The Milwaukee Bucks were recently linked to Washington Huskies forward Hannes Steinbach through The Athletic's Sam Vecenie (subscription required). With countless rumors surrounding franchise star Giannis Antetokounmpo and his potential split, it makes sense to target a replacement forward, but it has only become more pressing knowing that Bobby Portis could also suddenly be on his way out.
According to The Associated Press' Tim Reynolds, there is a growing belief that Portis could be in any Giannis trade. If Antetokounmpo and Portis were both moved, that suddenly opens up a lot of time at the four and five spots in the frontcourt. Armed with one, potentially even two, first-round picks, there will be an opportunity for the Bucks to replenish their depth with a piece like Steinbach.
Not much to add on Giannis Watch, Day 5,206, but I can tell you this ...
— Tim Reynolds (@ByTimReynolds) June 10, 2026
There is a growing belief in some corners that the Giannis trade -- if it happens, of course -- will also include Bobby Portis.
Steinbach's appeal to Bucks makes sense
The biggest praise for Steinbach comes from his ability to do a little bit of everything. Throughout his freshman season at Washington, he averaged 18.5 points, 11.8 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 1.2 blocks, and 1.2 steals per game. His scoring and rebounding—which helped him tie the Division I lead for double-doubles this season—jump off the page, but the rest of Steinbach's game cannot be ignored.
Leading up to the NBA Draft, the big man has drawn comparisons to Sacramento Kings star center Domantas Sabonis. Boasting career averages of 16.1 points and 10.7 rebounds per game, Sabonis has made a name for himself as a reliable scorer and rebounder, so it's obvious to see where those comparisons are coming from.
If Steinbach truly wants to make the most out of those Sabonis comparisons—and just have the best career he can—he will have to up his game as a passer. This past season, as mentioned, he tallied just 1.6 assists per game. If he can bump that up a few notches, the big man will become an even more valuable commodity at the NBA level.
Heat trade could cement Bucks taking Steinbach
If Antetokounmpo and Portis are both out the door, it would be shocking if Milwaukee didn't draft a big man soon after. Miami appears to be the frontrunner in the Giannis talks, and if a deal gets across the finish line, Milwaukee would have picks 10 and 13. With those two selections, they should select one of the high-end guards left on the board at 10 and a bigger body like Steinbach at 13.
The next few weeks will shape Milwaukee's offseason entirely. It's not set in stone yet that the Bucks will trade Giannis Antetokounmpo. Perhaps there is a world where they keep the Greek Freak and look to bring Steinbach in to be Giannis' backup, giving the rookie a perfect mentor. Yet, at the moment, the odds of that happening appear to be slim.
Stay tuned for more Milwaukee Bucks analysis.
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