The Milwaukee Bucks are discussing the future with Giannis Antetokounmpo, and the San Antonio Spurs are the obvious trade partner if the Greek Freak wants to leave Milwaukee. The two-time MVP would love to play for the Knicks, but New York doesn’t have the draft capital to make this deal. It is San Antonio that offers the best package for Milwaukee and gives Giannis multiple chances to chase championships.
Antetokounmpo and Victor Wembanyama would be one of the most terrifying duos in NBA history. They are both elite defenders and advantage creators. The Spurs would instantly vault into title contention and could win multiple rings with two top ten players in the world leading their roster.
San Antonio has two elite young guards, plenty of salary filler, and a mountain of draft capital. This could be the Bucks' chance to get a young building block, multiple first-round picks, and a couple of role players they could dump for future value.
Giannis Antetokounmpo will clearly be traded to the Spurs
The Bucks can’t send Giannis to the Knicks. New York’s best offer features Karl-Anthony Towns, a Wizards first-round pick in 2026 that likely turns into two second-rounders, and three first-round pick swaps. That is nowhere near what Milwaukee wants in this deal.
The Bucks are not contending without Giannis. That is a terrifying thought because they don’t control their draft picks, but it was the price of having one of the best players on the planet. The franchise kept trying to keep him happy. Milwaukee won a championship in 2021. That banner will hang forever, but now the Greek Freak is forcing the franchise to pivot.
Stephon Castle looks like a future star. The 21-year-old is averaging 17.3 points, 7.5 assists, 5.8 rebounds, and 1.7 steals in 32.0 minutes per game for the Spurs in his second NBA season. He could quickly become the face of a rebuild in Milwaukee.
The Bucks won’t stop with the Giannis trade. They should aim to make all their veterans available before the Feb. 5 trade deadline with the goal of acquiring a substantial haul of draft picks. That may be terrifying for fans given Jon Horst’s track record in the draft, but it is their only path back to contention if Giannis forces his way out.
Bucks fans hoped we would never get here. The Greek Freak has become a superstar in Milwaukee and has long discussed his love for the city. All good things come to an end. If the Bucks can’t contend with Giannis, the next best thing is getting a massive trade return for him. That should kick-start their next build.
The Milwaukee Bucks have difficult months ahead. Giannis is now dealing with a calf injury on top of all the trade rumors. Navigating this situation won’t be easy, but the Bucks must maximize their return. It is the franchise’s only hope of avoiding a lengthy rebuild.
Antetokounmpo’s desires can’t be a factor. The Bucks should make the best trade for their franchise and move on if Giannis wants out. That means sending the superstar to the San Antonio Spurs.