New NBA Trade Rumors Reveal Bucks Player Expected to Be Included in Giannis Package

If the Milwaukee Bucks choose to trade star forward Giannis Antetokounmpo this offseason, he reportedly won't be alone.

According to Tim Reynolds of the Associated Press, there is "a growing belief in some corners" that any trade for Antetokounmpo would include Bucks veteran forward Bobby Portis.

Portis originally signed with the Bucks ahead of the 2020-21 season and helped the team win an NBA championship that year. He's become Milwaukee's vocal leader and a fan-favorite because of his toughness and physicality. The 31-year-old played in 67 games this past season and averaged 13.7 points and 6.4 rebounds while shooting an impressive 45.6 percent from beyond the arc, which ranked second in the NBA.

On Tuesday, NBA insiders Marc Stein and Jake Fischer reported that the "growing expectation throughout the NBA" is that the Bucks will trade Antetokounmpo before the NBA draft on June 23-24. They added that Milwaukee is "operating" as if it will have an additional first-round draft pick to go along with its No. 10 selection after dealing Antetokounmpo.

The Boston Celtics and Miami Heat were named as Antetokounmpo's preferred landing spots if he's traded this summer. The Portland Trail Blazers reportedly could be included in a three-team trade if the Bucks try to recoup some of the draft capital they sent to the Blazers as part of the Damian Lillard trade prior to the 2023-24 campaign.

Wherever Antetokounmpo winds up, it sounds like Portis could be tagging along, which would further bolster the return package Milwaukee would receive for trading the two-time NBA MVP.