Could the Hawks Be a Dark Horse in the Giannis Sweepstakes? Jalen Johnson's Name Enters the Chat
The NBA rumor mill never sleeps - and when Giannis Antetokounmpo's name enters the conversation, things heat up fast. With the Milwaukee Bucks stumbling and Giannis nursing a right calf injury, the chatter around his future is starting to get louder. But here’s where it gets interesting: one of the league’s most powerful agents is now floating a bold trade scenario - and it doesn’t involve Trae Young.
Rich Paul, CEO of Klutch Sports and agent to some of the NBA’s biggest stars, recently dropped a nugget on his Game Over podcast with Max Kellerman that’s turning heads. When asked about a potential trade destination for Antetokounmpo, Paul didn’t hesitate.
“If I'm the Bucks … I'm calling Atlanta,” Paul said. “I want Jalen Johnson. He's from Milwaukee.”
That’s not just idle talk. Paul is clearly planting a flag - and in doing so, he’s putting Johnson’s name front and center in one of the league’s most high-stakes hypotheticals.
Jalen Johnson: Off Limits?
Now, if you’re wondering whether the Hawks would even entertain the idea of parting with Johnson, you’re not alone. According to NBA insider Marc Stein, Atlanta views Johnson as virtually untouchable - right up there with the unprotected 2026 first-round pick they sent out to land Derik Queen. That’s a strong statement about how much the Hawks value Johnson’s upside.
And it’s not hard to see why. After missing time last season due to a significant injury, Johnson has bounced back in a big way.
He’s been one of Atlanta’s most promising two-way players, flashing the kind of versatility and athleticism that’s hard to find in a 6-foot-9 forward. Add in the hometown connection - Johnson was born in Milwaukee - and you can understand why Paul sees him as a potential centerpiece in any Giannis deal.
But from the Hawks’ side? They’re not eager to let him go. Not even for a two-time MVP.
Giannis Tries to Quiet the Noise
While all this speculation swirls, Giannis is doing his best to keep the focus where it belongs: on the court. According to NBA TV’s Chris Haynes, the Bucks star has told his teammates to tune out the trade talk and zero in on getting better - both individually and as a team.
“His point was he's here for the time being, wanting to get better, wanting to make sure he gets his game back on point, making sure he gets back from his injury,” Haynes said. “But he understood [the concerns] and he relayed the message that he can't control what goes on or what even happens to him.”
That’s a classic Giannis move - keep the drama outside the locker room and focus on what you can control. Still, the Bucks’ recent slide isn’t helping matters.
After a tough 129-126 loss to the Wizards, Milwaukee has now dropped three of its last five and sits at 11-16. That’s not the kind of record you’d expect from a team with championship aspirations - or from a roster built around one of the league’s most dominant forces.
What’s Next for the Bucks and Hawks?
So where does that leave us? For now, Giannis remains a Buck, and Jalen Johnson remains a Hawk.
But the fact that names like these are being floated - publicly, by influential voices - tells us something. The NBA landscape could be in for a major shakeup.
Atlanta has the assets. Milwaukee has the superstar.
And if the Bucks decide to pivot toward a rebuild or retool, Johnson’s name could resurface quickly. Whether the Hawks would actually pull the trigger is another story - but make no mistake, they’re no longer flying under the radar in this conversation.
"Giannis Antetokounmpo addressed some of his teammates recently to stress the importance of focusing on basketball... I was told that his point was that he's here... wanting to get better."
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) December 10, 2025
Chris Haynes with the latest on the Bucks star 🗣
(via @NBATV)pic.twitter.com/DC3smd6uDX
One thing’s clear: the league is watching, and so is Giannis.