The prospect of the Milwaukee Bucks trading away Giannis Antetokounmpo has been news that's dominated the NBA world since rumors of Antetokounmpo's discontent with the Bucks and his desire to play for a contender first emerged near the beginning of the 2025-26 season. 

Looking at the current state of the Bucks' relationship with their biggest star, it looks more and more like a trade will happen, but at least one unnamed NBA executive thinks that everyone is too blinded by Antetokounmpo to see who they think is the real number one trade prospect this season. 

"Every day you hear about what's going to happen with Giannis [Antetokounmpo], but everyone ignores that Kawhi has been better and healthier over the last two seasons. If you had a chance to acquire one or the other, I might go Kawhi," a NBA executive told ESPN. 

Granted, that executive may be on to something. While Antetokounmpo is a premier talent and former MVP, he's also been stricken by concerning injuries to his calf, groin and knee this season and played just 36 games. 

For someone as reliant on explosiveness and athleticism as Antetokounmpo is, injuries that are known directly to hinder movement and affect longterm explosiveness are huge red flags. 

Kawhi Leonard, on the other hand, just had a mostly-healthy season for the first time in a long time and as a result, he showed the NBA exactly what he's still capable of. 

Leonard averaged 27.9 points, 6.4 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game this season, with a career-high in points per game, while being a leader on the Los Angeles Clippers and a dynamic presence on multiple spots across the floor while also delivering on defense.

Not only does Leonard profile as a more diverse player and, somewhat surprisingly, a healthier player than Antetokounmpo at this point, but the Clippers may be interested in less in return for Leonard than the Bucks would be for Antetokounmpo.

The Clippers are in the midst of an aggressive rebuild and have already put several pieces in order, such as acquiring Darius Garland midseason and securing the fifth overall pick in the 2026 draft from the Indiana Pacers. 

Since they're already in rebuild mode and have shown that they're willing to part ways with their stars considering that they traded away both James Harden and Ivica Zubac midseason, Leonard may come at a lesser price, possibly just some draft picks or a few young players, compared to Milwaukee.

The Bucks will be trading Antetokounmpo begrudgingly and will expect a massive haul in return, but if one unnamed executive is to be believed, Leonard may be the better prize.