Potential playoff suitors for Giannis Antetokounmpo? Why the Bucks could be postseason’s big winners

The Milwaukee Bucks never really had any intention of trading Giannis Antetokounmpo at the NBA’s trade deadline in February, if only because so many of his suitors could sweeten their offers with more draft picks come the offseason.

Not only that, but the playoffs have a way of exposing teams for who they are, revealing the emperor’s clothes, showing exactly how far away they really are from contending with a team like the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder.

We’re not even through the first round of the playoffs, and already there is significant development. Some surprising teams can convince themselves now that they are an Antetokounmpo away from title contention. Likewise, some pretenders who thought they might not need Antetokounmpo now require a serious roster shakeup.

Let’s take a look at some of the potential playoff suitors.

First round: Trail Blazers lost to the San Antonio Spurs 4-1

According to The Oregonian’s Bill Oram, the Blazers “are prepared to make a pitch” for Antetokounmpo’s services if he is willing to sign a long-term extension in Portland.

They have a trump card no other team can offer the Bucks: Their own draft picks. Since trading Damian Lillard to Milwaukee in September 2023, Portland holds the rights to the Bucks’ 2029 first-round selection in addition to swaps in 2028 and 2030.

Of course, the Blazers also have re-signed Lillard, who should return from a ruptured Achilles at the age of 36 next season, and his fit with Antetokounmpo already proved to be awkward in Milwaukee. Likewise, Deni Avdija led the league in drives this year, and his downhill game will come with some redundancy alongside Antetokounmpo.

First round: Hawks trail the New York Knicks 3-2 (Game 6 on Thursday, 7 p.m. ET)

Rich Paul, the agent to Atlanta’s Jalen Johnson, actually proposed a Johnson-for-Antetokounmpo swap on his podcast in January, though it never came to fruition.

“If I’m the Bucks, I’m looking at a young player, high character, high talent, high IQ,” said Johnson’s agent. “I’m calling Atlanta. I want Jalen Johnson. He’s from Milwaukee.”

In addition, the Hawks hold a first-round pick in June’s draft from the New Orleans Pelicans. That selection has a 29.3% chance of landing in the top-4 and a 6.8% shot at No. 1 overall. It could definitely become the best asset available to Milwaukee. And few teams have a better roster construction to field around Antetokounmpo.

First round: Timberwolves lead the Denver Nuggets 3-2 (Game 6 on Thursday, 9:30 p.m. ET)

According to The Athletic’s Jon Krawczynski, there was mutual interest between the Timberwolves and Antetokounmpo in getting a deal done during the regular season. Antetokounmpo was reportedly interested in being paired with Anthony Edwards, and Minnesota was actively pursuing complicated multi-team deals to get one done.

The Wolves may be convinced, if healthy, they could still contend in the Western Conference as is, since they’ve played so well against the Nuggets. Should they drop their first-round series, though, sans Edwards and Donte DiVincenzo, it is hard to imagine them becoming less interested in the services of Antetokounmpo.

First round: Rockets trail the Los Angeles Lakers 3-2 (Game 6 on Friday, 9:30 p.m. ET)

Before trading for Kevin Durant last offseason, the Rockets were considered among the favorites to land Antetokounmpo, if the Bucks ever made him available, given Houston’s trove of talented young players and draft picks. They could easily build an attractive package for Milwaukee around either Alperen Şengün or Amen Thompson.

Except, earlier in the season, the Rockets were reportedly not in on Antetokounmpo, preferring instead to see how far their young core could carry them. Well, it appears the existing core will not vault them anywhere near contention, as they trail the Los Angeles Lakers, leaving anything on the table, including a pursuit of Antetokounmpo.

First round: Cavaliers lead the Toronto Raptors 3-2 (Game 6 on Friday, 7:30 p.m. ET)

The Cavaliers checked in on Antetokounmpo’s availability earlier in the season, according to ESPN’s Brian Windhorst, though the framework of any potential deal was largely speculative. It made sense. The Cavs, who won 64 games last season, had taken a step back, necessitating some sort of shakeup to their four core stars.

So, Cleveland instead traded 26-year-old All-Star guard Darius Garland for 36-year-old future Hall of Famer James Harden, fully committing to a championship bid. Only, the Cavs are now in danger of losing in the first round. Such a defeat would almost certainly lead them to consider trading more of their core, including Evan Mobley.

Toronto Raptors

First round: Raptors trail the Cavaliers 3-2 (Game 6 on Friday, 7:30 p.m. ET)

The Raptors, who have a ton of good players but no great one, are always in search of a superstar. Look at what they accomplished in one season with Kawhi Leonard.

Meanwhile, Collin Murray-Boyles has emerged as a real asset in these playoffs, potentially sweetening any offer that Toronto could make Milwaukee. Combine him with matching salaries and a collection of draft assets, and suddenly the Raptors are in a conversation for Antetokounmpo we didn’t think possible at season’s start.

First round: Magic lead the Detroit Pistons 3-2 (Game 6 on Friday, 7 p.m. ET)

The Magic were a mess two weeks ago. A talented starting lineup of Paolo Banchero, Franz Wagner, Desmond Bane, Jalen Suggs and Wendell Carter Jr. underperformed expectations, and it appeared they would get their head coach, Jamahl Mosley, fired.

Now, they could become the seventh No. 8 seed in NBA history to upset a No. 1 seed in the opening round of the playoffs, as they take a 3-2 series lead against the Detroit Pistons home to Orlando on Friday. But nobody considers them contenders.

Might they still convince themselves, with a new coach and the collective improvement of their relatively young core, that they could contend next season? Or, more likely, do they consider upgrading from, say, Banchero to Antetokounmpo?

First round: 76ers trail the Boston Celtics 3-2 (Game 6 on Thursday, 8 p.m. ET)

It’s unclear how the Sixers would pull off a deal for Antetokounmpo that did not include rookie standout VJ Edgecombe. He should be the future of the franchise, along with Tyrese Maxey, as they are one of the league’s most talented backcourts.

But Philadelphia executive Daryl Morey is as creative — and perhaps as desperate — as it gets, and if he envisions a brighter future with Antetokounmpo at the helm, there is no telling what he might do to make it happen, including dealing Edgecombe.