If the Milwaukee Bucks are ever going to entertain the idea of trading Giannis Antetokounmpo, it better be for a haul that resets the franchise in a meaningful way. Because when you’re talking about moving a two-time MVP still squarely in his prime, the bar for what constitutes a “fair deal” isn’t just high-it’s sky-high.
That’s why a recently proposed trade idea involving the New York Knicks should raise every red flag in the Bucks’ front office. The suggested return?
OG Anunoby, Josh Hart, Miles McBride, Pacome Dadiet, a top-8 protected 2026 first-round pick via Washington, and pick swaps in 2028, 2030, and 2032. In exchange, Milwaukee parts with both Giannis and his brother Thanasis.
Let’s break this down.
The Players: Solid Role Guys, But That’s Not Enough
OG Anunoby is a quality player-no argument there. He’s a tough, switchable defender who can knock down threes.
Every contender wants a guy like Anunoby. But the key phrase there is “like Anunoby.”
He’s the kind of player you add after you’ve built your foundation. He’s not the guy you build around.
Same goes for Josh Hart. He brings hustle, rebounding, and a lot of intangibles.
But if Giannis is out of the picture, Milwaukee doesn’t need glue guys-they need cornerstones. Hart’s a winning player, but he’s not moving the needle in a rebuild.
Miles McBride? A backup point guard with some defensive bite but limited offensive upside.
Pacome Dadiet? A long-term project who may or may not ever crack a rotation.
And under the current Bucks development system, it’s fair to wonder if he’ll ever get the opportunity to grow into anything more.
The Picks: Quantity Over Quality?
Draft capital is always a key part of any superstar trade, but in this case, the quality just isn’t there.
The only actual first-round pick in the package is top-8 protected and coming from Washington. That means if the Wizards underperform-which, let’s be honest, is a strong possibility-Milwaukee doesn’t even get the pick.
Then you’ve got pick swaps in 2028, 2030, and 2032. On the surface, that sounds like long-term value, but swaps only matter if the Bucks outperform the Knicks in those years.
And if New York adds Giannis? Good luck with that.
Those swaps could end up being meaningless.
So what you’re left with is one protected pick and a handful of theoretical chances to move up in the draft-none of which help you land the kind of blue-chip talent needed to rebuild from scratch.
The Big Picture: No Clear Path Forward
The harsh truth? This deal doesn’t give Milwaukee a single young star to build around.
There’s no Tyrese Maxey, no Scottie Barnes, no Jalen Green. No unprotected picks to bank on.
No real cap flexibility. Just a roster full of solid-but-limited contributors and a draft outlook that’s more smoke than fire.
If the Bucks were to accept this deal, they’d be committing to a reset without the tools to actually reset. It’s a soft landing into mediocrity, not a launchpad to the next era.
Other Teams Can-and Likely Will-Do Better
If Milwaukee ever puts Giannis on the table, they should be opening the phones to everyone. The Heat have young talent and picks.
The Warriors could package high-upside prospects with future draft capital. Even teams currently flying under the radar could get involved and offer more compelling packages.
And let’s not forget what the Nets got for Kevin Durant: Mikal Bridges, Cam Johnson, four unprotected firsts, and a swap. That’s the kind of return that gives you options. That’s how you rebuild.
This Knicks package? It’s not even in the same conversation.
The Bottom Line
Milwaukee owes it to themselves-and to their fans-not to settle. If Giannis wants New York, fine. But that doesn’t mean the Bucks have to hand him over for a package that lacks star power, lacks premium picks, and lacks a real vision for the future.
This is the kind of trade that doesn’t just set you back a year or two. It can derail a franchise for a decade.
The Bucks have one of the most dominant players of this generation. If they’re going to move him, it has to be on their terms, not anyone else’s.
Grade: F
There’s no sugarcoating it-this deal simply doesn’t cut it. If this is the best the Knicks can offer, Milwaukee needs to walk away and open the bidding to the rest of the league.
Because when you’re dealing with a player like Giannis, you don’t settle for a handful of role players and a bunch of maybe-later picks. You aim higher.
Much higher.
Stay locked in for more Bucks analysis as the trade chatter heats up.