Now that the Bucks are open for business and the Giannis sweepstakes have really begun, it seems like all the posturing from the past few years is out the window. There’s no more reason for the sides to play nice and pretend that there’s hope of salvaging the relationship between player and team in Milwaukee.
Both sides tried to make it work, and for a while, it did, but this has run its course, and it’s clearly time for Antetokounmpo to find a new home this summer. And now that we’ve reached that point and the cat is out of the bag, there’s a real opportunity for the Greek Freak to put his finger on the scale and play a role in dictating his next team.
Giannis is entering the final year of his deal, with a player-option for 2027-28, and he’ll surely be looking to sign a new extension with whatever team trades for him. Which also means that Giannis and his camp will be able to tip their hand in terms of what teams he’ll be willing to extend with, and in turn, which teams shouldn’t waste their time or assets.
All we’ve heard recently is that Antetokounmpo wants to go to a true contender, and he wants to stay in the Eastern Conference. This meshes with rumors we’ve heard in the past that have specifically indicated that two of his preferred destinations are the Knicks and Heat.
Knicks and Heat not in position to make Giannis trade
But the thing is, now that the time for a trade is actually here, neither of those teams seems particularly well-suited to make the move.
The Knicks and Giannis have been connected for years, but New York looks better than ever before. The team just swept the 76ers and will be heavy favorites to make the Finals for the first time in ages. Even if they come up short, it’s hard to imagine they would blow up this team to chase Antetokounmpo after what will likely end up their most successful season this millennium.
The Heat are likely out of the mix for different reasons. The team sputtered out and lost in the play-in game, and got no lottery luck, set to pick 13th. That pick alone shouldn’t be enough to entice the Bucks, and they owe their 2027 first to the Hornets. They don’t have much in the way of young talent to offer, and from a basketball standpoint, it doesn’t make much sense for Giannis.
He’d be a clunky fit next to their best player, Bam Adebayo, and even with Giannis, it’s hard to imagine they’d be anywhere close to real contenders. As crazy as it sounds, his top two choices may be out of the mix.
Anything could still happen. The Knicks could crash out in the ECF. Giannis could demand Miami. And lots of things in between. But as of now, if he’s still set on joining an East contender, his options are dwindling, and the Celtics are looking more and more in play.
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