Monday evening’s rigged loopy NBA Draft lottery might result in an offseason of unprecedented participant motion. Stars akin to Phoenix’s Kevin Durant, Philadelphia’s Joel Embiid and even Boston’s Jaylen Brown could possibly be accessible in trades.
All of them would yield spectacular returns, however the crown jewel of probably accessible gamers this summer time is Milwaukee’s 30-year-old famous person Giannis Antetokounmpo (30.4 PPG final season), who’s reportedly open to a commerce that will earn the Bucks a king’s ransom.
With the draft order set, it is time to cook dinner up practical commerce eventualities for the league’s most dominant drive. These trades are ranked from least to most certainly:
5) Giannis forces his strategy to Los Angeles
Lakers obtain: Antetokounmpo
Bucks obtain: Austin Reaves, Rui Hachimura, Jarred Vanderbilt, Gabe Vincent, Dalton Knecht, 2031 first-round decide, 2026/2028/2030 first- spherical decide swaps
Why it might occur: Superstars with the sort of sweat fairness Antetokounmpo has earned with Milwaukee usually have some say in the place they get traded. If Giannis tells the Bucks that he solely desires to go to the Lakers to workforce with Luka Doncic and LeBron James, the Lakers no less than have a few good property to supply.
Why it is unlikely to occur: The Bucks would actually be doing Giannis a strong by buying and selling him to the Lakers as a result of the following 4 groups can high L.A.’s provide.
4) Mavericks proceed to stay within the current
Mavericks obtain: Antetokounmpo
Bucks obtain: No. 1 general decide in 2025 draft (Cooper Flagg), P.J. Washington, Klay Thompson, Max Christie
Why it might occur: After his unconscionable dealing of Luka Doncic this previous season, Dallas GM Nico Harrison burdened the significance of his workforce’s three- to four-year championship window. When you might argue that Duke’s Flagg will match into Harrison’s “protection wins championships” imaginative and prescient, Giannis would match a helluva lot higher for the following three to 4 years.
Why it is unlikely to occur:
ESPN has reported that the Mavericks will choose Flagg with the primary general decide. And it would be insane if Dallas possession allowed Harrison to commerce one other franchise savior for a veteran famous person.
3) Rockets blast into rivalry
Rockets obtain: Antetokounmpo
Bucks obtain: Alperen Sengun, Tari Eason, Reed Sheppard, Cam Whitmore, decide No. 10 in 2025 draft, Suns 2027 first-rounder, swap rights on the very best 2029 first-round decide amongst Rockets, Mavericks and Suns
Why it might occur: This offers Milwaukee all the pieces it might need in a deal for Antetokoumpo: draft capital and younger expertise who may also help it keep aggressive now and excel sooner or later.
Why it is unlikely to occur: This does not essentially clear up the Rockets’ playoff scoring woes — usually that scoring punch should come from wing or perimeter gamers. Thus, the Rockets may very well be higher off buying and selling a a lot smaller bundle for Durant, permitting nearly all of their younger core to remain intact and proceed to develop, and hope that KD is sufficient to get them over the hump.
2) Spurs giddy up their rebuild
Spurs obtain: Antetokounmpo
Bucks obtain: Picks No. 2 and No. 14 within the 2025 draft, Stephon Fortress, Devin Vassell, Jeremy Sochan, Atlanta 2027 first-rounder
Why it might occur: The basketball gods have smiled upon San Antonio, gifting it the second decide within the 2025 NBA Draft, which is able to possible be Rutgers’ Dylan Harper, a possible franchise level guard. Abruptly, the Spurs have that decide, one other lottery decide and two younger studs in Fortress and Vassell to supply for Antetokoumpo. And if that is not sufficient, they will even throw within the Hawks’ unprotected 2027 first-round decide. That is an excellent bundle for Giannis!
Why it is unlikely to occur: It’d break our collective brains watching 7-foot-3 Victor Wembanyama and 6-foot-11 Antetokounmpo on the courtroom collectively. It is simply an excessive amount of wingspan for the human mind to deal with.
Joking apart, the one causes Milwaukee would think about turning this provide down can be if Giannis instructed them he is staying or if the Thunder trump the Spurs.
1) Thunder hit the accelerator after failing to seize the 2025 NBA title
Thunder obtain: Antetokounmpo
Bucks obtain: Chet Holmgren, Lu Dort, Cason Wallace, Aaron Wiggins, picks No. 14 and No. 25 in 2025 draft, 76ers 2026 first-round decide (protected 1-4), Jazz 2026 first-round decide (protected 1-8), 2027 first-round swap rights with the Clippers, 2028 first-round swap rights with the Mavericks
Why it might occur: Thunder have 29 draft picks between now and 2031 and already a roster stuffed with expertise. They need to money their chips in sooner or later and will simply outbid every other workforce’s provide. If this is not sufficient, they’ve a ton of further first-rounders and younger prospects they might throw into the deal.
Why it is unlikely to occur: The Thunder are the betting favorites to win the 2025 NBA title, so it would be shocking in the event that they gained all of it after which made such an enormous commerce.
