Blazers surface in Giannis Antetokounmpo conversations, mostly as facilitator

Another team has quietly checked in on Giannis Antetokounmpo, even if expectations remain modest.

Marc Stein of The Stein Line reports the Trail Blazers have expressed interest to the Bucks in a potential Antetokounmpo deal. Portland understands the obvious hurdles. Convincing Antetokounmpo to sign an extension and commit long-term to the Pacific Northwest would be a long shot at best.

The more realistic angle is structural.

Around the league, Portland is viewed as a potential facilitator rather than a true endpoint. In a multi-team construction, the Blazers could use cap flexibility and assets to help move money while picking up one or two impact veterans along the way.

That role has value, especially if Milwaukee decides to prioritize flexibility, draft positioning, or a broader reset.

As has been widely reported, the Antetokounmpo timeline appears more likely to stretch into the offseason. The Bucks are in no rush, and several teams would be able to present stronger offers once additional first-round picks become available and the draft lottery clarifies the board.

Golden State remains another team frequently mentioned, though Stein adds an important wrinkle. The Warriors’ pursuit is now unlikely to involve Jimmy Butler’s contract following his season-ending knee injury.

That shifts the focus elsewhere, with Draymond Green long assumed to be a necessary salary-matching piece in any credible Warriors proposal.

In short, the Giannis market continues to take shape.

Portland’s name is now in the mix, but more as a chess piece than a destination.