NBA Trade Proposal Sends Giannis Antetokounmpo To Sixers

If two-time MVP and future Hall of Famer Giannis Antetokounmpo requests a trade from the Milwaukee Bucks this summer, Tony Jones of The Athletic thinks the Philadelphia 76ers should acquire the forward. 

Jones proposed the following trade idea between the Bucks and Sixers:

Bucks get: Paul George, Jared McCain, 2025 first, 2028 first (via LA Clippers), 2029 pick swap (via LA Clippers), 2030 first

Sixers get: Giannis Antetokounmpo

The Bucks lost to the Indiana Pacers in the first round of the 2025 playoffs in five games. They have won only one postseason series since winning the championship in 2021 against the Phoenix Suns. 

Meanwhile, the Sixers were a walking disaster this season despite having George, Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey. They won only 24 games. And to make matters worse, George and Embiid underwent surgeries. 

“Obviously, taking back George is a tough proposition, but this is a trade proposal rich in assets, beginning with the 2025 first-round pick, which would land in the top six if Philadelphia keeps control,” Jones wrote. “McCain is a terrific young prospect who would immediately give Milwaukee two young players to build off. The 2028 first-round pick is unprotected and lands in a year where the Clippers would either no longer have Kawhi Leonard and James Harden, or both be significantly slower. The same goes for the 2029 pick swap.

“In all, the Bucks would have to deal with George, but they would get a premium draft asset right away, a premium young talent in McCain and two potential premium future draft assets to go along with Philadelphia’s 2030 unprotected first-round pick. The Bucks aren’t going to find a potential top-five draft pick elsewhere.”

The Bucks will not trade Antetokounmpo unless the one-time Defensive Player of the Year requests a trade. 

Eric Nehm, who covers Milwaukee for The Athletic, isn’t a fan of Jones’ trade proposal. 

“This is insulting,” Nehm wrote. “The Bucks will be taking positive assets only in any trade conversation, and the age 35-37 seasons of George for $162 million doesn’t make any sense to acquire. A pick in the top six of this draft is nice, and McCain is a good young player, but there just is nowhere near enough in this trade for the Bucks.”

Antetokounmpo has spent his entire career with the Bucks. He turns 31 in December.