NBA News

Home

Teams

Quizzes

Watch

Newsletter

Mar 30, 2025; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) shoots against Atlanta Hawks center Onyeka Okongwu (17) during the first quarter at Fiserv Forum. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images

Giannis Trade Rumors: Atlanta Named As A Top Landing Spot For Bucks Star

Originally posted on Atlanta Hawks on SI
By Jackson Caudell | Last updated May 21, 2025 7:03 PM ET

There is not a bigger offseason storyline than the potential trade of Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo. The Bucks lost in the first round for the third straight season and the Bucks are depleted of resources, whether it is young players or draft picks. While there have been rumors around a Giannis trade for a few years, this feels like the first offseason where the rumors might have some legs to them.

In a report from ESPN NBA Insider Shams Charania, it sounds like Antetokounmpo is going to keep his options open this summer:

"The two-time NBA MVP has not made any firm decisions on his Bucks future after the franchise's third consecutive postseason exit in the first round, but for the first time in his career, Antetokounmpo is open-minded about exploring whether his best long-term fit is remaining in Milwaukee or playing elsewhere, league sources told ESPN.

Teams have approached the Bucks frequently over the years about the availability of Antetokounmpo as a normal exercise, and are expected to ramp up due diligence during combine week, according to league sources.

But any conversations surrounding the perennial All-NBA superstar and 2021 NBA champion start primarily with where he believes his long-term future lies, and whether there is a franchise outside of Milwaukee that is sensible for him."

Now it should be noted that Antetokounmpo has not asked for a trade and until he does, all talk of a trade is pure speculation. But if Milwaukee does seriously explore trading Giannis, could the Hawks be a legitimate option? I think so and Bleacher Report's Eric Pincus ranked Atlanta as the 4th best Giannis destination:

"The Hawks don't have anywhere close to the draft assets to compete with other teams on this list, but the franchise could be attacking the Antetokounmpo puzzle with creativity.

While searching for a new top basketball decision maker, ahead of the recently promoted general manager, Onsi Saleh, the name Alex Saratsis has leaked out as a potential candidate.

Saratsis, Antetokounmpo's agent and co-managing director of basketball at Octagon, has an extremely close relationship with the Bucks' star forward. If Saratsis takes the position in Atlanta, Antetokounmpo will have his most trusted advisor guiding the franchise strategically.

Is that a conflict of interest? The answer doesn't matter if it's what drives Antetokounmpo to make Atlanta his primary destination. He'd have to play the bad guy, which few expect.

But the same was said of Damian Lillard before he finally decided he'd had enough in Portland with the Trail Blazers. Lillard had a longer contract on the books when he made his move; Antetokounmpo has greater leverage to force his agenda.

The Hawks also have Jalen Johnson, one of the rising young forwards in the league, who was sidelined mid-season with a shoulder injury. Atlanta could include some draft compensation and other viable players/contracts like Zaccharie Riscacher, Terance Mann, Georges Niang, Kobe Bufkin, etc."

It is true that the Hawks don't have the draft assets of either the Spurs, Rockets, or Nets (the three teams above the Hawks), but Jalen Johnson would be better than any player San Antonio or Brooklyn could offer.

That was a topic that Bill Simmons and NBA analyst Zach Lowe debated on his most recent show, as they both picked Atlanta as a sneaky team to watch for this offseason.

Simmons: "I had someone ask me, why isn't Atlanta in the Giannis convo? Jalen Johnson is awesome, he is on their team, everyone got hurt and forgets he did not play the second half of the year and as a centerpiece of a trade, that is a really good center piece, they don't have their next couple of picks, but they have their picks later, it would be pretty easy for them to put something together and turn it into Trae (Young) and Giannis and keep Giannis in the East. The question was, why wouldn't Atlanta take a swing?"

Lowe: "I think if you are the Bucks, it has to be what else is there for us other than Jalen Johnson, who I believe is from Milwaukee, so what is the way more? They have the Lakers pick and they have an extra pick, it is like the second best from New Orleans and Milwaukee."

Simmons brought up Atlanta potentially adding in Zaccharie Risacher to the deal to go along with Johnson and picks and Lowe had this to say:

"That feels like where the rubber meets the road and where something could get off the ground is Risacher. I think Milwaukee has to sit down and think about it. That is an offer that teams can beat, but that is an offer that you have to beat, it is not a nothing offer."

If the Hawks were going to trade for Giannis, there is no doubt that Jalen Johnson would have to be in the deal, but could the Hawks get away with not including Zaccharie Risacher, Dyson Daniels, or Onyeka Okongwu? If they succeeded, the Hawks would easily have one of the best lineups in the NBA. Even if they had to trade Risacher, a lineup that included Giannis, Trae Young, Dyson Daniels, and Onyeka Okongwu would be at minimum a playoff team in the Eastern Conference. With Jayson Tatum out for next season and there is some uncertainty in Boston and Cleveland, the Hawks could be up there with the Pacers and the Knicks as contenders in the East if they made a deal for Giannis.

There is no concrete answer as to whether or not Antetokounmpo will be traded, but if he is, Atlanta could make a more compelling offer than you might think. Keep an eye on this storyline this summer.