Could the Charlotte Hornets trade for Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo this summer?
The Charlotte Hornets are among the five teams predicted to trade for Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo this summer.
Dan Favale of Bleacher Report predicts that the Bucks will trade Antetokounmpo to the Hornets, Cleveland Cavaliers, New York Knicks, Miami Heat or Brooklyn Nets this offseason.
The Bucks and Antetokounmpo are widely expected to part ways this offseason. Milwaukee almost traded Antetokounmpo at the trade deadline in February.
Antetokounmpo has spent his entire NBA career with the Bucks. He's a two-time MVP, one-time Finals MVP, one-time Defensive Player of the Year and 10-time All-Star. Antetokounmpo led Milwaukee to the 2021 championship in six games against the Phoenix Suns. The Bucks have won only one playoff series since then and missed the playoffs this year for the first time since 2016.
Antetokounmpo will make $58.5 million next season. He has a player option worth $62.8 million for the 2027-28 season. The superstar forward is eligible to sign a four-year, $275 million extension with the Bucks on October 1. If he declines the extension, Antetokounmpo will be traded, according to Milwaukee co-owner Wes Edens.
Antetokounmpo holds career averages of 24.1 points, 9.9 rebounds, 5.0 assists, 1.1 steals and 1.2 blocks per game. It would certainly be fun to see him play alongside Lamelo Ball and Kon Knueppel.
In Year 2 of the Charles Lee era, the Hornets went 44-38 and won a play-in game. Even though Charlotte missed the playoffs again, the future is bright in Buzz City.
That future would turn into "title contender status" if the front office acquires Antetokounmpo, who averaged 27.6 points, 9.8 rebounds, 5.4 assists, 0.9 steals and 0.7 blocks per game this season.
Under CBA rules, the Hornets can trade Miles Bridges, Brandon Miller, Josh Green, the No. 14 pick in this year's draft and a 2032 first-round pick to the Bucks for Antetokounmpo.
Since he doesn't have a no-trade clause in his contract, Antetokounmpo can't control where the Bucks trade him. However, he has some leverage because of his player option for the 2027-28 season. A team like the Hornets probably won't trade for Antetokounmpo if they know he doesn't want to be there and can leave in the summer of 2027. It's just too risky.
Through backchannels, Charlotte -- if it chooses to pursue a Giannis trade -- must figure out if the future Hall of Famer is interested in playing for them first before going through with a blockbuster trade.
The Hornets haven't had a superstar in a long, long time. Adding Antetokounmpo would help Charlotte on and off the court. The franchise would sell more tickets and win more games.
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