Atlanta Hawks Won’t Trade Jalen Johnson To Acquire Giannis Antetokounmpo From Milwaukee Bucks

The Atlanta Hawks have no interest in trading Jalen Johnson to acquire Giannis Antetokounmpo from the Milwaukee Bucks, according to NBA insider Jake Fischer of The Stein Line.

Atlanta intends to build around Johnson in the post-Trae Young era.

“Atlanta would have been a natural trade partner for Milwaukee given the control that the Hawks have over the Bucks’ top selections in the next two drafts, but league sources say that Atlanta has always viewed the notion of trading the 24-year-old Jalen Johnson for Giannis Antetokounmpo to be a complete non-starter,” Fischer wrote.

Johnson is averaging 22.9 points, 10.4 rebounds and 8.0 assists per game this season. He made his first All-Star team and has established himself as one of the top two-way players in the NBA.

In December, Johnson’s agent — Rich Paul of Klutch Sports Group — said the Bucks should target his client in Antetokounmpo trade talks. The Hawks told Johnson they wouldn’t move him for Antetokounmpo.

“That was probably the first time in my career [hearing] the rumors and stuff like that,” Jalen Johnson told The Stein Line. “But I got reassurance from everyone around here that that’s not the plan. Obviously it means a lot … the trust they have in me and the belief they have in me.”

The Hawks signed Johnson to a five-year, $150 million extension in 2024. Johnson holds career averages of 13.9 points, 7.3 rebounds and 3.9 assists per game.

The Bucks never felt urgency to trade Antetokounmpo at this year’s NBA trade deadline. Antetokounmpo and Milwaukee will discuss their future again in the offseason.

A future Hall of Famer, Antetokounmpo is a two-time MVP, one-time Finals MVP, one-time Defensive Player of the Year and 10-time All-Star. He has a player option worth $62.8 million for the 2027-28 season.

The Bucks can offer Antetokounmpo an extension in October. It will be intriguing to see if Antetokounmpo remains with Milwaukee or finally gets traded.