
The most talked about topic in NBA circles heading into the trade deadline week will be Giannis Antetokounmpo, as the Milwaukee Bucks' two-time MVP could be on the move after ESPN's Shams Charania reported that the team is listening to offers on their franchise legend. Therefore, the question remains: where will he land?
Giannis led the Milwaukee Bucks to a 2021 NBA Finals victory over the Phoenix Suns, and while he might not be at the same level he was back then, he's still a player who, in the right situation, can turn a playoff-caliber team into a contender. Teams all around the league may want him, but one team seems to be trending more than the rest.
Reporting from across the NBA continues to bring up the Golden State Warriors as a potential landing spot for Giannis and an opportunity for him to team up with Steph Curry. Both players are represented by the same agency in Octagon, another reason to see why it makes sense that the two could team up.
Regardless of whether or not Giannis wants to come to Golden State, the Bucks fans and front office should have one question on their mind: what can we get in return for our top player?
For the past couple of days, most trade scenarios posed by fans and the media included Jimmy Butler in a Giannis deal, given he could be used for salary-matching purposes and was out for the remainder of the season.
Similar to how the team moved De'Anthony Melton last season, the Warriors could move Butler, given he'd miss the entire season anyway. However, recent reporting from Marc Stein indicates that the Warriors are unlikely to move Butler in a Giannis deal, meaning that Draymond Green could be included instead.
To match salaries in a deal that would include Draymond, a deal could look like such:
Milwaukee receives: Draymond Green, Jonathan Kuminga, Buddy Hield, multiple first-round picks and swaps
Golden State receives: Giannis Antetokounmpo and Thanasis Antetokounmpo
That deal would make things work from a salary perspective, but it's hard to imagine the Bucks would do a deal like that without trying to get more of Golden State's young assets. A competitive offer from the Warriors could look more like the following:
Milwaukee receives: Draymond Green, Jonathan Kuminga, Moses Moody, Brandin Podziemski, multiple first-round picks and swaps
Golden State receives: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Thanasis Antetokounmpo, Gary Trent Jr.
In this deal, the Bucks would land three young players that could be a part of their core going forward in Kuminga, Moody, and Podziemski, and Green could very well decline his player option for the 2026-27 season and move elsewhere.
Regardless, teams around the league will be doing what they can to make the most competitive offer, likely involving multiple teams to get the most out of their assets. While a deal could very well happen, the Bucks could opt to wait until the offseason, looking to secure a guaranteed top draft pick after the lottery happens for 2026.