The Atlanta Hawks have the ultimate draft asset that the Milwaukee Bucks cannot ignore in Giannis Antetokounmpo trade talks: control over their own destiny.

The Hawks currently hold swap rights on Milwaukee’s next two draft picks, receiving the more favorable between MIL and NOP in 2026 and the less favorable in 2027. Coming into the season, it was almost a guarantee that New Orleans would have the more favorable pick for 2026. 

With Giannis potentially gone, however, the Bucks will quickly collapse to the depths of the NBA, challenging the Pelicans, Pacers, Nets, and Wizards for the coveted top lottery seed in a stacked draft class. 

The Bucks would be irresponsible to trade Giannis without earning either proven young players or high-end draft capital in return. They have zero picks without a swap left this decade after emptying their war chest on trades for Jrue Holiday and Damian Lillard. Even if the Bucks received seven first round picks from a suitor like the Spurs, any team trading for a star would have late firsts that don’t allow Milwaukee to find the star successor to Antetokounmpo.

Atlanta is the most logical trade partner for the Bucks

If Atlanta’s package for Giannis included the Bucks’ two first round picks, the Bucks could hit a brief tank and have good odds of at least one good pick that can lead the next era of Milwaukee basketball. This is an unbeatable offer for the Bucks.

Other teams can send first round picks, but no team can give the Bucks the right to reap the rewards of their poor performance. Between the tanking Bucks and Pelicans, the 2026 pick is almost guaranteed to end in the top seven, while next year’s pick could add another young piece to the team. 

ESPN proposed a trade in which the Bucks would receive Trae Young, Zaccharie Risacher, two MIL picks, and two top-four-protected ATL picks. This trade gives the Bucks everything they could ask for.

The Bucks can remain competitive if they desire to, or they can look to offload Young for cheap in a three-way trade. If they decide to keep Young, he’s on an expiring contract. This trade (or this trade as a foundation of a three-way trade) allows the Bucks to pursue all three paths forward: a deep tank, a half-tank, or continuing to strive for the postseason.

If the Hawks can pair Jalen Johnson and Giannis Antetokounmpo, the squad will suddenly be favorites to win the East. Onsi Saleh must push in the chips on this trade.