Following the latest trade request that we’re not allowed to call a trade request, we can now put the Milwaukee Bucks’ Giannis Antetokounmpo era to bed. His exit is no longer a matter of if. It’s instead an issue of when: before Feb. 5 at 3 p.m. EST or over the offseason.
Regaining ownership over as many of their first-rounders as possible should be the Bucks’ top priority. They don’t control the rights of their pick again until 2031. Flat-out selections and swaps are controlled by the Atlanta Hawks (2026), New Orleans Pelicans (2027), Portland Trail Blazers (2028, 2029, 2030) and Washington Wizards (2028), to whom the Bucks horcruxed their swap with New Orleans in 2028.
Reacquiring enough of their own firsts mandates truly complicated frameworks. If it proves to be an impossible mission, they should pivot to shooting for the stars with cornerstone prospects.
Dylan Harper would be the ultimate guiding light. He profiles as the engine of an entire offense and has another three years left on his rookie scale. Amen Thompson is approaching extension eligibility but plays with an air of undeniability at both ends of the floor.
Granted, the Bucks need the San Antonio Spurs and Houston Rockets, respectively, to be pursuing Giannis for this to work. Even then, both Harper and Thompson could be off limits. That’s fine. Milwaukee can move on to the next best options (Stephon Castle, Reed Sheppard, Alpern Şengün, etc.) if that’s the case.
Or it can wait until the summer, in hopes one of its primary targets will shake loose after a disappointing playoff run.
