NBA Trade Idea Lands Giannis Antetokounmpo With Eliminated 2025 Playoff Team

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Ashish Mathur | Last updated May 7, 2025 12:20 PM ET

If Giannis Antetokounmpo requests a trade from the Milwaukee Bucks this summer, one NBA analyst thinks a team eliminated in the first round of this year's playoffs should trade for the superstar.

Some believe Antetokounmpo should ask out of Milwaukee since the franchise has won just one postseason series since winning the 2021 championship against the Phoenix Suns and Damian Lillard will miss a chunk of next season recovering from his Achilles tear.

Should Antetokounmpo request a trade, Greg Swartz of Bleacher Report proposed that the Houston Rockets trade Jalen Green, Jabari Smith Jr., Cam Whitmore, Aaron Holiday, a 2025 first-round pick and a 2027 first-round pick to the Bucks for the future Hall of Famer.

"Antetokounmpo is exactly what this team needs: A No. 1 scoring option who's also a skilled passer and can dominate on both ends of the ball," Swartz wrote. "In this proposal, the two-time MVP would join a core of Alperen Sengun, Amen Thompson, Fred VanVleet, Dillon Brooks, Reed Sheppard and Tari Eason to create a powerhouse in the West ready to compete for championships."

The Rockets made the playoffs this year for the first time since 2020. They lost to the Golden State Warriors in the first round in seven games.

Antetokounmpo has spent his entire career with the Bucks. He's a two-time MVP, a one-time Finals MVP, a one-time Defensive Player of the Year and a nine-time All-Star with career averages of 23.9 points, 9.9 rebounds, 5.0 assists, 1.1 steals and 1.2 blocks.

Milwaukee signed Antetokounmpo to a three-year, $175 million extension in October 2023. Antetokounmpo will make $54.1 million next season.

Antetokounmpo averaged 30.4 points, 11.9 rebounds, 6.5 assists, 0.9 steals and 1.2 blocks for the Bucks this season. He shot 60.1% from the field, 22.2% from 3 and 61.7% from the foul line. Milwaukee lost to the Indiana Pacers in the first round in five games.

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

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