Nov 17, 2025; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) walks on the court in the first quarter against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Rocket Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-Imagn Images

There was a time when it would almost be unthinkable for the Bucks to trade Giannis Antetokounmpo. The two-time MVP brought a championship to Milwaukee and signed multiple extensions to stay with the team longterm.

It now appears that the goodwill between Giannis and the Bucks has run its course, and we could be in for a blockbuster trade in the coming weeks.

According to a report from ESPN's Shams Charania, Antetokounmpo is asking the Bucks to look into a trade. The Bucks are off to a dismal 9-13 start this season. And the window to turn the Bucks back into an immediate contender might be closing quicker than Giannis would want.

Antetokounmpo also reportedly asked for a trade this offseason with the Knicks as his preferred destination. But if the Bucks do explore a trade of their superstar, there are three possible teams that stand out.

Atlanta Hawks

It's not often that a team can lose its superstar for extended time and end up being in a better position. But that's where the Atlanta Hawks stand right now. In Trae Young's absence, Jalen Johnson has emerged as a budding foundational piece for Atlanta with the Hawks squarely in the playoff hunt. On top of that, the Hawks have the Pelicans' unprotected first-round pick in 2026, which could turn into Darryn Peterson or AJ Dybantsa starting their careers with a contender. The Hawks have assets to make a move for Giannis if they want — that's for sure.

New York Knicks

It's been made clear that the Knicks are Giannis' preferred destination. So even though a deal couldn't be reached in the offseason, Giannis will probably want the Bucks to re-engage their talks with the Knicks. Now, does New York want to break up a strong core with great chemistry in pursuit of Giannis? We'll see.

San Antonio Spurs

The idea of Giannis Antetokounmpo and Victor Wembanyama (when he returns from injury) sharing a frontcourt is wild to think about. But the Spurs have the assets to make something like that work. San Antonio has Atlanta's first for 2027 and a possible pick swap for this coming draft. And then there's plenty of young talent with moveable contracts like Devin Vassell, Stephon Castle or Dylan Harper.

And who knows? Maybe the Lakers or even Thunder (gasp!) could get into the sweepstakes.

This article originally appeared on For The Win: Giannis Antetokounmpo landing spots: Who will land Bucks star?

Reporting by Andrew Joseph, For The Win / For The Win

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