Three-Team NBA Trade Idea Sends Hawks’ Trae Young To Bucks To Play With Giannis Antetokounmpo

Giannis Antetokounmpo is not expected to request a trade from the Milwaukee Bucks this offseason. 

However, that doesn’t mean the Bucks can be idle in trade talks this offseason. 

Milwaukee has to acquire a point guard for Antetokounmpo this offseason since Damian Lillard is expected to miss all of next season recovering from his left Achilles tendon tear. 

With that said, Greg Swartz of Bleacher Report proposed that the Bucks trade for Atlanta Hawks All-Star Trae Young:

Bucks get: Trae Young

Hawks get: Jordan Poole, Marcus Smart, Andre Jackson Jr., Tyler Smith, 2031 first-round pick (unprotected via Bucks), 2026 first-round pick swap rights (via Bucks/Pelicans), 2030 first-round pick swap rights (via Bucks/Blazers)

Washington Wizards get: Damian Lillard, 2025 second-round pick (No. 47 overall via Bucks), 2031 second-round pick (via Bucks)

Young is one of the best scorers and passers in the NBA. The four-time All-Star averaged 24.2 points, 3.1 rebounds and 11.6 assists this season while shooting 41.1% from the field, 34.0% from beyond the arc and 87.5% from the free-throw line. 

The 26-year-old Young is eligible to sign an extension this offseason. The Oklahoma product will make $45,999,660 next season. He has a player option worth $48,967,380 for the 2026-27 season. 

“Young has unlimited range with a similar average shot distance to Lillard (17.3 feet compared to 18.5), which would keep the floor spread for Antetokounmpo to attack the basket,” Swartz wrote. “Young is a better passer than Lillard, so he could keep feeding Antetokounmpo a healthy dose of lobs and pocket passes while he bullies his way into the paint.”

Young guided the Hawks to the 2021 Eastern Conference Finals, where Atlanta lost to Milwaukee in six games. He has career averages of 25.3 points, 3.5 rebounds and 9.8 assists. 

“This trade would keep the Bucks competitive in a weak East next season and give Antetokounmpo reason to stay in Milwaukee,” Swartz wrote. 

Antetokounmpo averaged 30.4 points, 11.9 rebounds, 6.5 assists, 0.9 steals and 1.2 blocks for the Bucks this season while shooting 60.1% from the field and 61.7% from the free-throw line. He made the All-NBA First Team again. 

Milwaukee has won only one postseason series since winning the 2021 championship against the Phoenix Suns. The Bucks need to make a blockbuster trade this offseason to get Antetokounmpo a floor general since Lillard may not play at all next season.