Giannis Antetokounmpo IMAGN 02192026
Proposed Bucks trade sees Milwaukee appease Giannis Antetokounmpo by landing $118 million NBA champion, nine-time All-Star originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Advertisement
The Milwaukee Bucks have just been eliminated from the playoffs, after two years of being bounced in the first round. With this in mind, their franchise star Giannis Antetokounmpo might finally be at his wit’s end, and want to be traded.
However, there is a move that could keep Giannis in Milwaukee, at least for a few more years. Bleacher Report’s Zach Buckley proposes that the Bucks make a deal with the Dallas Mavericks, and acquire NBA champion and nine-time All-Star point guard Kyrie Irving.
The trade would look like this:
Advertisement
Bucks get: PG Kyrie Irving
Mavericks get: (Projected) No. 10 pick, G Ryan Rollins, F Kyle Kuzma and F Bobby Portis
“Milwaukee is never going to force Antetokounmpo out. And his hesitance to take a trade demand public suggests he might still be looking for reasons to say. Reasons, perhaps, like this exact type of trade, which mortgages more of the future but does so in pursuit of Antetokounmpo’s aim for maximum competitiveness. No, his first pairing with a score-first star guard didn’t go great, but Irving is more accustomed to sharing the floor with ball-dominant elites. This wouldn’t be a fight for the spotlight, but rather a willingness from Irving to support the lead actor as best he could. Provided he’s healthy, of course, which you’d hope he would be considering we’ve passed the year mark since his March 2025 ACL tear,” Buckley wrote.
Irving has been out this season with a torn achilles, but in the 2024-25 season, he was averaging 24.7 points, 4.8 rebounds, 4.6 assists, and 1.3 steals in 36 minutes per game. He’d be the perimeter threat that could complement Giannis’ inside presence, and could put the Bucks back into contention.
Advertisement
As for his contract, Irving signed a three-year, $118 million contract in 2025, with the third year of 27-28 being a player option. This is the same exact length as Giannis’ deal, and he also has a player option. This would give the Bucks two years of both stars, and if they compete, both would probably be inclined to exercise their options.
If Milwaukee is truly not done with Giannis and vice versa, this would be the perfect trade to make. Hopefully they do, and finish off Giannis’ time in Milwaukee with a bang.
MORE NBA CONTENT
Advertisement