NBA Mock Trade: Giannis Antetokounmpo joins Zion Williamson as Damian Lillard makes Blazers homecoming

There’s a growing skepticism about Giannis Antetokounmpo’s future with the Milwaukee Bucks. After a disappointing 2024-25 NBA season, there have been conversations about a potential trade for Antetokounmpo. The Bucks lost in the first round for a third straight season, despite having one of the best players in the league.

Antetokounmpo appeared in 67 games last season, averaging 30.4 points, 11.9 rebounds and 6.5 assists. It marked his third consecutive season averaging 30 points, but his efforts were overshadowed by the eventual Eastern Conference champion Indiana Pacers.

In the first round, the Pacers got the best of the Bucks and had a 4-1 win. It’s also notable that Milwaukee’s Damian Lillard experienced injuries before and during the series.

There have been a few mock trades thrown around, suggesting where the two-time MVP will play next season. On Reddit, a trade proposal was posted on the subhttps://www.sportskeeda.com/basketball/reddit r/NBAtradeideas. Posted by u/dont_care-, the user's mock trade features a blockbuster three-team trade involving the Portland Trail Blazers and the New Orleans Pelicans.

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The Bucks would acquire a plethora of players and picks from both the Blazers and Pelicans. Portland would send DeAndre Ayton, Jerami Grant, a 2025 first-round pick (No. 7), a 2027 first-round pick, a 2028 first-round pick, a 2029 first-round pick and a 2030 first-round pick to the Bucks.

New Orleans would move Kelly Olynyk, Jordan Hawkins, Elfrid Payton, a 2025 first-round pick (No. 11), a 2026 first-round pick and a 2027 first-round pick to the Blazers in exchange for Giannis Antetokounmpo. This will make the 2021 champion the co-star of forward Zion Williamson.

Portland, meanwhile, will acquire Lillard back from the Bucks. The organization will also get Trey Murphy III from the Pelicans.

This mega-trade idea could make the Pelicans contenders, while the Bucks can start anew.

The trade market for Giannis Antetokounmpo has reportedly started to take shape

There's still no sure answer about what Giannis Antetokounmpo has planned for the summer. However, every team has reportedly called the Milwaukee Bucks for a possible trade to acquire the star forward. This was confirmed by NBA insiders Marc Stein and Jake Fischer.

According to Fischer, the Bucks are expected to decide on Antetokounmpo's trade in late June. During that time, the NBA Finals and draft would've been over, and the offseason could begin.

"It's only June 5th—anything could happen," Fischer said (Times stamp: 8:04). "I've been told all along that if there is a decision, a formal decision made to shut or open the door on trade conversations for Giannis this summer, that it would likely happen closer to the end of June and when the offseason really begins."

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Reign Amurao

Reign Amurao specializes in basketball at Sportskeeda, bringing 3 years of experience to his role and a Bachelor's Degree in Communication.

A fervent supporter of the Phoenix Suns, Reign was hooked to their electrifying "Seven-Seconds-Or-Less" offense, which epitomizes high-paced and high-intensity basketball. For Reign, Steve Nash is the ultimate floor general, and he believes Boris Diaw could've been the next Magic Johnson if he had a bit more discipline. 

From Reign's perspective, Anthony Edwards is a 90s player stuck in modern times, and Gregg Popovich is an ultimate winner with unparalleled success and leadership in the sport.

Reign's expertise lies in NBA history, particularly the significant moments and trends of the 2000s and 2010s. He prioritizes in-depth research using only credible sources to maintain accuracy in his articles, and avoids misleading topics.

Beyond basketball, Reign enjoys gaming with friends and watches comedy shows and films.

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