With steady downhill sledding for Giannis Antetokounmpo and Co. since winning a championship in 2020, the Milwaukee Bucks are at a low point. After a 1-3 start to the 2024-25 season, the Milwaukee Bucks have already lost the confidence of many fans. Doc Rivers, an accomplished coach, is now just 20-26 since taking the team over from first-time head coach Adrian Griffin. Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard aren’t clicking or communicating well enough.
In fact, it’s gotten so bad for the Bucks, that “teams are circling — and hopeful” they collapse, per Bill Reiter of CBS Sports. If so, Antetokounmpo could be traded, a possibility that he’s teased multiple times over the years. Executives are even thinking that the trade could happen in-season, with the Miami Heat, Brooklyn Nets, or Oklahoma City Thunder.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if it happened by the trade deadline,” said a top executive of a team that could be in the mix.”
An Eastern Conference executive has heard that Antetokounmpo would prefer the Heat or Nets.
Is A Giannis Antetokounmpo Trade To Heat Realistic?
A trade that sends Antetokounmpo to the Heat is the type of hypothetical transaction that makes even the most optimistic fan skeptical. Yet, there have been multiple blockbuster trades made over the years that seemed too fantastical to actually happen. The most recent episode of It’s Too Good To Be True saw the Knicks make a trade for All-Star big man Karl-Anthony Towns, who had been linked to them for years. New York also swung a trade for Mikal Bridges in a deal that seemed to bring NBA 2K to life.
That being said, there is a distinct possibility that Antetokounmpo could be traded. His own teammate — Lillard —is just one of a few stars to have forced their way off a team.
Bradley Beal found himself with the Phoenix Suns after deciding not to be part of a rebuild. Kevin Durant is only with the Suns because he no longer wanted to play for the Brooklyn Nets. Prior to that, James Harden wound up with the Philadelphia 76ers after deciding the Nets weren’t for him. At the same time, Ben Simmons was trying to escape Philadelphia, landing in Brooklyn.
Frankly, there’s ample evidence that Antetokounmpo could do the same. What’s doubtful is that the Bucks would trade him to a fellow contender. A two-time MVP and former Defensive Player of the Year, Antetokounmpo is still in his prime. For a consensus top-10 player, anyone calling up Milwaukee better be prepared to offer a king’s ransom. A team that the Bucks will want to defeat in the playoffs might have to give up more than that.
What Would A Deal Look Like?
If Milwaukee was to strike a deal with Miami, the headlining player would depend on the timing of the deal. Because Antetokounmpo signed a three-year contract extension with the Bucks in 2023, his salary will see a sharp increase next season. In addition to that, Milwaukee is above the second apron, so they can’t accept more salary than they send out in a trade or aggregates contracts. Next offseason, they’re projected to be under the first apron, which eases many of the trade restrictions they’re currently subject to.
If they were to strike a trade in-season, it would have be centered around Bam Adebayo or Tyler Herro because Jimmy Butler makes about $11,000 more than Antetokounmpo, placing him just out of their range. However, if Butler is the apple of their eye, then they could wait until next offseason when he becomes a free agent and agree to a sign-and-trade for the 35-year-old. Theoretically, an exchange would be simple in many ways given that both Antetokounmpo and Butler are two-way playmakers.
The Bam-Herro Package
A deal for Adebayo and Herro could make more sense for the Bucks.
A perennial Defensive Player of the Year candidate who has made major strides offensively since being drafted, Adebayo’s story is similar to Antetokounmpo’s. Of course, Adebayo is more a true big, just an incredibly mobile one. Nonetheless, with Brook Lopez becoming a free agent next offseason, they could have a hole to fill there anyways. How long Rivers remains the Bucks head coach remains to be seen. However, his experience coaching Kevin Garnett with the Boston Celtics could benefit Adebayo’s continued growth.
Herro saves the day with Khris Middleton falling victim to Father Time. Middleton will likely be under contract next season, as he has a $34 million player option for 2025-26. Nonetheless, Herro would be a third (or second) option that Milwaukee could count on a bit more than the Texas A&M product. On top of that, his abilities off-ball should complement not only Adebayo but Lillard, should he remain in Milwaukee. If Adebayo becomes Doc’s KG, Herro might become his Ray Allen.
