Trade rumors surrounding Giannis Antetokounmpo have been swirling since the offseason, with most NBA insiders expecting an eventual split. The only real question was whether the Bucks would try to ride things out until the offseason or move him before the trade deadline. It now appears we have our answer.
According to Shams Charania, Giannis Antetokounmpo is ready for a fresh start, and the Milwaukee Bucks have begun listening to trade offers.
Two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo is ready for a new home at the Feb. 5 NBA trade deadline or in the offseason as several rival teams make aggressive offers to the Milwaukee Bucks for him, and the franchise is starting to listen, league sources tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/OejatbQjDy
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) January 28, 2026
Two-time MVPs in the middle of their prime almost never become available on the trade market. Every team in the league — even those nowhere near playoff contention — will be calling Milwaukee. Antetokounmpo’s preferences will matter as well. It’s highly unlikely the Bucks send a franchise icon somewhere he has no interest in playing.
That may be the biggest obstacle for the Hawks. The list of teams Giannis reportedly favors isn’t surprising. He’s drawn to the bright lights of New York and finds Miami’s beaches appealing. Atlanta doesn’t offer the same immediate allure, but what it can provide is an elite trade package that could help Milwaukee return to relevance in short order.
The centerpiece would be the New Orleans Pelicans’ 2026 first-round pick — the most favorable of New Orleans’ and Milwaukee’s selections. Both teams have a legitimate chance to land inside the top five, which could theoretically give the Bucks two top-five picks in what’s shaping up to be a loaded draft class.
From there, Milwaukee could ask for nearly anyone on the Hawks’ roster not named Jalen Johnson, along with several additional future first-round picks. That’s a package very few teams in the league could match.
It’s been reported multiple times that the Hawks have no interest in parting with that ultra-valuable Pelicans pick. But if there’s ever an exception to that rule, it would be for Giannis Antetokounmpo — a proven superstar who would instantly make Atlanta a contender in the Eastern Conference.
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Photo: Ric Tapia/Icon Sportswire
