Pelicans, Blazers Reportedly Could Factor Into Giannis, Bucks Trade Talks as 3rd Team

If the Milwaukee Bucks wind up trading Giannis Antetokounmpo this summer, it may not be a simple two-team framework. Instead, they could look to include one of the two clubs that control many of their future draft picks.

According to NBA insider Jake Fischer, there's "anticipation" building that the Bucks could look to include the New Orleans Pelicans or Portland Trail Blazers as a third team in any potential Antetokounmpo trade talks.

One reason why the Bucks are in their current position is that they shipped multiple picks to those teams in separate deals. The remaining picks from the Jrue Holiday trade in November 2020 to be paid out are Milwaukee's unprotected first-rounders in 2025 (No. 19 overall, now owned by the Brooklyn Nets) and 2027, plus a 2026 pick swap.

When the Bucks acquired Damian Lillard from the Blazers in October 2023, they gave up a 2029 first-round pick and pick swaps in 2028 and 2030.

It's not common for teams to reacquire their own previously traded picks, but it does happen from time to time. The Nets did it last summer in a deal with the Houston Rockets to get back their 2025 and 2026 picks that they originally gave up as part of the James Harden trade.

Antetokounmpo's status is going to be the most-talked-about aspect of the NBA offseason until there is a resolution to the matter one way or another.

ESPN's Shams Charania reported on May 12 that Antetokounmpo is "open-minded about exploring whether his best long-term fit" is with the Bucks or another team, but the two-time MVP hasn't made any firm decisions about his future at this point.

If Antetokounmpo decides to ask out, those future Bucks picks could take on even more value because Milwaukee will almost certainly tear its entire roster down to start over.

It would almost certainly take a hefty return for either the Pelicans or Blazers to give up any of those future draft assets in that case. But a team acquiring Antetokounmpo would presumably be happy to pay it since he can shift the balance of power in the NBA as soon as next season if he lands in the right spot.