A blockbuster offseason trade proposal sending future Hall of Famer Giannis Antetokounmpo from the Milwaukee Bucks to the Portland Trail Blazers has emerged.
In a column called “The Perfect 2026 Offseason Trade for Every NBA Team,” Greg Swartz of Bleacher Report created the following trade proposal between the Trail Blazers and Bucks:
Portland Trail Blazers Receive: PF Giannis Antetokounmpo
Milwaukee Bucks Receive: PG Scoot Henderson, G/F Shaedon Sharpe, F Jerami Grant, C Yang Hansen, 2026 first-round pick (projected No. 11 overall)
Antetokounmpo is close with Trail Blazers guards Jrue Holiday and Damian Lillard. Holiday and Antetokounmpo led the Bucks to the 2021 championship against the Phoenix Suns, while Antetokounmpo and Lillard developed a close friendship in their two years as teammates in Milwaukee.
Antetokounmpo told Holiday the Bucks miss his defense and leadership, according to Ramona Shelburne of ESPN. Milwaukee has won just one playoff series since winning the 2021 championship.
The Bucks, who will miss the playoffs this season, want Antetokounmpo to sit out the rest of the campaign, but the forward has made it clear he intends to keep playing, per Eric Nehm of The Athletic. Antetokounmpo is currently out with a left knee hyperextension.
It’s clear that Antetokounmpo and Milwaukee are not seeing eye to eye anymore, which is why so many people who cover the NBA believe Antetokounmpo should formally request a trade this offseason and continue his NBA career elsewhere.
A top 75 player of all time, Antetokounmpo has spent his entire NBA career with the Bucks. He’s a two-time MVP, one-time Finals MVP, one-time Defensive Player of the Year and 10-time All-Star. The Greek Freak has a player option worth $62.8 million for the 2027-28 season under his current contract.
If Antetokounmpo doesn’t sign an extension with the Bucks in October, he will be traded. That’s at least what Milwaukee co-owner Wes Edens told Shelburne. Antetokounmpo is eligible to sign a four-year, $275 million extension with the Bucks on October 1.
“Giannis is going into the last year [of his contract],” Edens said. “So one of two things will happen: Either he will be extended or he’ll be traded. The likelihood you’ll let him just kind of play out the last year, we can’t afford that. It’s not consistent with what’s good for the organization. That’s not a Giannis issue. That’s any player that’s in their last year.”
Lillard will play next season after not suiting up this campaign because of his Achilles tendon tear. The Trail Blazers would have a dangerous core of Lillard, Antetokounmpo, Holiday, Deni Avdija and Donovan Clingan if Swartz’s trade proposal happens.
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