The Top 5 Realistic Landing Spots for Giannis If He Forces Out of Milwaukee
What's next for Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks?
Several agents polled at the recent NBA combine in Chicago believe the former NBA MVP will direct the Bucks to send him to his preferred location, whatever that might be. The closer he gets to the end of his contract, the greater his power to dissuade other suitors.
The team hasn't been able to replicate its 2020-21 championship run, seeming to fall further away each year. Antetokounmpo's incredible 2024-25 NBA season was overshadowed by the dominance of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Oklahoma City Thunder. Nikola Jokić and the 50-win Denver Nuggets got more attention than the 48-win Bucks, despite Milwaukee taking the NBA Cup.
With hope already draining, Damian Lillard's devastating Achilles injury may derail next year's squad before the season even tips. The league is at a relative standstill, waiting for Antetokounmpo to do what many feel is inevitable: demand a trade.
The Bucks are moving forward as if it's media creation. Until their star player forces the issue, there's nothing to discuss.
But that moment may be coming.
If Antetokounmpo, 30, hopes to win another title, he should probably push for a new opportunity.
And he needs to do it well before June's NBA draft, when teams have maximum flexibility heading into July free agency and the kind of assets needed for the Bucks to comply.
We did some digging at the combine to identify the five most realistic destinations for Antetokounmpo, should he push his way out of Milwaukee.
The Fine Print
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Antetokounmpo will earn $54.1 million for the 2025-26 season.
While a deal could be fashioned before July with Antetokounmpo at $48.8 million, teams generally have greater flexibility when hard caps reset and the salary cap jumps from $140.6 million to $154.6 million.
To match salary for Antetokounmpo, a team must send at least $43.1 million in outgoing salary, triggering a first-apron hard cap at a projected $195.9 million. While that can be avoided by sending at least $54.1 million, any aggregation to get to that figure locks in a $207.8 million second-apron hard cap.
If the Bucks accept that next season won't include a deep playoff run, the team likely tries to set an internal payroll limit below the luxury tax line of $187.9 million. Milwaukee will take on the necessary salary for the best detail they can manage, but only to a point.
Moving a player at Antetokounmpo's salary is possible but difficult during the regular season. Getting a deal done before then should be paramount since maximizing the return at the trade deadline in February may be too difficult. Waiting until Antetokounmpo is in the last guaranteed year of his deal in 2026-27 (he has a player option for 2027-28) would drastically reduce Milwaukee's leverage.
Honorable Mentions: Lakers, Heat, Raptors, Magic
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How hard Antetokounmpo pushes for what he wants (which, for the record, we don't know) could add teams to the list who otherwise may not belong.
Does he want to join Luka Dončić and the Los Angeles Lakers? L.A. can build a deal around Austin Reaves, Dalton Knecht, filler contracts and marginal draft compensation (a future first, several swaps). More significantly, do the Bucks want to face a Dallas Mavericks-like backlash, sending their best player to the Lakers?
Miami is often a desired destination for star players, and Antetokounmpo has a strong relationship with Heat center/forward Bam Adebayo. Chicago isn't far from Milwaukee, and the Bulls can boast a bigger market and worldwide brand, most popularized by Michael Jordan in the 1990s.
Other names floating in the rumorsphere include the Toronto Raptors, Orlando Magic, New York Knicks, etc. Each presents its own problems and potential solutions if all sides are seriously interested (specifically Antetokounmpo).
No. 5: Oklahoma City Thunder
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While picks #15 and #24 in June's draft aren't as appealing as what other suitors could offer, the Thunder have a long list of incoming draft picks; so many that the franchise can arguably lap the field if Milwaukee covets future draft assets.
Oklahoma City's challenge would be getting to the necessary salary to match Antetokounmpo. It starts with Isaiah Hartenstein, but then needs to include some of the following players: Chet Holmgren, Luguentz Dort, Isaiah Joe, Aaron Wiggins, Cason Wallace, etc. (That's assuming the Thunder won't consider trading Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams.)
The Thunder may already have the best team in the league, so trading its identity for a 30-year-old superstar feels like too much of a change to top the list—even if the list of draft capital and talent on the roster might appeal to Milwaukee.
No. 4: The Atlanta Hawks
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The Hawks don't have anywhere close to the draft assets to compete with other teams on this list, but the franchise could be attacking the Antetokounmpo puzzle with creativity.
While searching for a new top basketball decision maker, ahead of the recently promoted general manager, Onsi Saleh, the name Alex Saratsis has leaked out as a potential candidate.
Saratsis, Antetokounmpo's agent and co-managing director of basketball at Octagon, has an extremely close relationship with the Bucks' star forward. If Saratsis takes the position in Atlanta, Antetokounmpo will have his most trusted advisor guiding the franchise strategically.
Is that a conflict of interest? The answer doesn't matter if it's what drives Antetokounmpo to make Atlanta his primary destination. He'd have to play the bad guy, which few expect.
But the same was said of Damian Lillard before he finally decided he'd had enough in Portland with the Trail Blazers. Lillard had a longer contract on the books when he made his move; Antetokounmpo has greater leverage to force his agenda.
The Hawks also have Jalen Johnson, one of the rising young forwards in the league, who was sidelined mid-season with a shoulder injury. Atlanta could include some draft compensation and other viable players/contracts like Zaccharie Riscacher, Terance Mann, Georges Niang, Kobe Bufkin, etc.
No. 3: The Brooklyn Nets
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The Nets project to be the only team with substantial cap room this summer, nearing as high as $80 million depending on the fates of free agents Cam Thomas, Ziaire Williams, D'Angelo Russell and Day'Ron Sharpe.
Brooklyn would be the only team that can take Antetokounmpo's entire contract off Milwaukee's books without sending a single dollar back in active salary.
In return, Brooklyn has a healthy list of first-round draft picks, including four in June (Nos. 8, 19, 26 and 27) and plenty in the future from teams like the New York Knicks, Philadelphia 76ers and all of its own. The Nets can almost compete with the Thunder in draft compensation, but no one else has the salary flexibility like Brooklyn.
The Nets can also include young players like Noah Clowney, Dariq Whitehead, Keon Johnson, Jalen Wilson and others on inexpensive contracts to help the Bucks restart their franchise.
No. 2: The Houston Rockets
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The Rockets may be the best active team capable of incorporating Antetokounmpo without giving up the heart of their roster.
Along with the No. 10 pick in June, Houston has several of its own first-rounders to offer, plus one in 2027 from the Phoenix Suns and two in 2029 (the highest from the Dallas Mavericks, Suns and Rockets).
Current disposable talent ranges from established players like Jalen Green, Jabari Smith Jr., Tari Eason to young and eager players such as Reed Sheppard, Cam Whitmore.
Houston has plenty of movable contracts to help make a deal palatable to Milwaukee, including Jock Landale, Aaron Holiday and two others possibly through sign-and-trade, Jae'Sean Tate and Jeff Green. Adding a third or fourth team to facilitate a complex blockbuster has recently become relatively common.
The Rockets would presumably opt Fred VanVleet out of the final year of his contract ($44.9 million) and re-sign him on a multi-year deal that enables the franchise to acquire Antetokounmpo without sacrificing too much of what made this past season's run so successful.
No. 1: The San Antonio Spurs
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How would opposing offenses score on the Victor Wembanyama/Antetokounmpo frontcourt? Imagine the nightmares.
Don't forget, they have De'Aaron Fox. The Spurs could make an immediate, stratospheric jump with Antetokounmpo.
Helping its case, San Antonio had favorable lottery luck, jumping from No. 8 to No. 2 in the lottery, where Rutger's Dylan Harper appears to be the consensus selection. The Spurs also have No. 14 from the Atlanta Hawks, plus another from the same franchise, unprotected in 2027.
Do the Bucks need more future picks? Ask away. The Spurs have plenty in both rounds.
For salary-matching purposes, San Antonio can reach Antetokounmpo's number with different combinations of players, such as Devin Vassell, Keldon Johnson, Harrison Barnes, Jeremy Sochan, Malaki Branham, Blake Wesley and Julian Champagnie. The Bucks would immediately restock on sorely needed younger talent.
The Spurs would do everything possible to avoid including Rookie of the Year Stephon Castle. That would be feasible, but it would certainly be a sticking point for Milwaukee.
Antetokounmpo will have a say in where he lands. His perspective on the smaller-market Spurs is unclear, but the franchise is among the most well-respected in the NBA circles.
Email Eric Pincus at eric.pincus@gmail.com and follow him on X @EricPincus and Bluesky.
