Giannis Antetokounmpo Signing With The Hawks – Joining Trae Young

But sources tell me for the first time in his 12-year NBA career, Giannis Antetokounmpo is open-minded about whether his best fit is in Milwaukee or playing elsewhere. Well, it looks like his mind is made up. Giannis, the Greek Freak himself, is ready to pack his bags and head south to Atlanta, where Trae Young is waiting with open arms. Honestly, this development shouldn’t come as a surprise. Giannis has said it time and time again—he’ll do whatever it takes to win. He’s made it clear: he wants to compete for championships.

Now, before you start thinking this is just another wild NBA rumor, let’s pump the brakes and examine what’s really happening. ESPN’s Shams Charania broke the news that, for the first time in Giannis’s career, he’s open to exploring whether his best fit might be outside Milwaukee. This isn’t about contract leverage or generating offseason buzz—this is serious, game-changing information. Front offices across the league are scrambling to do the math.

The Atlanta Hawks have emerged as betting favorites to land Giannis, with DraftKings Sportsbook listing them at +600 odds if he requests a trade. But this goes beyond gambling odds. The pieces are starting to fit together like a perfectly executed pick and roll between Trae Young and Giannis. Bleacher Report’s Connor Toomey proposed a trade where the Hawks send Jalen Johnson, Zachary Risacher, Kobe Bufkin, four first-round picks, and a pick swap to Milwaukee. That’s a hefty package—essentially mortgaging their future for one player. But not just any player. Giannis averaged 30.4 points, 11.9 rebounds, and 6.5 assists in the 2024–25 season while earning All-NBA First Team honors. This is the kind of move that doesn’t just change a franchise—it potentially creates a dynasty in the heart of the South.

Giannis trade rumors aren’t new—they’ve been brewing for years. They first began during Milwaukee’s playoff struggles from 2018 to 2020, when people wondered whether a small-market team could build a contender around their superstar. Rumors then linked Giannis to big markets like Miami, Golden State, and Dallas. After the Bucks’ shocking first-round loss to Miami in 2023 despite being the No. 1 seed, speculation ramped up again. Giannis publicly said he wouldn’t sign an extension unless the team committed to winning. That’s a bold stance—putting pressure on the front office while leaving money on the table.

The 2024 season brought even more drama. Despite acquiring Damian Lillard, the Bucks finished just 49–33 and suffered another first-round exit—this time to the Indiana Pacers. Giannis was injured, and coaching instability didn’t help—they even fired head coach Adrian Griffin midseason. Anonymous executives began saying that if the situation worsened, Giannis might request a trade, with the Miami Heat and LA Clippers as possible destinations.

ESPN insiders have been closely monitoring the situation. Brian Windhorst noted that teams have been preparing for this moment for a long time. He emphasized that Giannis hasn’t officially requested a trade, but that doesn’t mean one isn’t looming. Windhorst highlighted the Bucks’ limited flexibility: seven free agents, little cap space, and no control over their first-round draft picks for the next five years. Bobby Marks went further, arguing that Milwaukee’s window has closed due to aging players and a lack of tradable assets. With over $130 million tied up in Giannis, Lillard (likely out next season), and Kyle Kuzma, the Bucks have little room to maneuver.

Even Stephen A. Smith chimed in, saying he’s not surprised. The Bucks simply aren’t championship material anymore, and Giannis wants to win. So, what does Giannis himself think? On a livestream with YouTuber IShowSpeed, Giannis said he’s “probably” staying—but that word “probably” does a lot of heavy lifting. It suggests he’s still weighing his options, especially after yet another early playoff exit.

Shams Charania reported that this is the first time Giannis is seriously open to leaving Milwaukee. This isn’t about power plays—it’s about a generational player wondering if his title window is closing. But Giannis is different. He’s been deeply loyal to Milwaukee. He got emotional watching footage of their 2021 championship run and called his teammates “my guys for life.” Still, he’s also been honest about how these recent disappointments impact his legacy. At 30 years old, in his prime, he doesn’t want to waste another year.

Over his 12-year career, Giannis has averaged 23.9 points, 9.9 rebounds, and 5 assists per game across 859 games. In the playoffs, he’s even better—25.3 points, 11.8 rebounds, 5 assists in 84 games. In 2024–25 alone, he averaged 30.4 points, 11.9 rebounds, and 6.5 assists while shooting 60.1% from the field. In the playoffs, he posted an absurd 33.0 points, 15.4 rebounds, and 6.6 assists per game. And still, they lost in the first round. That tells you there are bigger issues in Milwaukee’s roster.

Giannis’s resume speaks for itself: two-time MVP (2019, 2020), Finals MVP (2021), Defensive Player of the Year (2020), and Most Improved Player (2017). He’s the only player in NBA history to average at least 25 points, 10 rebounds, 5 assists, 1 steal, and 1 block in multiple seasons. He’s led the league in scoring, assists, rebounds, steals, and blocks—unprecedented dominance. And he’s done it all with one team. Giannis was drafted 15th overall by Milwaukee in 2013 and signed a three-year, $175 million extension in 2023 that runs through 2027.

That’s why teams like Atlanta are circling. They see a chance to land one of the top five players in the world—a player who could instantly take them from play-in team to title contender. Atlanta’s recent roster moves aren’t random. They’re clearing the decks for something big. Trading Georges Niang to Boston and Clint Capela to Houston wasn’t just about tweaking the lineup—it was about making cap space and flexibility.

The Niang trade brought in Kristaps Porzingis, signaling the Hawks want another All-Star-level player. The Capela deal was part of a record-breaking seven-team trade, which only happens when teams are making major strategic moves. Atlanta also waived Bones Hyland and David Roddy, freeing up even more room. Right now, they have 13 players signed for the 2025–26 season and need at least 14, meaning they’re actively looking to add talent.

This isn’t just about roster space—it’s about ambition. The Hawks reached the Eastern Conference Finals in 2021 but haven’t returned since. They finished 40–42 last season, but there’s a sense they’re one or two pieces away. Pairing Giannis with Trae Young could be a dream. Young is a lethal shooter and elite playmaker who led the NBA in assists in 2024–25 with 11.6 per game. He would create the space and opportunities Giannis thrives on.

Their styles complement each other perfectly: Young stretches the floor, Giannis dominates inside. The pick-and-roll between them would be unstoppable. Young is also under contract for the 2025–26 season, with a player option for 2026–27. He’s eligible for a $229 million extension, and if the Hawks can lock him in, that could help sell Giannis on a long-term plan.

There have been rumors about Young being traded to the Lakers, Magic, or Nets, but nothing concrete. In fact, Young’s active involvement in offseason recruiting shows he’s committed to winning in Atlanta. The Hawks want to build something sustainable. If they can acquire Giannis while keeping Young and Porzingis, they’ll instantly have one of the strongest cores in the East.

The proposed deal of Johnson, Risacher, Buffkin, and four first-round picks gives Milwaukee a solid rebuilding package—young talent and draft capital. With the Bucks lacking control of their picks for the next five years, this could be the best way to reboot.

In short, Atlanta is built for this moment. They have the players, the picks, the cap space, and the ambition. If they pull it off, they’ll instantly be contenders. And with Boston facing injuries, Philly and Miami retooling, and the Knicks in flux, a Giannis-Trae partnership could dominate the East for years.

This isn’t just a potential trade—it’s a move that could reshape the league.