The situation in Milwaukee regarding Giannis Antetokounmpo loomed large over the NBA Lottery on Monday night. Each team was eager not only to have a chance to draft potential number-one pick Cooper Flagg but also to strengthen their position to trade for the Milwaukee Bucks’ superstar.
After the dust settled, Dallas, with just a 1.8 percent chance, jumped 10 spots to land the number one selection. San Antonio moved up six spots to receive the second pick and Philadelphia climbed two places to secure the third position. Charlotte and Utah secured the last two positions in the top five in one of the most exciting and unexpected lottery results in NBA history.
Now that the lottery is complete, which teams are best positioned to make a trade for the two-time MVP? Let's break it down.
1. San Antonio Spurs
The Spurs were already considered one of the favorite teams to trade for Antetokounmpo. Their former top pick, Victor Wembanyama, and reigning Rookie of the Year, Stephon Castle, make San Antonio an appealing landing spot for Giannis — and a team that could send substantial assets back to Milwaukee. That case was only strengthened on Monday night when the Spurs jumped from the eighth spot to land pick No. 2, presumably giving them the rights to Rutgers guard Dylan Harper.
With De'Aaron Fox already on the roster from a trade last season, a potential package involving Castle or Vassell, the No. 2 pick, and the Atlanta Hawks draft picks acquired in the Dejounte Murray trade would be a compelling start. This deal would allow San Antonio to keep Wembanyama and Fox alongside Giannis, enabling them to compete for championships.
Meanwhile, the Milwaukee Bucks would receive two strong young pieces to build around. The Atlanta picks (14th in the 2025 draft, a 2026 first-round pick swap, and a 2027 first-round pick swap) would provide Milwaukee with the draft capital necessary to support a rebuild around their young core.
2. Houston Rockets
The Houston Rockets didn’t have as much luck in the Draft Lottery as their in-state rivals. Their pick slid from ninth to 10th due to the Mavericks’ unexpected leap. That pick originally belonged to Phoenix but changed hands in a multi-team deal involving the Nets last summer. Despite the setback, Houston is still well-positioned to make a compelling offer.
The Bucks would likely demand young star Amen Thompson be part of any deal. The question is whether Houston would be willing to part with such a promising talent. Even without Thompson, Houston could assemble a package including Jalen Green, Alperen Şengün, the No. 10 pick and future draft capital to entice the Milwaukee Bucks.
This would give the Rockets a consistent offensive superstar, while Milwaukee would gain two rising stars to rebuild around. Before the lottery, Houston was widely considered the top destination for Giannis if a trade were to occur. However, San Antonio may now have leapfrogged them thanks to their newfound lottery fortune.
3. Dallas Mavericks*
*Dallas has said they will keep the pick, but this wouldn't be the first time a team changed its mind.
The Mavericks were the biggest winners on Monday night, jumping 10 spots to land the No. 1 pick and the chance to draft Duke star Cooper Flagg. Dallas will likely keep the pick due to Flagg’s immense talent and potential. However, if they decide to trade it, they would instantly become a top bidder for a player of Giannis Antetokounmpo's caliber.
A potential deal would center around Flagg and future draft picks. To match salaries, the Mavericks would likely need to include players like P.J. Washington, Daniel Gafford, Klay Thompson and Caleb Martin. While it would be a hefty price, a core trio of Davis, Giannis, and Kyrie Irving (once he returns from injury) would make Dallas an immediate title contender — if not the outright favorite.
The Bucks, in turn, would receive a cornerstone in Flagg and several solid players to remain competitive while navigating the future loss of draft control to New Orleans, Portland, New York, Detroit and Orlando through 2030.
4. Oklahoma City Thunder
The Thunder saw their lottery hopes dashed when the 76ers jumped into the top three, eliminating OKC’s chance of landing a lottery pick. Nevertheless, Oklahoma City — currently battling Denver in a tough Western Conference Semifinals series — still holds a plethora of future picks and promising talent.
Assuming the Thunder fall short of a title this year, they could be in a prime position to make a “win-now” move for the 2021 Finals MVP. A trade would likely revolve around Jaylen Williams or even Chet Holmgren and several of their 26 future first and second-round picks. Giannis would give OKC a dominant interior presence to pair with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, positioning the Thunder as championship favorites for years to come. Milwaukee would receive a high-upside star and additional assets to maintain competitiveness and flexibility.
5. New Orleans Pelicans
The Pelicans make this list for one critical reason: they own Milwaukee’s next two first-round picks. The challenge of a rebuild for the Milwaukee Bucks lies in the lack of control of their picks; they can’t intentionally bottom out to improve draft position.
The Pelicans own swap rights to Milwaukee’s 2026 and 2027 first-round picks. A deal that includes those swaps and the No. 7 pick in this year’s draft would give the Bucks control of their picks over the next two years — a vital asset if they opt for a traditional rebuild. Of course, the deal would still need to include highly paid players like Zion Williamson and C.J. McCollum to match salaries.
While this might not be an ideal situation for Giannis, and a direct trade seems unlikely, New Orleans could still play a pivotal role in a three-team deal. Given that the Pelicans control Milwaukee’s immediate future, it’s a scenario GM Jon Horst and the front office must at least consider if Giannis requests a trade.