Predicting Any Darkhorse Trade Suitors for Giannis Antetokounmpo

It is clear that the Milwaukee Bucks have their potential trade partners for Giannis Antetokounmpo established. The Miami Heat are the most talked-about team that is involved in negotiations to acquire the former MVP, but there is another team that is a dark horse to land Giannis as well. 

The Orlando Magic have quietly been a team that has been linked to Antetokounmpo but has not been in serious talks to complete a trade. Orlando is coming off a disappointing end to their season, and a move that shakes up the roster is something it could look into doing. 

While the Magic have two star forwards in Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner, the team has not made it out of the first round of the playoffs since they have both been on the roster. In 2026, they had a 3-1 series lead over the Detroit Pistons, and an offensive collapse led them to lose the series 4-3. 

Much of that offensive collapse was due to Franz Wagner getting hurt in the middle of the series, but this is a team that lost all of its momentum on that side of the ball and never found it again. Adding Giannis Antetokounmpo could fix some of those issues. 

An issue the Orlando Magic have dealt with in recent seasons is that they have been dependent on their three-point shooting to win games. If the team ever got cold from downtown, it would be hard for them to get back in games and win. 

Giannis Antetokounmpo is a player who could provide them with some stability on offense, thanks to his ability to score in the interior at will. Many will point to three-point shooting as the Magic's biggest weakness, but if they had a dominant inside scorer like Giannis, those issues would not be so prominent. 

If the Magic are serious about acquiring Antetokounmpo, they may run into an issue in negotiations, as they could have a hard time putting together a trade package the Bucks are willing to accept. 

They only own 4 first-round picks between now and 2032, and some of the young players they can offer are still considered key pieces for the franchise. The Magic could offer Anthony Black or either Paolo Banchero or Franz Wagner, but it would be risky to ship one of them off for a 31-year-old veteran. 

While it would take Orlando a lot to get Giannis and make a drastic roster move in hopes of a championship, it's a possibility it could come to fruition. The Bucks will continue to weigh their options as the offseason progresses.