NBA Rumors on Giannis' Trade Value as Bucks Plan to Go 'Big-Game Hunting' to Help Star

Trade rumors and speculation regarding Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo have appeared after ESPN's Shams Charania reported on Dec. 3 that his camp and the team were having discussions on his future and whether the "best fit" would be in town or elsewhere.

Now, a new report has emerged on the Bucks star via Jake Fischer of the Stein Line newsletter covering a couple fronts.

On one end, Fischer discussed speculation from rival NBA executives on how the Bucks may perceive Antetokounmpo's trade value: "Yet I also hear rival teams wondering aloud if the Bucks have been so resistant until now to the mere idea of making Antetokounmpo available because they fear that his trade market wouldn't be as robust as anticipated."

On the other hand, Fischer relayed comments from a "rival general manager" who seems to believe that the Bucks want to go "big-game hunting" to help Antetokounmpo and the struggling 11-16 squad.

"After repeatedly telling teams that Antetokounmpo is not available and that it is not interested in fielding trade offers for him, now Milwaukee is messaging that it wants to be buyers at this deadline to try to get Giannis more help. Even with no clear return-from-injury timetable yet in place for Antetokounmpo, Jon Horst's front office continues to hold onto hope that assembling a puncher's chance contender remains viable in the wide-open Eastern Conference.

"One rival general manager I spoke to went so far as to say that the Bucks have convinced him that 'they're going big-game hunting.'"

Fischer noted that the Bucks have previously been interested in Miami wing Andrew Wiggins and New Orleans Pelicans guard Dejounte Murray. However, Fischer also added that they "might or might not be available this winter."

Sam Amick of The Athletic previously reported that the Bucks have "done due diligence" on Sacramento Kings guard Zach LaVine.

Fischer added that Portland Trail Blazers forward Jerami Grant "has been on Milwaukee's radar" this year and in past seasons as well.

Simply put, Milwaukee has to do something, the sooner the better. Antetokounmpo has been out for a couple weeks with a right calf strain and could very well be out until early January, per comments Bucks head coach Doc Rivers previously made to reporters.

Milwaukee has gone 3-11 in its last 14 games, and that slide has that team 10th in the Eastern Conference and on the precipice of sliding outside the play-in tournament section of the standings.

There's only so much the Bucks can do without Antetokounmpo, who is averaging 28.9 points, 10.1 rebounds and 6.1 assists per game. Milwaukee could weather a storm without him in years past when the Bucks had the likes of Khris Middleton and Jrue Holiday, but both co-stars are gone now.

The Bucks likely want to do something, but draft capital may be an issue, per Fischer.

"The team's lack of available draft capital, furthermore, means that its only likely avenue to acquiring a difference-maker during the season is by taking on a contract, like LaVine's, that most teams consider too pricey. Remember: Milwaukee does not have an unencumbered first-round pick it can trade until 2031."

In the meantime, the Bucks are coming off a brutal 127-82 loss to the 7-18 Brooklyn Nets. They hope to put that game past them Thursday when they host the Toronto Raptors.