The Milwaukee Bucks never really had any intention of trading Giannis Antetokounmpo at the NBA’s trade deadline in February, if only because so many of his suitors could sweeten their offers with more draft picks come the offseason.
Not only that, but the playoffs have a way of exposing teams for who they are, revealing the emperor’s clothes, showing exactly how far away they really are from contending with a team like the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder.
We’re are almost through the second round of the playoffs, and there has been significant development. Some surprising teams can convince themselves now that they are an Antetokounmpo away from title contention. Likewise, some pretenders who thought they might not need Giannis now require a serious roster shakeup.
And the Bucks are reportedly “open for business” on an Antetokounmpo trade.
So, let’s take a look at some of the potential playoff suitors, starting with the Timberwolves, who just got eliminated by the Spurs on their home floor and could be looking to shake things up.
(Joseph Raines/Yahoo Sports Illustration)
Minnesota Timberwolves
Western Conference semifinals: Timberwolves lost to the San Antonio Spurs, 4-2
The Timberwolves failed to advance to a third-straight conference finals. What now? According to The Athletic’s Jon Krawczynski, there was mutual interest between the Timberwolves and Antetokounmpo in getting a deal done during the regular season. Antetokounmpo was reportedly interested in being paired with Anthony Edwards, and Minnesota was actively pursuing complicated multi-team deals to get one done.
The Wolves may be convinced, if healthy, they could still contend in the West as is, since they played so well against Denver and San Antonio (sans Donte DiVincenzo, and with a hobbled Edwards). Now that they have lost in the second round, though, it is hard to imagine them becoming less interested in Antetokounmpo’s services.
It could be a weird fit. Ideally, the Wolves would slot Antetokounmpo into Julius Randle’s position, but with Rudy Gobert also manning the frontcourt, that’s two non-shooters in the same space. What a defense they’d make. Maybe, in this West, where the Thunder and Spurs rule, the move is to pair Edwards with Giannis and worry about the rest later.
Cleveland Cavaliers
Eastern Conference semifinals: Cavaliers and Detroit Pistons tied, 3-3
The Cavaliers checked in on Antetokounmpo’s availability earlier in the season, according to ESPN’s Brian Windhorst, though the framework of any potential deal was largely speculative. It made sense. The Cavs, who won 64 games last season, had taken a step back, necessitating some sort of shakeup to their four core stars.
So, Cleveland instead traded 26-year-old All-Star guard Darius Garland for 36-year-old future Hall of Famer James Harden, fully committing to a championship bid. Only, the Cavs are now in danger of losing in the second round again. Such a defeat would surely lead them to consider trading more of their core — including Evan Mobley.
Portland Trail Blazers
First round: Trail Blazers lost to the San Antonio Spurs 4-1
Per The Oregonian’s Bill Oram, the Blazers “are prepared to make a pitch” for Antetokounmpo’s services if he is willing to sign a long-term extension in Portland.
They have a trump card no other team can offer the Bucks: Their own draft picks. Since trading Damian Lillard to Milwaukee in September 2023, Portland holds the rights to the Bucks’ 2029 first-round selection in addition to swaps in 2028 and 2030.
Of course, the Blazers also have re-signed Lillard, who should return from a ruptured Achilles at the age of 36 next season, and his fit with Antetokounmpo already proved to be awkward in Milwaukee. Likewise, Deni Avdija led the league in drives this year, and his downhill game will come with some redundancy alongside Antetokounmpo.
Atlanta Hawks
First round: Hawks lost to the New York Knicks 4-2
Rich Paul, the agent to Atlanta’s Jalen Johnson, actually proposed a Johnson-for-Antetokounmpo swap on his podcast in January, though it never came to fruition.
“If I’m the Bucks, I’m looking at a young player, high character, high talent, high IQ,” said Johnson’s agent. “I’m calling Atlanta. I want Jalen Johnson. He’s from Milwaukee.”
In addition, the Hawks hold the No. 8 overall pick in June’s draft, courtesy of the New Orleans Pelicans. That package could be awfully attractive to Milwaukee. And few teams have a better roster construction than the Hawks to field around Giannis.
Houston Rockets
First round: Rockets lost to the Los Angeles Lakers 4-2
Before trading for Kevin Durant last offseason, the Rockets were considered among the favorites to land Giannis (if the Bucks ever made him available), given Houston’s trove of talented young players and draft picks. The Rockets could easily build an attractive package for Milwaukee around either Alperen Şengün or Amen Thompson.
Except, earlier in the season, the Rockets were reportedly not in on Antetokounmpo, preferring instead to see how far their young core could carry them. Well, as it turned out, an existing Durant-less core could not vault them anywhere near contention, as they lost to the Lakers, leaving anything on the table, including the pursuit of Giannis.
Toronto Raptors
First round: Raptors trail the Cavaliers 3-2 (Game 6 on Friday, 7:30 p.m. ET)
The Raptors, who have a ton of good players but no great one, are always in search of a superstar. Look at what they accomplished in one season with Kawhi Leonard.
Meanwhile, Collin Murray-Boyles emerged as a real asset in these playoffs, potentially sweetening any offer that Toronto could make Milwaukee. Combine him with matching salaries and a collection of draft assets, and suddenly the Raptors are in a conversation for Antetokounmpo we didn’t think possible at season’s start.
Orlando Magic
First round: Magic lost to the Detroit Pistons, 4-3
The Magic were a mess, more or less. A talented starting lineup of Paolo Banchero, Franz Wagner, Desmond Bane, Jalen Suggs and Wendell Carter Jr. underperformed expectations, and even a near upset of the Detroit Pistons in the opening round of the playoffs couldn’t keep them from getting their head coach, Jamahl Mosley, fired.
Might they still convince themselves, with a new coach and the collective improvement of their relatively young core, that they could contend next season? Or, more likely, do they consider upgrading from, say, Banchero to Antetokounmpo?
Philadelphia 76ers
Eastern Conference semifinals: 76ers lost to the New York Knicks, 4-0
It’s unclear how the Sixers would pull off a deal for Antetokounmpo that did not include rookie standout VJ Edgecombe. He should be the future of the franchise, along with Tyrese Maxey, as they are one of the league’s most talented backcourts.
But Philadelphia will soon be under new leadership after its firing of Daryl Morey, and if the next executive envisions a brighter future with Giannis at the helm, there is no telling what the Sixers might do to make it happen, including dealing Edgecombe.
