The Milwaukee Bucks made headlines by trading for Damian Lillard last season, but injuries prevented them from showing their full potential. Still, what many thought would be a longer run for the Bucks might be shorter than expected.
After two straight first-round exits, Giannis Antetokounmpo jokingly mentioned the possibility of being traded if things don’t turn around this season. While it was said in jest, for a team that’s aging and has dealt with injuries over the past two years, it’s not out of the realm of possibility that either Giannis or the Bucks might be looking for a change.
In that case, here are the top three teams to watch if Giannis really does hit the trade market next season.
3. Golden State Warriors
Warriors GM Mike Dunleavy Jr. hasn’t been shy about saying the Warriors are willing to make a blockbuster move if it can significantly alter their franchise’s trajectory. With that in mind, Giannis Antetokounmpo is exactly the kind of piece they’re looking for.
For years, there’s been talk of Giannis landing in Golden State, but the closest the Bucks superstar came to leaving was before his extension with Milwaukee in 2020. Still, the mutual respect between Giannis and Stephen Curry, which we’ve seen on TV and social media, keeps this idea in play.
Now, with young prospects like Jonathan Kuminga and Brandin Podziemski, the Warriors seem better equipped to entice Milwaukee in a potential deal. However, the real question is whether they can outbid other teams who could potentially circle around the Bucks superstar.
2. Houston Rockets
The Rockets have one of the most exciting young cores in the league with Jalen Green, Alperen Sengun, Jabari Smith Jr., Amen Thompson, Tari Eason and Reed Sheppard. At the same time, they’ve sped up their timeline to some extent, bringing in Fred VanVleet and Dillon Brooks last season and adding Steven Adams this year.
It is clear Houston wants to build a contender sooner rather than later, but even with this depth, they still lack an All-NBA-caliber player who can carry them deep into the playoffs, the type of player that teams like the Boston Celtics, the Dallas Mavericks and the Denver Nuggets already have.
The hope is that Green or Sengun can make that leap, but with the team previously showing interest in acquiring Kevin Durant, it’s clear that they can immediately move on from that process if the right player comes along. Durant would be great, but Giannis Antetokounmpo would be a perfect alternative.
For Milwaukee, getting back a rising star like Green or Sengun, along with other assets, would be about as good of a starting point as they could hope for.
1. Oklahoma City Thunder
The Thunder are fresh off a 57-win season, and now they’re adding even more grit to the roster with guys like Alex Caruso and Isaiah Hartenstein.
This team is too young and too good to be thinking about blowing it up anytime soon. But why are they here? Because, simply put, they own the biggest draft stash in the NBA. Combine that with a couple of promising young players, and they’ve got a package nobody else can match.
And unlike the Rockets, the Thunder have an MVP-caliber player in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, whose presence alone ensures the Thunder remain competitive even if they sacrifice some depth.
Giannis doesn’t look doesn’t look like someone who would want to step into a new situation where he has to carry the load all by himself —hence Milwaukee’s move for Dame. With SGA in the fold, he wouldn’t have to worry about the part.
