Bucks Could Trade Giannis Antetokounmpo Before NBA Draft: Report
The speculation about the Milwaukee Bucks parting ways with superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo via trade continues, with a recent report suggesting he could have a new team before June’s NBA Draft.
After hiring a solid head coach, Taylor Jenkins, to take over in Milwaukee following Doc Rivers’ exit, the team may now begin a rebuild that could involve a Giannis trade in the coming weeks.
As of this writing, Milwaukee only has the No. 10 pick in the draft, which gives them a slight chance to rebuild their roster, though that spot seems unlikely to secure any of the players expected to have a significant impact on a franchise.
In a new mock draft released by ESPN’s Jeremy Woo, he suggests that the Bucks would take Tennessee forward Nate Ament with their current pick, who has been considered “polarizing” by scouts and teams, but has the size and talent to perform well in the league.
However, Woo also reveals an interesting tidbit, indicating in his report that “rival teams say Milwaukee is operating as if they have multiple selections” at the NBA Draft. That would seem to suggest that they’re fielding deals from prospective teams for the former NBA MVP and champion.
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Rumors have linked Giannis to several teams, including the Boston Celtics, Golden State Warriors, and Miami Heat. However, sportsbooks and prediction markets showed odds that he’d go to a team were lower than the odds he’d still be on the Bucks’ roster at the start of the season.
If the Bucks were able to get another first-round and second-round pick in a deal for Giannis, it would seemingly open the door for a serious roster rebuild.
That would be especially true if that other pick is higher up in the top 10 of the order, where there are potential difference makers such as Cam Boozer, Caleb Wilson, Keaton Wagler, and Darius Acuff Jr. available.
However, it may not be a pick on that level, as two of the interested suitors for a Giannis trade, the Warriors and Heat, hold draft picks just below Milwaukee’s No. 10 spot.
This past NBA season, there was plenty of speculation that Milwaukee would move its superstar ahead of the official trade deadline, but that never happened. It appeared that he was ready to stay put with the Bucks, and they would work towards keeping him.
That prompted many individuals to criticize ESPN’s NBA insider, Shams Charania, for his constant reports about Giannis via sources. However, Charania reported last week that the Bucks are now “open for business” in terms of potential deals for the Greek Freak.
Basically, any trade involving additional NBA Draft picks could upgrade the Bucks, and Giannis would instantly upgrade whichever team lands him. While he didn’t play in many games this past season, his All-Star abilities on the court to impact games put him among the all-around best players in the league.
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This story was originally published May 19, 2026 at 2:00 PM.