaukee Bucks get:
Scottie Barnes
Gradey Dick
Ochai Agbaji
2025 first-round prime (No. 9)
2029 first-round pick
2031 first-round pick
Antetokounmpo and Raptors president Masai Ujiri spell mode back, and Ujiri has ne'er been shy astir taking large swings for stars. Toronto's caller moves, including trading for and extending Brandon Ingram, suggest Ujiri wants to leap backmost into contention sooner alternatively than aboriginal -- and successful a depleted Eastern Conference field, adding Giannis could marque that happen.
Given his younker and upside, Toronto's Barnes could beryllium the astir charismatic existent subordinate disposable to the Bucks successful a trade. That's important due to the fact that the Bucks beryllium truthful galore aboriginal picks to different teams that they person nary inducement to tank.
In 2023, the Suns traded Mikal Bridges, Cam Johnson, Jae Crowder, 4 first-round picks and 1 swap to Brooklyn for Kevin Durant. That's the exemplary from which we're gathering this trade: 1 rising prima (Barnes), 1 young shooter with imaginable (Dick), a 3rd helping and a akin -- but lesser, due to the fact that Barnes is much accomplished than Bridges -- assortment of picks that sent Durant to Phoenix.
With this deal, the Raptors would amended by slotting Antetokounmpo into Barnes' spot successful their rotation, portion the Bucks would beryllium capable to commencement gathering a young halfway of Barnes, Dick and the No. 9 prime successful this year's draft. The different picks headed to Milwaukee would beryllium concentrated toward the extremity of the maximum seven-year trading window, truthful Milwaukee wouldn't person to trust connected picks from a squad led by Giannis successful his prime, which would beryllium much apt to travel astatine the extremity of the archetypal round.
-- Kram
San Antonio Spurs get:
Giannis Antetokounmpo
Milwaukee Bucks get:
Harrison Barnes
Keldon Johnson
Jeremy Sochan
2025 first-round prime (No. 2)
2026 first-round prime (better of Atlanta and San Antonio)
2028 first-round prime (better of Boston and San Antonio)
2030 first-round prime (better of Dallas, Minnesota and San Antonio)
2031 first-round swap (Milwaukee's for amended of Sacramento's and San Antonio)
Before missing the last 3rd of past play owed to heavy vein thrombosis, Victor Wembanyama had established himself arsenic a top-10 subordinate astatine property 21. Pairing him with an All-NBA first-team prime successful his premier would springiness San Antonio a halfway bully capable to contend now, and the acceptable betwixt Wembanyama -- who prefers to play connected the perimeter -- and Antetokounmpo's powerfulness crippled is ideal.
I see this arsenic the NBA mentation of an NFL squad loading up astir a prima backmost connected a rookie deal, taking vantage of his inexpensive wage to adhd premier talent.
Even aft dealing for De'Aaron Fox, the Spurs are well-positioned to physique an Antetokounmpo connection astir picks based connected the operation of moving up to No. 2 successful the lottery and aboriginal swaps. Instead of relying connected San Antonio picks apt to travel astatine the extremity of the round, the Bucks would beryllium capable to stake connected a assortment of teams bottoming out.
In particular, the 2030 first-rounder looks particularly invaluable due to the fact that it's the champion of 3 teams -- albeit with top-one extortion connected the swap with the Timberwolves. Milwaukee besides gets a caller lottery prime successful Sochan and players who could support the squad competitive.
-- Pelton
Detroit Pistons get:
Giannis Antetokounmpo
Milwaukee Bucks get:
Tobias Harris
Jaden Ivey
Isaiah Stewart
2027 first-round pick
2029 first-round pick
2031 first-round pick
With the Cavaliers and Celtics up against the restrictive 2nd apron and apt needing to chopped wage (and Boston without the rehabbing Jayson Tatum), and the Knicks undergoing changes of their own, the contending people of the East is arsenic unfastened arsenic it's been successful a while. The Pistons, making their archetypal playoff quality successful six years, looked evenly matched with New York successful a highly competitory archetypal round. Adding a subordinate of Antetokounmpo's ilk would velocity up the timeline but besides springiness All-NBA defender Cade Cunningham and the Pistons a existent changeable successful the East sooner alternatively than later.
Milwaukee mightiness hesitate successful making a woody wrong its part and mightiness yet privation to plaything bigger than this. But Ivey, inactive conscionable 23 and coming disconnected a play that was acold much businesslike than his archetypal two, has shown real, palpable flashes. Stewart is 24, and is simply a rugged rebounder susceptible of bigger minutes than what helium presently receives alongside chap youngster Jalen Duren.
And the seasoned Harris, inactive conscionable 32, was coagulated for the Pistons -- peculiarly connected defence -- passim Detroit's playoff run. It would beryllium capable for the Bucks to stay competitive, with a accidental for Ivey to execute stardom arsenic helium enters his prime.
-- Herring
Giannis Antetokounmpo
Los Angeles Lakers get:
Dallas Mavericks get:
Gabe Vincent
2031 first-round prime (via L.A. Lakers)
2025 second-round prime (No. 41)
Milwaukee Bucks get:
Austin Reaves
Brandin Podziemski
Jonathan Kuminga (via sign-and-trade)
Trayce Jackson-Davis
Maxi Kleber
2029 first-round prime (via Warriors)
2031 first-round prime (via Golden State)
2030 first-round swap (with L.A. Lakers)
The Warriors are astir ever successful the premix for stars, and aft trading for Jimmy Butler III successful February, they could instrumentality an adjacent bigger plaything this summertime to maximize the remainder of Stephen Curry's extended prime. If Antetokounmpo requests a commercialized to Golden State, the Warriors could simply reroute Butler, whose wage is simply a cleanable match. But the Warriors could besides physique a matching bundle astir Green and a big of young players, truthful let's get genuinely chaotic with a blockbuster four-team proposal.
The Warriors would sacrifice extent to conception a star-studded large 3 of Curry, Antetokounmpo and Butler. The Lakers would equilibrium their roster by turning Reaves into Green -- who has been progressive successful Lakers rumors successful the past -- and Gafford, improving their defence and adding a rim-running halfway who's a proven acceptable with Luka Doncic. The Mavericks would commercialized from a presumption of spot (center) to adhd a aboriginal archetypal and constituent defender assistance during Kyrie Irving's absence. And the Bucks would drawback an assortment of promising young players and aboriginal picks successful instrumentality for their star.
-- Kram
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