Should Giannis Antetokounmpo ask for an exchange?

Are the Ask for the low season, Will Giannis Antetokounmpo asks for an exchange or chooses to expand his illustrious Milwaukee Bucks Legacy?

It was previously reported by Ramona Shelburne from ESPN That this decision would probably be settled in August or September. As recently as last Monday, Shams Charania then reported that Antetokounmpo still weigh his options.

According to James L. Edwards III of AthleticsThe New York Knicks belong to the teams that ‘guard’ the situation of Antetokounmpo. Yet the general expectation is that he will start the 2025-26 season with the bucks.

Take a scroll down the Twitter timeline of Antetokounmpo and his appendix to Milwaukee is clear. Is this a man who sends subtle reports about being happy to stay or who have been reminiscent of the team that has prepared him for about 12 years?

If Antetokounmpo really evaluates whether she should stay or go, here is a deeper look at what he should consider.

Ramona on Giannis:

“My feeling is just about conversations around the competition, I don’t think that it will be decided until August, September of its end” pic.twitter.com/dhhsqw2ut7

– Oh no, he didn’t do that (@ohnohedidnt24) July 2, 2025

Giannis is expanding legacy with bucks

In the past there has been speculation about whether Antetokounmpo can leave, but he has always chosen to stay with the bucks. Why would be different this time?

The Front Office of Milwaukee has always taken action to try to keep Antetokounmpo happy. After the Bucks had reached a title in 2019 and 2020, managing director Jon Horst for Jrue Holiday, who helped the franchise with a title.

After back-to-back first round outputs in 2023 and 2024 for Milwaukee, vacation was traded for Damian Lillard. After a third consecutive exit of the first round and the second straight courtship of the Indiana Pacers, Myles Turner became the answer. That doesn’t get the same.

Turner has replaced Brook Lopez while Lillard is out the door. There is a depth in the form of Cole Anthony and Gary Harris. Kevin Porter Jr. and Gary Trent Jr. are not the starting half of a competition. Kyle Kuzma was unable to generate his game and to stand up again as a high -level contributor after leaving the Washington Wizards.

If Antetokounmpo realistically evaluates his team, the bucks are unable to help him reach his goal of a championship for at least the next two seasons. The decision to refrain from and stretch Lillard is also fascinating the flexibility of Milwaukee. Lillard’s contract will serve for five years ~ $ 20 million in dead money on the books from 2025-26.

Choosing to stay in Milwaukee is a great choice if he wants to be his entire career with one team. That is what Antetokounmpo should weigh here. There was a time when his goals to call one team all his career at home and compete to cross titles in his Prime. It is no longer the case, at least for the near future.

Can there be a trade request?

The Knicks, Los Angeles Lakers, Miami Heat and Golden State Warriors are said to be one of the handful of teams that keep an eye on the situation of Antetokounmpo.

Milwaukee will never receive “real value” for Antetokounmpo in an exchange, starting with the facts that Leverage will be lost if he asks. The other factor is that it is virtually impossible to receive equal compensation for a superstar of his caliber, someone who can still use a claim as the best player in the world.

Antetokounmpo is in the books this season for $ 54.1 million and $ 58.5 million next season. He has a player option worth $ 62.8 million in 2027-28.

New York Knicks

New York still has future first round picks available to act, despite what has been specified to acquire Mikal Bridges last season. Speaking of this, the expansion of Bridges is worth mentioning, because it was signed just before August 6. Any extension signed after this date would not be eligible for trade prior to the Handelsdeadline of 2026.

Does a conversation even start with one of OG Anunoby or Mikal Bridges alongside Miles McBride and different picks?

For Antetokounmpo he would probably only consider being in New York if he can play alongside Jalen Brunson and two from Anunoby, Bridges and Karl-Anthony Towns. If cities were to hang in an Antetokounmpo deal, the finances of the knicks would become quite muddy because he earns the same amount of money as the dual MVP.

Only cities and sketch compensation would probably not be enough and he would also be a complicated fit alongside Turner. Perhaps Milwaukee should also go from Turner if Antetokounmpo leaves.

If the Knicks surrender too much, then he is potentially back where he started with a team that was unable to compete for titles.

Los Angeles Lakers

From the perspective of Lakers, the dream will be to link Luka Doncic and Antetokounmpo. That would immediately scream one of the biggest duos in the competition history.

What can the Lakers offer? LeBron James has a no-trade clause and certainly does not go to Milwaukee. That would mean that the depth of the team is completely expressed to make an offer that starts with Austin Reaves?

Anyway a link if he were to be next to Doncic, Antetokounmpo loves the bucks too much to force them in something like that. The best shot of the Lakers here – as the clippers – hopes that he will become a free agent in 2027.

Miami Heat

Miami and Teamse Resident Pat Riley love to find ways to let the big names choose South Beach. However, BAM ADEBAYO is again unattractive due to the presence of Turner.

Is a package near Kel’el Ware, Andrew Wiggins, Nikola Jovic, KasaParas Jakucionis and Future Picks an appeal to the bucks?

Antetokounmpo would play alongside Tyler Herro, Norman Powell and Bam Adebayo. In the east that would certainly be formidable. There may still be a few depth questions, but Antetokounmpo would certainly have a better shot than with the bucks.

Golden State Warriors

Just like the Lakers, it is difficult to put a good way to an exchange here. Jimmy Butler would almost certainly be obliged to make the salaries work, but what do the money win?

As mentioned with Los Angeles, it is difficult to imagine that Antetokounmpo brings the dollar into a position that does not allow them to switch to good rebuilding.

San Antonio Spurs

Although it is not mentioned as a rumor team, the Spurs give the most feeling on both sides. Do you remember that the underwhelming defense half that the bucks currently have? What about Dylan Harper and Devin Vassell to start a new era? More pieces would of course be needed and adding someone like Jeremy Sohhan or Carter Bryant to help crystallize the future.

Antetokounmpo and Victor Wembanyama together would be the most athletic unique front-court that the competition has ever seen. Having De’aaron Fox and Stephon Castle for the ride would make this team an immediate competition. Just as the Oklahoma City Thunder seemed to win for years, the Spurs would come to that club.

To stay or go

The grass certainly seems greener with the right deal for Miami, New York or San Antonio. Teams such as the Orlando Magic and Toronto Raptors can probably put together fascinating packages around Paolo Bancero and Scottie Barnes respectively. However, they have not been until the last rumors.

If the traces are interested, they can offer a better package than any other team that is not called the Thunder.

Milwaukee will always be at home for Antetokounmpo, it is just that his goal of another championship there no longer seems feasible because of the rest of his prime. Choosing to stay is a choice to stay arranged, to be a man with one team and to feel comfortable with the inheritance he protects so far.

The teams that follow his status hope that he sees the need to improve that inheritance.