It is hard to overstate Giannis Antetokounmpo’s importance to the Milwaukee Bucks’ 2021 championship run. The Greek forward was instrumental in steering the Bucks through a memorable postseason that included series wins over the Miami Heat, Brooklyn Nets, Atlanta Hawks and Phoenix Suns. The long-awaited championship broke a 50-year title drought for the franchise, one of the longest streaks in the NBA.
After 12 seasons in Milwaukee, speculation is swirling that Antetokounmpo could be on the move this summer.
At 30 years old, Antetokounmpo remains one of the league’s most dominant figures and can single-handedly transform a playoff team into a legitimate championship contender. The Houston Rockets, OKC Thunder, and Brooklyn Nets are all interesting landing spots for the two-time MVP, but there is another franchise that, similar to Milwaukee before Antetokounmpo arrived, has struggled to snap its lengthy title drought.
NBA Insider Reveals the Franchise that Could Target Antetokounmpo
In a recent piece for RG.org, the Atlanta Hawks were mentioned as a potential trade partner for Antetokounmpo. Grant Afseth refers to the Hawks as a “dark-horse contender” but believes the organization could have a significant advantage if they do decide to pursue the nine-time All-Star.
“League sources told RG that Atlanta is evaluating several candidates to lead basketball operations, including CAA’s Austin Brown and Octagon’s Alex Saratsis, Antetokounmpo’s longtime agent,” said Afseth. “While such a hire wouldn’t automatically shift the franchise’s direction, it would naturally draw interest from around the league.”
The article goes on to say that Hawks head coach Quin Snyder is also represented by Octagon, and that connection could offer another angle for Atlanta to approach the Bucks.
The Hawks are coming off an uninspiring 40-win season that saw them miss out on the playoffs for a second straight season.
The organization has had some success since the arrival of talented point guard Trae Young in 2018, reaching the Eastern Conference Finals in 2021. Ironically, it was an Antetokounmpo-led Bucks team that eliminated them that year.
The Hawks have not won a championship since 1958 when the organization was back in St. Louis. It is the second-longest championship drought in the NBA, behind only the Sacramento Kings.
Convincing Milwaukee to agree to any trade will take a hefty package that likely includes a combination of talented young players and/or a handful of draft picks. The Hawks do have two first-round picks in the upcoming draft and have plenty of draft capital over the next 5 years that could be used to compensate the Bucks. Dyson Daniels, Jalen Johnson and Mo Gueye could also be added to any package.
This week, NBA insider Shams Charania reported that league sources told ESPN that Giannis was open to a move and had given it serious consideration.
“Antetokounmpo is open-minded about exploring whether his best long-term fit is remaining in Milwaukee or playing elsewhere,” said Charania.
Antetokounmpo himself recently reiterated his desire to win a second NBA championship and may be losing faith that Wisconsin is the play to do that. The Bucks have not won a playoff series since 2022. Over that stretch, they have been through four different coaches. A recent injury setback to nine-time All-Star Damian Lillard has only added fuel to the rumors that Antetokounmpo could be on his way out.
