Giannis Antetokounmpo is expected to be traded before the start of the NBA draft Tuesday, with the Celtics and Heat emerging as finalists to land the Bucks superstar, sources told ESPN. The Milwaukee Bucks ideally want to decide the two-time MVP's fate before the draft, according to Yahoo Sports. A deal would likely include some premier talent heading back to Milwaukee.
Antetokounmpo, 30, averaged 30.4 points, 11.5 rebounds and 6.5 assists last season. He has been one of the league’s most dominant two-way players, earning eight All-NBA selections and a championship in 2021. The Bucks, however, have struggled with injuries and roster depth, leading to a first-round playoff exit this year.
Trading Antetokounmpo would reshape the Eastern Conference hierarchy. Boston won the East last season, while Miami made the Finals twice in the past four years. Either team gaining Antetokounmpo would instantly become the conference favorite. The Bucks, in turn, could accelerate a rebuild with the incoming draft capital.
The NBA draft begins Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. ET. Teams can also negotiate trades during the draft itself, but the Bucks want a decision before then. The Celtics and Heat both possess the young talent and picks necessary to make a competitive offer.
"It would make a lot of sense for a deal to get done before the draft," wrote a Yahoo Sports analyst, summarizing the urgency from Milwaukee's front office. Neither team's offer has been publicly detailed, and the Bucks may still consider other suitors if talks stall.