NBA Trade Idea Sends Giannis Antetokounmpo To Mavericks, 2025 No. 1 Overall Pick To Bucks

The Dallas Mavericks won the draft lottery on Monday, so they have the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 draft. 

Dallas winning the draft lottery wasn’t the biggest NBA story on Monday, though.

Shams Charania of ESPN reported that Giannis Antetokounmpo is open to leaving the Milwaukee Bucks, who have won only one postseason series since winning the 2021 championship against the Phoenix Suns in six games. 

With the Mavericks winning the draft lottery and Antetokounmpo reportedly being open to leaving the Bucks, Dan Favale of Bleacher Report proposed the following trade idea between Dallas, Milwaukee and the New Orleans Pelicans:

Dallas Mavericks Receive: Giannis Antetokounmpo

Milwaukee Bucks Receive: Max Christie, Daniel Gafford, Jordan Hawkins, Caleb Martin, Kelly Olynyk, 2025 No. 1 overall pick, 2026 first-round pick (their own, via New Orleans), 2027 first-round pick (their own, via New Orleans’ swap rights)

New Orleans Pelicans Receive: Dereck Lively II, 2031 first-round pick (via Dallas)

Damian Lillard could miss the entire 2025-26 season after tearing his left Achilles tendon in Game 4 against the Indiana Pacers in the first round of this year’s playoffs.

As a result, Milwaukee may struggle next season despite having Antetokounmpo.

The Bucks signed Antetokounmpo to a three-year, $175 million extension in October 2023. Antetokounmpo, 30, will make $54,126,380 next season.

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

Antetokounmpo does not have a no-trade clause in his contract. 

Dallas is in Texas, where there are no state income taxes. Antetokounmpo is intrigued by that idea, a league source told Hoops Wire. 

This trade idea would give the Mavericks a “Big 3” of Antetokounmpo, Anthony Davis and Kyrie Irving, while the Bucks could select Cooper Flagg with the first pick and rebuild around the youngster.