The Blockbuster NBA Trade We Want To See Most This Season

Giannis Antetokounmpo is all in on the Milwaukee Bucks...for at least the next six or seven months.

Another summer of trade speculation, triggered by the two-time MVP's wandering eye, concluded with Antetokounmpo professing a qualified commitment to Milwaukee on media day. The Bucks seemingly have no interest in getting out in front of an eventual trade request, instead mortgaging their future by stretching Damian Lillard's deal and signing every other Antetokounmpo they can get their hands on—all to appease Giannis for another season.

Clearly, the Bucks don't want to trade their franchise cornerstone. But this isn't about what they want. It's about what we want: Giannis playing alongside another generational superstar.

Framing an Antetokounmpo deal around our desires—and not Milwaukee's—is why we're skipping over an obvious Atlanta Hawks trade. Optimal deals from the Bucks' perspective would include reacquiring their own 2026 first-rounder, which Atlanta possesses after a draft night deal with the New Orleans Pelicans.

Forget that. We're still looking for a good return on the Bucks' side, but this is all about manifesting a Victor Wembanyama and Antetokounmpo partnership.

San Antonio Spurs Acquire: Giannis Antetokounmpo

Milwaukee Bucks Acquire: Stephon Castle, Kelly Olynyk, Jeremy Sochan, Harrison Barnes, 2026 first-round pick (via CHI; top-8 protected), 2026 first-round pick (most favorable of SAS or ATL), 2027 first-round pick (via ATL), 2030 first-round pick (most favorable of SAS, DAL, MIN; top-1 protected), 2031 first-round pick (most favorable of SAC or SAS)

This is all about San Antonio acknowledging that contention windows are short, and that the kind of good health necessary for a sustained run isn't a given. It's easy to assume Wembanyama's presence means a decade-plus of uninterrupted excellence, but urgency should be on the Spurs' minds in the wake of their superstar's frightening deep vein thrombosis last season.

It's certainly on Wemby's.

Hence this go-for-it move to acquire a two-time MVP who is still very near his prime. Antetokounmpo is the singular driver of offense Wembanyama isn't (so far), and his ability to collapse defenses should draw attention away from and create space for Wemby to thrive.

Defensively, Wembanyama is already one of one. His play on the other end, while tantalizing and likely to reach offensive-alpha levels eventually, isn't championship-caliber yet.

Giannis and Wemby would combine to form the rangiest, most punishing defensive frontcourt tandem in the league. No opponent would ever feel comfortable shooting around the basket with so much length lurking. On the other side of the floor, Wembanyama's high-volume three-point shooting would pull a big man out of the lane, allowing Antetokounmpo to rumble downhill with fewer impediments.

If opponents put a smaller player on Wembanyama because they decide size is a must against Giannis, it'll create mismatches and easy scoring opportunities galore.

Odds are, these two would produce a championship-caliber defense and an offense good enough to hold up its end of the bargain against just about anyone.

Milwaukee's side of the deal is much harder to justify. All the potential salary relief coming from the expiring deals of Barnes, Olynyk and Sochan means less when Lillard's $22.5 million cap hit is on the books for the next five seasons.

Still, any deal sending Antetokounmpo away would have to stem from a trade demand. In that not-so-farfetched hypothetical, the Bucks may have to take what they can get—especially if Giannis makes it known San Antonio is his preferred destination. And when superstars of his ilk ask to be moved, they tend to have a landing spot in mind.

The Bucks hardly come out of this empty-handed. Castle is the reigning Rookie of the Year and a potential cornerstone, and five first-round picks are coming with him.

The key selling point on those selections is that most of them aren't tied to the Spurs, who figure to post strong records that return limited first-round value. Assuming the Bucks will embrace a patient rebuild after Giannis is gone, some of the more distant selections—like the most favorable of the Wolves', Spurs' or Mavs' 2030 first-rounder and the 2031 pick belonging to the Kings—should have appealing upside.

Milwaukee should ask for Dylan Harper and more draft capital, but this is at least a reasonable starting point for a team that won't be dealing from a position of strength.