Giannis Antetokounmpo could be traded before the June 23 NBA Draft, and the Milwaukee Bucks are expected to know by then whether the two-time NBA MVP is staying or going. That gives the league less than three weeks to sort out one of the biggest decisions of the offseason.
For teams watching the market, that date has become the one that matters. Jimmy Haslam said in early May that by the draft, the Bucks should know whether Antetokounmpo will finally be traded — and where he might land. Milwaukee can afford to be patient as it weighs offers, but the clock is still ticking toward a deadline that could redraw the balance of power in the East and beyond.
Miami remains the name many around the league keep circling. The Heat were among the most relentless teams in their pursuit of Antetokounmpo at the trade deadline, and that past interest continues to shape the way rival front offices read the market. Antetokounmpo also showed legitimate interest in playing for the Knicks last summer, another reason New York stays in the conversation even as no deal has materialized.
Oklahoma City is the other obvious place teams mention when they think about what a trade could look like, but it is not expected to pursue Antetokounmpo. The Thunder have 12 first-round picks and 13 second-round picks between 2026 and 2033, along with Nos. 12 and 17 in this year’s draft, enough draft capital to make almost any conversation possible. Yet after their failed title defense this postseason, and with Victor Wembanyama’s rise in San Antonio prompting new questions around the conference, the Thunder have not been viewed as a real suitor.
Portland is also seen as an unlikely fit, with league sources pointing to Antetokounmpo’s preference to play in the East. That narrows the field and keeps the focus on teams that have both the assets and the history to make a serious push. For Milwaukee, the next real checkpoint is June 23, when the draft should bring the first clear answer on whether Antetokounmpo stays a Buck or becomes the centerpiece of a franchise-altering trade.
