With the NBA offseason now in full swing, trade speculation surrounding Giannis Antetokounmpo has reached a fever pitch, and several teams have already been linked to the Milwaukee Bucks star.
At the same time, several other potential deals are also expected to grab headlines throughout the offseason.
How a Giannis Antetokounmpo Trade Could Spark Other Major NBA Moves
Antetokounmpo played just 36 games last season, but the 10-time All-Star remains one of the league’s most impactful players. Though trade rumors surrounding him have worn on many in Milwaukee, the pathways of a blockbuster deal continue to dominate media conversations.
Among the teams most frequently linked to Antetokounmpo are the Miami Heat and Boston Celtics. Miami has become a popular landing spot in the last few days, while some around the league believe Boston is not feeling the same level of urgency.
The Celtics could continue building around Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown while bolstering the roster through other moves.
Boston may already have an alternative plan if a deal for Antetokounmpo fails to materialize, as The Athletic’s Sam Amick reported that the Celtics could turn their attention to New Orleans Pelicans wing Trey Murphy III.
Trade discussion surrounding Murphy intensified when NBA insider Evan Sidery also reported that several major moves could fall into place once the Antetokounmpo situation is resolved.
“Once the Giannis Antetokounmpo trade occurs soon, massive trade dominoes could quickly follow suit. The Pelicans are in active talks with multiple teams on Trey Murphy III,” Sidery tweeted.
Once the Giannis Antetokounmpo trade occurs soon, massive trade dominoes could quickly follow suit.
The Pelicans are in active talks with multiple teams on Trey Murphy III.
The Grizzlies will soon be officially ending the Ja Morant era as well.
Buckle up, trade season is here. pic.twitter.com/IhyTKgEPtf
— Evan Sidery (@esidery) June 22, 2026
New Orleans is reportedly more open to discussing Murphy in trade talks than in previous years and is particularly interested in acquiring an additional first-round draft pick before the upcoming draft.
He is coming off a good season in which he posted career-best averages of 21.5 points, 5.7 rebounds, 3.8 assists, and 1.5 steals per game.
Murphy has established himself as one of the NBA’s top two-way wings, making him an attractive target for teams like Boston. The Celtics are not alone in their pursuit, as the Detroit Pistons and Indiana Pacers are among the teams that have reportedly expressed interest in him.
Murphy’s contract is also team-friendly, as he is set to earn $27 million next season under a four-year, $112 million extension.
Meanwhile, Sidery also pointed to another potentially big storyline involving Memphis Grizzlies star Ja Morant.
“The Grizzlies will soon be officially ending the Ja Morant era as well. Buckle up, trade season is here,” Sidery added.
Morant’s 2025-26 season was largely disrupted by injuries, limiting his availability, but he still averaged 19.5 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 8.1 assists while shooting 41.0% from the field in 20 games.
Amick reported that the New Orleans Pelicans and Sacramento Kings are currently viewed as the most serious suitors for Morant.
Meanwhile, NBA insider Jake Weinbach proposed a potential trade that would send Morant and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope to New Orleans, with Memphis receiving Dejounte Murray, Jordan Poole, and Yves Missi in return.
