New Giannis Trade Rumors on 'Complete Non-Starter' for Hawks in Talks with Bucks

The Atlanta Hawks have reportedly been unwilling to part with their biggest rising star in a potential trade with the Milwaukee Bucks for Giannis Antetokounmpo.

According to Jake Fischer of The Stein Line, the Hawks have "always viewed the notion" of trading forward Jalen Johnson as part of a package for Antetokounmpo as a "non-starter."

Fischer noted that the Hawks are a "natural" trade partner for Giannis since they could own the Bucks' 2026 and 2027 first-round picks depending on what conditions are met.

Getting back the rights to their picks and a budding star in Johnson would be ideal from Milwaukee's perspective, but it is easy to understand why the Hawks reportedly have no interest in moving on from Johnson.

The 24-year-old former Duke standout went 20th overall to Atlanta in the 2021 NBA draft, and he has shown steady improvement ever since.

After limited usage in his first two NBA seasons, Johnson exploded in 2023-24 to average 16.0 points and 8.7 rebounds per game, and he has been on the rise ever since.

So far this season, Johnson is averaging career highs with 22.9 points, 10.4 rebounds, 8.0 assists and 1.6 three-pointers made per game across 59 appearances.

He is also shooting 49.5 percent from the field and 35.1 percent from beyond the arc, making him Atlanta's best player by a wide margin.

Johnson was named an All-Star for the first time this season, and his development has been so impressive that the Hawks were willing to trade former face of the franchise Trae Young to the Washington Wizards.

Of course, Giannis is a future Hall of Famer with 10 All-Star selections, two NBA MVP awards, one NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award, one NBA championship and one NBA Finals MVP Award to his credit.

Antetokounmpo is 31, though, and it is entirely possible his best basketball is behind him, whereas Johnson is only going to continue to get better in all likelihood.

Giannis could speed up the Hawks' championship contention timeline significantly, but if it costs Johnson to get him, there is no real reason for Atlanta to even consider it.