Shams Charania reported just a couple of days ago that the future of Giannis Antetokounmpo in Milwaukee is in serious doubt. It was a hot topic throughout the offseason after Damian Lillard was waived following his Achilles injury in the postseason, raising the question: could the Bucks still build a contender around the former MVP with virtually no resources?
Through the first quarter of the season, the answer has been a resounding no. The Bucks are 10-13, and Antetokounmpo is now expected to miss 4–6 weeks with a calf injury. That will drastically diminish their postseason hopes, and any thought that this roster is remotely close to contending is nothing more than a pipe dream.
A breakup feels inevitable, but the most surprising subplot from the national media is the growing belief that the Atlanta Hawks should be taken seriously as contenders for The Greek Freak — largely because of their draft capital.
Atlanta owns a 2026 first-round pick that is the most favorable of the Pelicans and Bucks. With New Orleans currently holding the worst record in the NBA, and Milwaukee likely to be right behind them if they trade Giannis, that pick already looks like a near-lock to land inside the top five. It’s a franchise-altering asset — one that NBA insider Jake Fischer believes the Hawks won’t part with… unless Antetokounmpo shows interest in coming to Atlanta and signing an extension.
“I have been told on more than one occasion since the season began — quite strongly — that the Hawks won’t consider trading that draft pick, knowing full well how valuable of a commodity it should be heading into a draft headlined by AJ Dybantsa, Darryn Peterson and Cam Boozer,” Fischer writes. “I personally think, however, that they would absolutely have to consider dealing the pick if that meant Giannis was coming to town — with a verbal commitment to sign an extension — and if it meant Atlanta could also keep Jalen Johnson, Zaccharie Risacherand Dyson Daniels in the process.”
The 2026 NBA Draft class is as loaded as any we’ve seen in recent memory, featuring multiple prospects who would have gone first overall in just about any other year. The Hawks understand the kind of power they hold with that 2026 first-round pick, and they should be in absolutely no rush to move it. Adding another young star to an already strong core could set this franchise up to contend for the next five-plus years.
With that being said, Giannis Antetokounmpo is the type of superstar a smaller-market team like Atlanta has spent decades trying — and failing — to land. If he were to show even the slightest sign of commitment to the Hawks, they shouldn’t hesitate to trade a potential future star for a top-five player in the league who’s still in his prime.
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