5 potential landing spots for Giannis with Bucks future uncertain

Giannis Antetokounmpo might have played his final game with the Milwaukee Bucks.

The two-time MVP has reportedly become receptive to the possibility that his ideal long-term fit may no longer be in Milwaukee. If Antetokounmpo determines the best opportunities for the remainder of his career lay elsewhere, here are five franchises that could swing deals to bring the Greek Freak aboard.

Oklahoma City Thunder

Arguably, no team is better equipped at this moment to trade for Antetokounmpo than the Thunder. General manager Sam Presti has built a Western Conference juggernaut and simultaneously accrued a trove of first-round picks over the next several years. While the draft compensation would tantalize the Bucks, who don't control their own selection until 2031, the Thunder's unique assembly of rising stars and up-and-coming role players could convince Milwaukee to remain competitive while getting much younger.

The headline piece going the Bucks' way is 2025 All-Star wing Jalen Williams, a proven ball-handler and facilitator who can help mitigate the expected long-term absence of Damian Lillard next season. Isaiah Hartenstein works out as a serendipitous successor to 36-year-old Brook Lopez, who will be a free agent this summer. But for the Thunder, the hefty package is a small price to pay; by pairing Antetokounmpo with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Chet Holmgren, Lu Dort, and Alex Caruso, Oklahoma City could create one of the most unstoppable squads on both sides of the ball for years to come.

Cleveland Cavaliers

Cleveland should only break up its dominant two-big pairing of Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen for very special cases - and Antetokounmpo is one of them. The Bucks forward is one of very few stars around the league who could replace Allen in the Cavaliers' starting lineup and not only maintain their interior defense as one of the NBA's best, but simultaneously improve an offense that was already ranked No. 1 in the regular season.

Without control of its first-rounders for the next half-decade, an outright tank is futile for Milwaukee. Garland, whose contract is secured through 2027-28, gives them a young and more-than-capable long-term successor to 35-year-old Lillard, who could miss all of 2025-26 with a torn Achilles. Kyle Kuzma and Andre Jackson Jr. are the only other members of Milwaukee's rotation under contract beyond next season, after which the Bucks can reassess their outlook with Garland and Allen and get a clearer picture of how valuable those incoming picks might be.

San Antonio Spurs

With Victor Wembanyama fully acclimated after two seasons and De'Aaron Fox now in the fold, the Spurs might not get a better opportunity to take that massive next step than to acquire Antetokounmpo. As longtime members of the Spurs' pre-Wembanyama core, trading Devin Vassell, Keldon Johnson, and Jeremy Sochan is a tough pill to swallow, but they're also far from untouchable in offers for a two-time MVP.

For the Bucks, not only do they secure four talents no older than 25, the draft compensation haul that includes the No. 2 pick in the upcoming draft provides a golden opportunity to replenish their stock of first-rounders, which they depleted in trades for Jrue Holiday and Lillard.

Houston Rockets

The Rockets were reportedly sniffing around when it looked like the Phoenix Suns might offload Kevin Durant, but cashing in their treasure chest of assets for the younger Antetokounmpo may be a better option. Houston has the ascendant personnel to interest Milwaukee but will likely need a third team to make the money work in accordance with the new CBA. Enter the Pistons, who swap Isaiah Stewart for veteran Dillon Brooks, receiving a lottery-protected first-rounder for their trouble and providing Milwaukee a contracted center next season.

Parting with the 22-year-old Green and 21-year-old Smith is a risky move, though it increases Houston's chances of contention within the next few seasons. Following a breakout campaign from the presumably untouchable Amen Thompson, adding Antetokounmpo would give the Rockets two of the league's toughest defenders at their position. However, spacing concerns would likely need to be addressed in the longer term, especially with starting center Alperen Sengun signed through 2028-29.

Toronto Raptors

Raptors president Masai Ujiri has long been linked with Antetokounmpo, but the forward's extensions in Milwaukee put to bed any chance of him heading north. If Ujiri remains interested, the Raptors might have no better opportunity to bring the Greek star to Toronto.

RJ Barrett, who's improved as a creator since joining the Raptors midway through 2023-24, is still only 24 but, with Jakob Poeltl, gives the Bucks experienced plug-and-play pieces who can keep them competitive. Sharpshooter Gradey Dick looked much more comfortable in Year 2 after a lukewarm debut season. Ja'Kobe Walter, 20, showed promise as a rookie and gives the Bucks a young guard to develop after making just two first-round picks over their past four drafts (AJ Johnson and MarJon Beauchamp) - neither of which are still with the club.

Toronto, meanwhile, moves forward with a compelling core of Immanuel Quickley, former Rookie of the Year Scottie Barnes, the yet-to-debut Brandon Ingram, and Antetokounmpo, giving head coach Darko Rajakovic significant positional flexibility among his starters. It also cements Jamal Shead as the de facto play-caller on a second unit likely to feature Ochai Agbaji, A.J. Lawson, and Shead's fellow second-year teammates Jamison Battle and Jonathan Mogbo.