A perennial MVP candidate is (reportedly, possibly, allegedly) available for trade. And if that line isn’t stunning enough on its own, the Hawks have a massive stake in what happens from here.

First, a quick catchup on recent news. Shams Charania of ESPN reported that Giannis Antetokounmpo and his agent have “begun conversations with the Milwaukee Bucks about [Antetokounmpo’s] future”:

Brian Windhorst, also of ESPN, added some reporting saying that Antetokounmpo and/or his team preferred the “showed interest in wanting to be on the New York Knicks,” and that the two teams engaged in trade conversations in the offseason.

So that brings us to the question: how does it affect the Hawks? Let’s briefly explore scenarios of a midseason trade.

If the Knicks trade for Antetokounmpo

I’m not going to pretend to know how the Knicks land Giannis Antetokounmpo with a relatively old core of players and few picks at their disposal. Maybe it would involve a third team, and it certainly wouldn’t involve Jalen Brunson, but if this is where Giannis truly wants to go, the NBA has a history of getting superstars to their preferred destination.

The quick and dirty rundown is this move would change the balance of power in the Eastern Conference. The Detroit Pistons have gotten off to a hot start, but Brunson and Antetokounmpo with a decent roster around that duo would be the hands-on favorite to reach the Finals now and in the future.

On the other side of things, the Bucks would clearly be even less competitive in the near future no matter what their return is. Currently, they sit at a disappointing 10-13 and just Thursday, Antetokounmpo was ruled out for the next 2-to-4 weeks due to a calf strain.

Milwaukee could pivot to chasing draft lottery balls after a midseason trade. They own the worst selection of their own 2026 pick and that of the New Orleans Pelicans (3-20), who currently own the worst record in the NBA.

You know who owns the best selection of that two-team pick swap? Why, none other than your Atlanta Hawks.

So, with the Pelicans struggling and the Bucks sinking in the standings, that pick begins to look even juicier with the smoke surrounding this situation — and it already looks pretty appealing a quarter of the way through the season.

Did I forget to mention the Hawks also own the worst selection of a pick swap between the Bucks and Pelicans in 2027 (top four protected)? I can’t imagine either team turning it around between now and next season, so it’s likely the Hawks would also net a lottery pick next year as well.

The Hawks would fall down in the Eastern Conference pecking order for sure in this scenario. But the Hawks pivoted towards youth last offseason, and if that Bucks/Pelicans superpick lands a top talent in a loaded 2025 NBA Draft, the team could and should envision competing for years to come.

If the Hawks trade for Antetokounmpo

Here’s where things really get tricky — in a good way, though.

The Hawks arguably have the most ammo in the league to land the Greek Freak despite his preference for the team in orange and blue. Between the two pick swaps with Bucks stakes, plenty of ways to match salary, future picks and 2024 first overall draftee Zaccharie Risacher, there are many ways to make this transaction happen if both sides are motivated.

Do the Hawks send out Trae Young, Zaccharie Risacher and a million picks? How do the Hawks fit Antetokounmpo with Jalen Johnson and round out the team without many real future assets?

Maybe you just blindly take the plunge given you’re landing a top 3 player in the world and figure it out from there.

Is there a way you can get a trade done without giving up the superpick?

Personally, I think that asset is just too valuable to cede in any trade given how young the Hawks’ core is and the growing likelihood add a transcendent talent. With the Trae Young question looming this offseason, the Hawks just may need the optionality of a high draft pick (on a cheap rookie deal!) to turn the keys over to alongside Johnson.

It’s likely that the inclusion of the superpick is a line in the sand for the decision makers in Milwaukee — or that the decision makers in Atlanta don’t value it like I do. But my honest stance as it comes to that asset is ‘find a different deal’.

The Hawks can offer picks out to 2032 during the season. Due to the Stepien rule that requires you to have a first-round pick in every two-year span, the first-round picks package available in-season would be:

The other 2026 first-round pick outright (involving San Antonio, Cleveland, and Utah)Swap rights on the 2027 less favorable pick (i.e. offering swap rights on swap rights)2028 first-round pick outright (involving swap rights with Cleveland and Utah)2029 first-round swap rights2030 first-round pick outright2031 first-round swap rights2032 first-round pick outright

In total, that’s four first-round picks and three swap rights the Hawks have in their arsenal outside of the superpick — plus the players on their roster, of course.

That’s the route I would personally prefer picks-wise (not necessarily offering the whole boat of them at once). Sprinkle in second-round picks as necessary.

One thing to keep in mind before going all-in: Antetokounmpo has the ability to be a free agent in the 2027 offseason. It’s hard to imagine trading the farm for him only to have uncertainty as to whether he’ll extend his contract past then.

If the organization avoids disaster, this team with Antetokounmpo, Johnson, whoever they pick with the superpick and others should be picking in the 20s out into the 2030s decade, making the picks and swaps sent away less meaningful.

I could give you detailed analysis on what the team would look like from there, but I’ll cease the on-court hypotheticals for now. The important note is that Giannis Antetokounmpo (two-time MVP, nine-time All-Star) is really, really freakin’ good at basketball. Duh. He would immediately be as impactful a talent the Hawks haven’t had since Dominique Wilkins — and arguably beyond (shoutout the only MVP in franchise history thus far, Bob Pettit).

If the Hawks traded for Antetokounmpo, it would represent as seismic a transaction as this franchise has ever had. The team has yet to reach the NBA Finals since moving to Atlanta in 1968. In a wide-open Eastern Conference, a finals appearance would now be an expectation.

Consider myself and everyone else on “Giannis-watch” for the next two months — and maybe beyond.

Would you make a deal with or without the superpick? Please discuss below.