It’s been quiet on the northern front, but the Milwaukee Bucks shouldn’t take that as a sign all is well. Just a year after trading for Damian Lillard in an effort to appease Giannis Antetokounmpo, there’s still plenty of uncertainty about their future.
A two-time MVP in the middle of his prime, Antetokounmpo wants to compete for championships. However, a roller coaster 2023-24 campaign saw them changing not just stars but coaches and schemes. Unfortunately for Milwaukee, it seemed like it was all for naught, as the Bucks went just 17-19 under Doc Rivers to close out the season. In addition, Antetokounmpo considered it to be the toughest season of his career.
That can hardly have been the plan.
So, while everyone’s attention is on the stars that switched teams this summer, it seems wise to keep an eye out on an eight-time All-Star that might look for a new home next offseason.
3 Teams Bucks’ Giannis Antetokounmpo Could Request Trade To
Miami Heat
If Antetokounmpo was ever shipped to South Beach, the Miami Heat wouldn’t do it in hopes of recreating a Big Three.
Instead, a sign-and-trade that sent Jimmy Butler to the Bucks or re-routed him elsewhere would have to be agreed upon. This is largely due to the fact that Miami wouldn’t be able to acquire Antetokounmpo otherwise. Not only does he have a $48.7 million salary, but Milwaukee is above the second apron. Consequently, they have to trade Antetokounmpo straight-up for a player making the same salary.
Butler is the only player on the Heat’s roster currently making $48.7 million. Even more beneficial is that he’ll be free agent next offseason, and Miami can sign him to a salary that ensures the trade is legal.
In this hypothetical, Antetokounmpo’s new supporting cast will be headlined by Bam Adebayo, Tyler Herro, and Terry Rozier. A younger group than the Bucks’ core, Antetokounmpo will extend his championship window in South Beach. A frontcourt with he and Adebayo would be particularly formidable at the defensive end.
New Orleans Pelicans
With three players that have been named an All-Star, the New Orleans Pelicans have one of the more stacked starting fives.
Yet, it won’t be one of CJ McCollum or Daniel Theis who gets traded in this scenario. Nor is it Zion Williamson, despite what could be as a redundant skillset on an Antetokounmpo-led team. Instead, it’ll be Brandon Ingram, who enters the final season of his contract in 2024-25.
Because the Pelicans are projected to be $64.3 million under the cap, they don’t have to match salaries. More to the point, this helps make them a legitimate landing spot for Antetokounmpo. New Orleans could simply take back his salary while sending Ingram to the Bucks in a sign-and-trade to complete the deal.
With that being said, if the Pelicans start Antetokounmpo, Williamson, McCollum and Dejounte Murray, there’s no doubt they’ll be championship contenders.
Antetokounmpo and Williamson’s dominance around the rim would make teams want to crowd the paint. Yet, McCollum and Murray’s perimeter scoring makes it impossible for those defenses to sell out. If New Orleans starts Williamson at center, they could also have two excellent wing defenders in the starting lineup; Antetokounmpo and Herb Jones (or Trey Murphy III).
Houston Rockets
The Houston Rockets are projected to have upwards of $110 million in cap space next offseason. They have nine first round picks through the 2030 NBA Draft. They have two All-Star-caliber players in Alperen Sengun and Jalen Green. If counting Reed Sheppard, Jabari Smith Jr., and Cam Whitmore, they may have more than that. Lastly, they have a respected head coach in Ime Udoka.
Simply put, they may have the best chance to win The Greek Freakstakes and to win a championship afterwards. Crazier things have happened, like Kawhi Leonard leading the ragtag Toronto Raptors to an NBA title in 2019.
Ultimately, the Rockets could start Sheppard, Green, Antetokounmpo, Smith, and Sengun. However, Houston may want to retain Fred VanVleet. In that event, VanVleet would continue starting, with Sheppard joining Whitmore in the second unit. There’s even the chance that the Rockets look to start VanVleet and Sheppard together in the backcourt, necessitating a Green trade.
In any of these potential scenarios, retaining as much talent as possible is the goal.
