Matt Johnson
Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo is expected to be the subject of NBA trade rumors again this offseason, especially between the club and two-time MVP after he was shut down for the season. It seems there could now be a new suitor in the mix for the perennial All-Star forward.
During an appearance on The Bill Simmons Podcast, NBA analyst Kirk Goldsberry said he’s heard that the Orlando Magic have “been very active” in exploring ways to acquiring Antetokounmpo.
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“I actually heard there’s a mystery team. I called around as part of this exercise to see who were potentially desperate places for Giannis to land. And somebody who knows stuff told me that Orlando has actually been very active in seeking out Giannis Antetokounmpo’s services. Now, desperation sort of sets in in the NBA when? After the first round of the playoffs. So there’s 16 teams, they think they’re in it, two weeks later there’s eight teams that are out. That’s where I think the Houstons, the Orlandos are gonna merge. The Knicks, Cleveland, that’s the group I’m looking at.”
The Ringer’s Kirk Goldsberry on the Orlando Magic’s interest in a Giannis Antetokounmpo trade
When Milwaukee explored its options with moving Antetokounmpo ahead of the NBA trade deadline, the Minnesota Timberwolves, Golden State Warriors, New York Knicks, Miami Heat and Philadelphia 76ers were among the clubs most heavily connected. They could all now be joined this offseason by both the Magic and the Los Angeles Lakers.
While the Bucks ultimately hung onto him, the relationship between player and club has taken a bit of a turn. Antetokounmpo and the NBA Players Association have pushed back against Milwaukee’s decision to sit him for the remainder of the season despite his objections. The Bucks are doing so to improve their odds of winning the 2026 NBA Draft lottery.
It’s not exactly clear how Orlando would go about acquiring Antetokounmpo. Because of the Desmond Bane trade, the club is extremely limited in its ability to move future first-round picks. Sending All-Star forward Paolo Banchero to Milwaukee would be an option, but Milwaukee would also likely want future firsts.
