NBA Teams' Salary Cap, Draft Picks for Potential Giannis Trade amid Bucks Rumors

Twenty-nine general managers in the NBA are now on alert after ESPN's Shams Charania reported Monday that Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo "is open-minded about exploring whether his best long-term fit is remaining in Milwaukee or playing elsewhere."

While that's not an outright trade request, it certainly sounds like the prelude to one.

The Bucks finished fifth in the Eastern Conference before losing to the Indiana Pacers in five games in the first round. Star point guard Damian Lillard could miss most or all of 2025-26 after tearing his Achilles. General manager Jon Horst has few assets available to improve the roster.

If Antetokounmpo approaches this situation pragmatically, then it's impossible to ignore that there are greener pastures outside Milwaukee.

With players of Giannis' caliber, the pool of realistic trade suitors is likely to be limited. But every GM is probably at least entertaining the idea and formulating the best offer he could make to the Bucks.

Here's a look at what each team, aside from the Bucks, has in terms of projected salary cap space, per Spotrac, and 2025 draft picks:

Atlanta Hawks

• Cap Space: $964,387
• 2025 Draft Picks: Nos. 13 (proj.), 22,

Brooklyn Nets

• Cap Space: $55,750,323
• 2025 Draft Picks: Nos. 6 (proj.), 19, 26, 27, 36

Boston Celtics

• Cap Space: -$73,998,156
• 2025 Draft Picks: Nos. 28, 32

Charlotte Hornets

• Cap Space: $2,527,204
• 2025 Draft Picks: Nos. 3 (proj.), 33, 34

Chicago Bulls

• Cap Space: $14,371,146
• 2025 Draft Picks: Nos. 12 (proj.), 45

Cleveland Cavaliers

• Cap Space: -$55,000,855
• 2025 Draft Picks: Nos. 49, 58

Dallas Mavericks

• Cap Space: -$41,140,250
• 2025 Draft Picks: No. 11 (proj.)

Denver Nuggets

• Cap Space: -$44,833,856
• 2025 Draft Picks: N/A

Detroit Pistons

• Cap Space: $24,632,990
• 2025 Draft Picks: 2025 Draft Picks: No. 37

Golden State Warriors

• Cap Space: -18,729,201
• 2025 Draft Picks: No. 41

Houston Rockets

• Cap Space: -$33,009,194
• 2025 Draft Picks: Nos. 9 (proj.), 59

Indiana Pacers

• Cap Space: -$16,533,570
• 2025 Draft Picks: Nos. 23, 54

Los Angeles Clippers

• Cap Space: $15,258,638
• 2025 Draft Picks: Nos. 30, 51

Los Angeles Lakers

• Cap Space: -$35,214,539
• 2025 Draft Picks: No. 55

Memphis Grizzlies

• Cap Space: $17,515,972
• 2025 Draft Picks: Nos. 48, 56

Miami Heat

• Cap Space: -$24,812,716
• 2025 Draft Picks: No. 20

Minnesota Timberwolves

• Cap Space: -$9,501,984
• 2025 Draft Picks: Nos. 17, 31

New Orleans Pelicans

• Cap Space: $9,971,943
• 2025 Draft Picks: No. 4 (proj.)

New York Knicks

• Cap Space: $-46,405,053
• 2025 Draft Picks: No. 50

Oklahoma City Thunder

• Cap Space: -$32,340,224
• 2025 Draft Picks: Nos. 15, 24, 44

Orlando Magic

• Cap Space: -$52,126,211
• 2025 Draft Picks: Nos. 16, 25, 46, 57

Philadelphia 76ers

• Cap Space: -$30,134,192
• 2025 Draft Picks: Nos. 5 (proj.), 35

Phoenix Suns

• Cap Space: -$56,989,038
• 2025 Draft Picks: Nos. 29, 52

Portland Trail Blazers

• Cap Space: $17,757,311
• 2025 Draft Picks: No. 10 (proj.)

Sacramento Kings

• Cap Space: -$15,136,012
• 2025 Draft Picks: No. 42

San Antonio Spurs

• Cap Space: -$461,132
• 2025 Draft Picks: Nos. 8 (proj.), 14 (proj.), 38

Toronto Raptors

• Cap Space: -$30,508,892
• 2025 Draft Picks: Nos. 7 (proj.), 39

Utah Jazz

• Cap Space: $2,160,672
• 2025 Draft Picks: Nos. 1 (proj.), 21, 43, 53

Washington Wizards

• Cap Space: $675,740
• 2025 Draft Picks: Nos. 2 (proj.), 18, 40

In the event Antetokounmpo decides to push for a trade, Bucks fans may want to temper their expectations for what the team ultimately gets back.

The Anthony Davis/Luka Dončić blockbuster is an outlier because the Dallas Mavericks decided Davis was the one player they coveted over any other. General manager Nico Harrison worked backward from there.

Kevin Durant's trade to the Phoenix Suns serves as a better guide.

Back in 2022, the sky seemed to be the limit for the Brooklyn Nets when Durant first asked out that summer. When KD finally did move, they received a bounty of draft capital, but Mikal Bridges and Cameron Johnson were a downgrade from the young cornerstones and All-Stars who were mentioned months earlier.

Antetokounmpo is a two-time MVP who, at 30, is still in the prime of his career. He's also only two years out from free agency, and Durant's time in Phoenix is an example of how an all-in trade like this can backfire spectacularly.

Horst will set an astronomically high asking price at first, should his hand get forced and he has to explore Giannis' trade market. Over time, it might take a lot of negotiating in order to land a package that's worth it.