Nov 10, 2025; Dallas, Texas, USA; Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) reacts against the Dallas Mavericks during the first quarter at American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images

Mavericks might make sense for Giannis Antetokounmpo trade

Originally posted on Dallas Mavericks on SI
By Jeremy Brener | Last updated Dec 7, 2025 4:43 PM ET

The Dallas Mavericks are seeing a bit of déjà vu when the Milwaukee Bucks are involved in trade rumors with Giannis Antetokounmpo.

Just 10 months after trading Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers, the Mavericks could find themselves on the other end of a superstar trade with Antetokounmpo if they were to deal Anthony Davis to the Bucks.

"Okay, Dallas does have enough to trade. But the Mavericks aren't giving away Cooper Flagg, and without him, this is a team mostly devoid of youth and picks," CBS Sports contributor Sam Quinn wrote.

"Their best-case scenario would be trading Anthony Davis for a pile of assets they could then flip for Antetokounmpo, but who on Earth is eager to trade for Davis while Antetokounmpo is available? Davis just isn't worth enough to get this done.

"The Mavericks are yet another 'if only they hadn't made that other big trade' team. If Nico Harrison was just a bit more patient, he might have been able to turn Luka Dončić into Antetokounmpo. That still would've been a bad trade, but it would have been slightly more defensible."

Mavs unlikely to trade for Giannis

If Antetokounmpo were to be made available, it's hard to imagine the Mavericks emerging as a suitor. Dallas needs to angle itself towards a rebuild, and adding a 30-year-old Giannis does not help that cause.

The reason why Antetokounmpo may want to be traded is that the Bucks are considered a lottery team. Dallas is also a lottery team in the Western Conference.

The Bucks might favor a Giannis trade to the West, but the Mavericks aren't likely to be that landing spot.

Mavericks are back in action on Friday as they take on the Brooklyn Nets. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. CT inside the American Airlines Center.