Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images

Details Emerge On If Mavericks Will Offer No. 1 Pick For Bucks' Giannis Antetokounmpo

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Ashish Mathur | Last updated May 18, 2025 3:17 PM ET

The Dallas Mavericks won the 2025 NBA Draft Lottery, so they have the No. 1 overall pick in this year's draft.

According to Tim MacMahon of ESPN, the Mavericks are planning to draft Duke's Cooper Flagg with the first pick.

Some believe Dallas should trade the first pick to the Milwaukee Bucks for Giannis Antetokounmpo, who is open-minded about leaving the Bucks this summer for the first time in his career.

If the Mavericks acquired Antetokounmpo, the team would have a lethal "Big 3" of Antetokounmpo, Anthony Davis and Kyrie Irving once Irving returns from his ACL tear.

If you are expecting Nico Harrison to trade the pick to the Bucks for Antetokounmpo, though, don't hold your breath, as according to Marc Stein of The Stein Line, the Mavericks are keeping the pick.

"When I asked a source close to the process last week if the Mavericks trading away the ability to draft Duke phenom Cooper Flagg would be considered, I was emphatically told: 'No chance.' 'No ... not even for Giannis,' said another source briefed on the team's thinking. The Mavericks are expected to soon secure their first in-person meetings with Flagg in the buildup to draft night on June 25," Stein wrote.

The Mavericks missed the playoffs this year after making the NBA Finals last year. They traded Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers in February.

Flagg averaged 19.2 points, 7.5 rebounds and 4.2 assists this season for Duke while shooting 48.1% from the field, 38.5% from beyond the arc and 84.0% from the free-throw line.

Irving, of course, played at Duke as well.

Antetokounmpo is a two-time MVP, a one-time Finals MVP, a one-time Defensive Player of the Year and a nine-time All-Star. He has spent his entire career with the Bucks.

The superstar forward has career averages of 23.9 points, 9.9 rebounds, 5.0 assists, 1.1 steals and 1.2 blocks.

Antetokounmpo, 30, put up 30.4 points, 11.9 rebounds, 6.5 assists, 0.9 steals and 1.2 blocks per game for the Bucks this season in 67 games.

Milwaukee will not trade Antetokounmpo unless the forward requests a trade.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: