- The Milwaukee Bucks are off to a 1-6 start to the NBA season after having high hopes of competing in the Eastern Conference.
- That has led rumors to start swirling that Milwaukee star Giannis Antetokounmpo
- Miami, Brooklyn, Houston Favored to trade for Antetokounmpo, but there will be many more suitors for the two-time MVP.
The Milwaukee Bucks had a bright outlook to start the 2024-2025 NBA season. They had a full offseason of head coach Doc Rivers and Damian Lillard, to go alongside two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo.
However, things haven’t gone to plan for the Bucks, who are 1-6 in their first seven games. This has led to speculation that Antetokounmpo might be available for a trade if things don’t turn around.
Why Are the Bucks Struggling?
The Bucks are 1-6 after a 116-114 loss to unbeaten Cleveland on Monday night, and that was after going down by 17 points late in the second quarter. Milwaukee battled hard to get back into the game, and they were even leading by eight points with six minutes left in the third quarter.
This has led to various outlets reporting that an Antetokounmpo trade could be on the table if the Bucks don’t turn things around quickly. It should be said that Giannis missed the Cleveland loss on Monday night, due to an adductor strain he suffered in a loss to the Cavaliers on November 2.
There are a few reasons for the Bucks’ struggles to start the season. Antetokounmpo is averaging 31.0 points, 12.3 rebounds, and 6.3 assists to start the season. Lillard is averaging 27.6 points and 6.7 assists, and shooting 39.1% from three-point land.
However, Bobby Portis is the next highest scorer with 12.4 points, and Brook Lopez is the only other Buck in double figures at 10.9 points. Khris Middleton has yet to play a game this season, due to a bad ankle. If you’re going to go after NBA first basket bets, Antetokounmpo and Lillard are the only easy plays for Milwaukee, who are 19th in points scored.
Milwaukee is also 22nd in points allowed, and 26th in opponent three-point percentage. The three-point shot is the biggest weapon in the NBA, and teams are hitting 37.7% of their attempts on the Bucks. Any NBA player props involving anyone playing against Milwaukee’s defense deserve strong consideration.
Rivers was supposed to improve the Bucks on defense, but he hasn’t since replacing Adrian Griffin, who was fired last season. Rivers should be worried about his job as well. The Bucks would dismiss him before trading Antetokounmpo.
Who Could Trade for Giannis?
If Giannis gets to the trade market, teams will be falling over themselves to come up with packages to entice the Bucks. Antetokounmpo is still a top-five player in the NBA, and is a bona fide NBA-title swinger.
The Miami Heat are favored at some NBA betting sites to trade for Antetokounmpo after missing out on Lillard, who was traded to Milwaukee by Portland. Brooklyn, Houston, San Antonio, and Memphis are next in line.
But Antetokounmpo would likely prefer to be traded to a contender. He is good enough to swing the NBA title odds, but Brooklyn, Houston, and San Antonio are probably more than a Giannis away. Miami and Memphis are intriguing. You can bet that teams like New York and Golden State will try to get involved as well.
Nothing has been confirmed by the Bucks or Antetokounmpo, who is under contract until at least 2027, and has a $66.8 million player option for 2028. But Giannis helped the Bucks win a title in 2021, and if things don’t get better, he could use that to force his way out of Milwaukee, and the NBA will be waiting.
