As the 2025 season comes to a close, the Milwaukee Bucks have been a major topic of conversation in the NBA. With minimal assets to improve the roster, many have debated if it’s time for the franchise to move on from Giannis Antetokounmpo. Though Shams Charania reported the former MVP has an “open-mindedness” to playing elsewhere, he has never formally told the franchise he wants to be moved.
Giannis is still at the peak of his powers in the NBA and remains one of the game’s top superstars. He is fresh off another MVP-level season where he averaged 30.4 PPG, 11.9 RPG, and 6.5 APG. While he’s been one of the league’s most loyal stars, Giannis has also made it clear he wants to add another championship to his resumé. Given the Bucks’ current situation, he might have to embrace a change of scenery to achieve that goal.
As the discourse around Giannis rages on, the people at ESPN compiled a series of mock trades for the Bucks this summer. In one scenario, they embrace a rebuild and deal the superstar forward to the Houston Rockets. The return package features countless prospects the franchise can build around for the future.
The trade:
Rockets receive – Giannis Antetokounmpo, Pat Connaughton
Bucks receive – Alperen Sengun, Cam Whitmore, Reed Sheppard, Jock Landale, 2025 first-round pick (No. 10), 2027 first-round pick (via Phoenix), 2028 first-round pick
For the Bucks, this is an opportunity to completely reshape the future of the franchise. Armed with an All-Star-level talent in Sengun and other promising young prospects, Milwaukee could quickly retool. Depending on how Damian Lillard looks upon returning from injury, the roster might be able to remain competitive. Most importantly, the front office would be adding to its limited pool of draft capital.
Seeing that Giannis is a homegrown talent who has emerged as one of the top players in franchise history, parting with him would be tough. That said, if the Bucks did decide to move on from him, securing a haul of this magnitude is a suitable return that will leave them in a good position moving forward.
