The Spurs and Rockets, both Western Conference teams, remain the Milwaukee Bucks‘ top two candidates for a potential Giannis Antetokounmpo trade. No other suitor could offer an equivalent package of draft capital and young talent. As the gossip ferments, however, plenty of other teams have been named as possible trade partners. One Eastern Conference rival is gaining momentum as a dark-horse contender.
Contradictory Report Introduces Newcomer to Giannis Sweepstakes
NBA channel @Legion Hoops tweeted the latest tidbit of chatter, based on intel from insider Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson:
REPORT: Giannis prefers to stay in the Eastern Conference, per @ScoopB.
“Two teams that have emerged as destinations of interest for the two-time MVP are the Toronto Raptors and the Brooklyn Nets.” pic.twitter.com/FAmVljpVnX
— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) May 14, 2025
Antetokounmpo’s reported preference to remain in the East is, if not a little dubious, at least contrary to earlier indications that he would likely target a Western Conference destination. If true, it simultaneously narrows and broadens the playing field.
Limiting suitors to a particular conference obviously reduces the number of potential collaborators. At the same time, even the Nets, loaded with draft picks, are not capable of matching an offer from San Antonio or Houston. The Bucks may be forced to consider other possibilities even if Giannis truly wants to end up on an Eastern Conference rival.
As far as we’re discussing Giannis’ preferences, though, it isn’t at all clear that he wants to leave. He has indicated nothing more than an “open-minded” attitude when it comes to deciding his future.
In the absence of concrete evidence, most information is probably best treated as pure speculation.
Still, it is at least a little interesting to see Toronto enter the discussion. For the sake of hypotheticals, what would a Raptors package look like?
Toronto Could Send Milwaukee Bucks Pair of Quality Players Plus Appealing Draft Haul
One rough outline of a possible trade:
Raptors get: Giannis Antetokounmpo, AJ Green
Bucks get: RJ Barrett, Jakob Poeltl, three first round picks (2025, 2027, 2029) and three seconds (2025, 2026, 2027).
For Bucks fans, nothing could compensate for surrendering the face of their franchise and 2021 Finals MVP, but a return like the above would set them up decently for both the present and the future.
At 6-foot-6, Barrett is a versatile guard-forward scorer who can also pass and rebound (21.1 PPG, 5.4 APG, 6.3 RPG in 2024-25). Poeltl would fill the void at center and, while not anything near Giannis’ level, can run plays here and there as a frontcourt facilitator (14.7 PPG, 9.6 RPG, 2.8 APG). Both players are under contract for two years, giving them an opportunity to play a full season with Damian Lillard in 2026-27.
To start building for the future, the Bucks would get the 9th pick this year and additional seconds in each of the next three drafts, including this one. The 2029 pick would grant them a first-rounder in a year in which they currently have none.
Whether the deal would make sense for Toronto is another matter, as they already employ a point-forward in Scottie Barnes. From a pure talent perspective, however, a lineup of Giannis, Barnes, Brandon Ingram, Immanuel Quickley and Gradey Dick would be formidable to say the least.
At the end of the day, concocting mock trades is something of an indulgent fantasy – even if some proposals are more interesting or plausible than others. In all likelihood, whether or not anything comes of all the talk rests on Antetokounmpo’s wishes. If he doesn’t ask out, would the franchise betray its 12-year superstar and alienate fans? Maybe, but that seems improbable. For Bucks faithful, it’s hard to imagine a better outcome than the Greek Freak donning forest green until he hangs up his size 16 shoes for good.
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