Earlier Wednesday, Shams Charania reported that two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo is “ready for a new home” and that the Milwaukee Bucks have begun listening to trade offers for their franchise icon. Entering play Wednesday, Milwaukee has lost three straight games and has fallen into a tie for 11th place in the Eastern Conference – 3.5 games back of the final play-in spot. With the NBA trade deadline set for Feb. 5, the Bucks don’t have much time to evaluate the market for Antetokounmpo, but it’s difficult not to imagine how a trade of this magnitude could reshape the competitive landscape for the rest of the season. Using FTN’s new NBA StatsHub, let’s take a closer look at what Antetokounmpo would bring to a new team, and what kind of offensive environment best maximizes his impact.
What Giannis Actually Brings to the Floor
We know that Antetokounmpo is one of the NBA’s premier stars – he’s one of 15 players in league history to win multiple MVP awards. Still, it’s important to define what he will bring to his new team beyond his reputation and past accolades. Since the pandemic, Antetokounmpo is one of only three players in the NBA to average 25-plus points, 10-plus rebounds and 5-plus assists in a single season – the others being Nikola Jokić and Joel Embiid. Only Antetokounmpo and Jokic have accomplished that feat multiple times in that span. Any team acquiring Antetokounmpo wouldn’t simply be paying for his past contributions. This season, Antetokounmpo is one of 14 players averaging more than 25 points per game while also posting a +3.0% Field Goal Percentage Over Expectation. Only Antetokounmpo and Jokić are also averaging at least 8.0 rebounds per game from that group of players. In practical terms, this means Antetokounmpo isn’t just a high-volume scorer – he’s making a higher percentage of difficult shots than the league average, even after adjusting for shot location, shot value, and the quality of the defense being played on those attempts. That combination of volume and efficiency is rare. Factor in that he’s also a capable passer and one of the game’s best rebounders, and it becomes easy to see how a player of Antetokounmpo’s caliber could immediately elevate a good team into the championship conversation – especially if that team has the right offensive pieces around him.
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Which Championship Contender Has the Most to Offer for Antetokounmpo?
Back in October, Antetokounmpo told the media, “I want to win another championship. I want to win another medal for the national team. Legacy is very important for me… You got to play to win. I don’t play to be around and get paid.” If we are looking only at potential destinations that could put Antetokounmpo in a championship-level environment, the team that has the most to offer the Bucks might be the least motivated to acquire him. The Thunder have the most first-round draft capital in the NBA across the next three seasons, in addition to a roster replete with impressive young stars, such as Ajay Mitchell and Aaron Wiggins, who could potentially thrive in larger roles or serve as cost-controlled rotation pieces. However, Oklahoma City currently leads the league in Net Rating by a substantial margin and proved this past summer that their current core is capable of winning a title as presently constructed. Consequently, it seems highly improbable that the Thunder would engage in any serious trade talks for Antetokounmpo.
Most Realistic Landing Spots
Assuming the Thunder aren’t interested, two most logical landing spots for Antetokounmpo appear to be the Knicks or the Heat. The Knicks won this season’s NBA Cup but have plateaued since that point. In their last 21 games, they rank 18th in Net Rating and own a 10-11 record. Miami is 11-10 during that span, ranking 17th in Net Rating, and have been vocal about trying to acquire a franchise cornerstone type player for years via free agency or trade. When the Bucks were at their peak in 2021 and 2022, they surrounded Antetokounmpo with great perimeter shooting. As a team, Milwaukee ranked fifth in 3-point% in the 2020-2021 and 2021-2022 seasons. Put simply, Antetokounmpo is at his best when surrounded by above-average shot makers who can maintain offensive spacing. Looking at NBA StatsHub, the Knicks appear to have a roster construction that is best suited to acquire Antetokounmpo. They currently rank third in the NBA in 3-point% as a team and have four players with a +3.0% FGOE who are attempting at least 3.0 shots from beyond the arc per game. Meanwhile, the Heat rank 11th in 3-point%, with Norman Powell and Andrew Wiggins among the only consistently capable perimeter shooters they could surround Antetokounmpo with. The Heat also finished below .500 last year and haven’t made it out of the first round of the playoffs since 2023 – they are likely an additional piece or two, beyond Antetokounmpo, from being a legitimate title contender.
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Why a Giannis Trade Might Not Happen… Yet
All of that being said, it’s entirely possible that Antetokounmpo will not be traded before next week’s Feb. 5 deadline. Milwaukee doesn’t control its first-round draft picks from 2027 to 2031, which likely necessitates them receiving a package in return that would allow them to remain competitive immediately. According to Yossi Gozlan, the Bucks could also extract more draft capital from both New York and Miami if they wait until this offseason, rather than rushing a trade in the next seven days.
The Takeaway
A Giannis Antetokounmpo trade would be one of the most seismic roster moves in recent NBA history, but whether or not it actually happens before the February 5 trade deadline remains an open question. What is clear, using FTN’s NBA StatsHub, is that Antetokounmpo’s value extends far beyond star power. In the right offensive environment – one built around shooting efficiency and adequate spacing, he could immediately elevate a franchise into the championship conversation.
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