NBA Insider Links Giannis to Lakers, Knicks, Heat, More Teams Amid Trade Rumors

Several big-market teams have been linked to Milwaukee Bucks superstar forward Giannis Antetokounmpo should he and the Bucks decide to explore a trade this offseason.

During an appearance Monday on the Zach Lowe Show (h/t HoopsHype.com), Howard Beck of The Ringer noted that a source named a few teams that could potentially be in the mix for Giannis.

The source told Beck that "one of the L.A. teams or one of the New York teams," and "maybe" the Miami Heat are possible landing spots. Beck added that the source may have mentioned the Chicago Bulls and Houston Rockets as well, although he couldn't remember for sure.

Milwaukee reached the playoffs for a ninth consecutive year this season, but the Bucks suffered their third straight first-round exit. The Bucks fell 4-1 to the Indiana Pacers, and star guard Damian Lillard tore his Achilles during the series, which means he'll likely miss most if not all of the 2025-26 campaign.

On top of that, center Brook Lopez is set to become an unrestricted free agent, and forward Bobby Portis can join him if he declines his player option for the 2025-26 season, which means Giannis may have scant help next season if he remains in Milwaukee.

NBA insider Marc Stein said last week on the ALL NBA Podcast (h/t RealGM) that he doesn't believe the Bucks will approach Giannis with the idea of trading him this offseason, but they could be convinced to move him if Antetokounmpo requests a trade.

Should that happen, the 30-year-old veteran will likely be among the most highly sought after trade chips in NBA history.

Giannis is a two-time NBA MVP, one-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year, one-time NBA champion and one-time NBA Finals MVP, and he is still playing at an elite level 12 years into his NBA career.

This season, Antetokounmpo averaged over 30 points per game for a third consecutive year. He put up 30.4 points, 11.9 rebounds, 6.5 assists and 1.2 blocks per contest while shooting 60.1 percent from the field.

Any team would benefit from the arrival of a player of his caliber, particularly those that are either already championship contenders or on the verge of becoming one.

Both the Los Angeles Lakers and Los Angeles Clippers were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs this season, as were the Miami Heat, while the New York Knicks are currently in the second round.

Meanwhile, the Brooklyn Nets and Chicago Bulls both missed the playoffs and could use a superstar like Giannis to right the ship.

The Rockets would perhaps be the best fit since they have the young players and draft picks needed to land Giannis in a trade. They're already trending toward championship contention after earning the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference and pushing the Golden State Warriors to seven games in the first round.

Trading arguably the greatest player in franchise history wouldn't be an easy decision for the Bucks, but they likely won't be able to bring in the type of help needed to support Giannis en route to championship contention next season and beyond.

Because of that, trading Antetokounmpo may be the smartest possible move for the Bucks' future, especially since it seems like many of the NBA's biggest franchises may be willing to get into a bidding war to land him.