The Milwaukee Bucks are off to a disastrous 1-5 start, placing them last in the Eastern Conference.
Losses to the Nets, a depleted Grizzlies squad and the Cavaliers have exposed glaring weaknesses. Their defense is a major concern, ranking 24th in the league in points allowed, and while Damian Lillard has shown flashes of brilliance, he’s primarily appeared sluggish and disjointed.
While it’s still early, the season could already be slipping away from Milwaukee, raising the specter of a Giannis Antetokounmpo trade request. Here are three trade scenarios for the Bucks superstar.
(Note: Each trade scenario has been confirmed in ESPN’s Trade Machine.)
The blockbuster
The Bucks receive: Zion Williamson, Herb Jones and the Pelicans’ 2025 unprotected first-round draft pick
The Pelicans receive: Giannis Antetokounmpo
Antetokounmpo is under contract through 2027-28, giving the Bucks leverage. Still, history shows that if he requests a trade, the franchise may feel compelled to comply, as is often the case with superstars. In this deal, Milwaukee would be parting with the best player, but it would acquire Zion Williamson, a two-time All-Star who is five years younger than Antetokounmpo and has already proven he has superstar potential. The Bucks would also bring in Jones, a first-team All-Defense selection last season, who would significantly bolster their struggling defense.
For the Pelicans, this trade is a no-brainer. New Orleans would land a two-time MVP in the middle of his prime. A lineup featuring Antetokounmpo at center, flanked by Trey Murphy III and Brandon Ingram in the frontcourt and Jordan Hawkins and Dejounte Murray in the backcourt, would immediately make them one of the most formidable starting fives in the league.
The full rebuild
The Bucks receive: Ben Simmons, Bogdan Bogdanovic, Dorian Finney-Smith and the Nets’ unprotected first-round picks in 2025, 2027, 2029 and 2031
The Nets receive: Giannis Antetokounmpo and Khris Middleton
This trade could be the shrewdest move for the Bucks, offering a complete reset. By moving Antetokounmpo and Middleton for Simmons and Bogdanovic’s expiring contracts, they immediately position themselves to bottom out in the next couple of drafts. Since they don’t own their 2025 first-round pick (owed to New Orleans or New York), tanking would give them a better chance at a higher pick in the 2026 draft, which is projected to be quite strong. Milwaukee could also explore trading Lillard to a team loaded with young talent, such as the Rockets or Magic, or alternatively, to another franchise with additional expiring contracts, which would provide the Bucks with even more flexibility moving forward.
This deal would instantly put the surprisingly spunky Nets into contention for a top-four seed in the Eastern Conference. Brooklyn’s dynamic backcourt of Dennis Schroder and Cam Thomas would complement Antetokounmpo and Middleton in the frontcourt, forming a lineup with the versatility and firepower to challenge any squad in the league.
The bombshell
The Bucks receive: Chet Holmgren, Luguentz Dort, Alex Caruso, Nikola Topic and the Thunder’s 2025 unprotected first-round draft pick
The Thunder receive: Giannis Antetokounmpo
This trade could be one of those rare deals that genuinely benefits both teams. Holmgren would complement Brook Lopez, while Dort and Caruso would help cover Lillard’s vulnerabilities on the less glamorous end, instantly upgrading the Bucks’ shaky defense. With a deeper rotation full of versatile two-way players, Milwaukee would have the foundation to fight its way back into a top-six seed in the Eastern Conference—or even higher.
For the Thunder, this deal presents the ultimate opportunity to capitalize on their wealth of young talent, pairing two perennial MVP candidates—Antetokounmpo and Gilgeous-Alexander—alongside emerging star Jalen Williams, analytics favorite Isaiah Hartenstein and rising prospect Cason Wallace. Together, they could form a starting lineup with the potential to be one of the most formidable in league history.
