Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) jumps to pass past Dallas Mavericks guard Brandon Williams (center) during the second half of an NBA basketball game, on Monday, Nov. 10, 2025, at American Airlines Center in Dallas.
Shafkat Anowar/Staff Photographer
All eyes are currently on the NBA Finals clash between the San Antonio Spurs and New York Knicks, but there’s also plenty of focus on what the future holds for Giannis Antetokounmpo.
The two-time MVP could be nearing the end of a 13-year tenure with the Milwaukee Bucks, who could opt to trade the face of the franchise in the coming weeks. Last month, Bucks co-owner Jimmy Haslam said he would like to have Antetokounmpo’s future decided before the NBA draft begins June 23, whether that’s signing him to a max contract to remain in Milwaukee or finding him a new team.
The latter outcome is widely expected, given the Bucks’ turbulent season that resulted in their first playoff absence since 2016.
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Adding a future Hall of Famer in Antetokounmpo could result in seismic shift in power for the team with the best package to offer the Bucks. Several reports suggest Miami as his desired destination, with Boston as another potential landing place.
Antetokounmpo was once linked to the Mavericks, centered around the idea of pairing the 10-time All-Star with Luka Doncic and reuniting him with former Dallas head coach Jason Kidd. Those factors no longer exist, as Doncic is a Los Angeles Laker and Kidd is no longer coach of the Mavericks after he and the franchise parted ways last month.
Related: Dallas Mavericks and Jason Kidd mutually agree to part ways
Could Dallas still emerge as a potential trade partner to acquire Antetokounmpo?
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Mavericks fans have grown to understand that anything is possible, especially when it comes to trades in the NBA. But a trade for the 31-year-old Antetokounmpo wouldn’t align with Masai Ujiri’s comments from last month’s news conference to address Kidd’s departure.
The Mavericks team president was asked about the team’s lack of future first-round draft picks and how that might influence building around Cooper Flagg.
“Every decision we are going to make here is going to be future-based. We are looking at the future,” Ujiri said. “We have a 19-year-old on this team that can take us somewhere great. We have to think that way.”
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On the surface, that statement could mean a few different things. One, the rebuild of a roster constructed around Flagg will be the priority of every decision made by Ujiri and Mavericks general manager Mike Schmitz. Two, the Mavericks won’t try to expedite their timeline by acquiring a superstar in a desperate attempt to win now, especially one that hinders the development of Flagg. Both players play similar positions although Antetokounmpo is a more idealized version of the point-forward role thrust upon Flagg in his rookie season. Those factors, along with Antetokounmpo’s massive salary, could rule out a trade of that magnitude.
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However, Ujiri is one of the most respected executives in the NBA and has a pre-existing relationship with Antetokounmpo, the superstar he tried to trade into the 2013 NBA draft for. If there is a way to lure Antetokounmpo to Dallas, the path starts there.
Related: Mavs president Masai Ujiri’s full draft history: What types of player does he target?
Trades involving superstars of Antetokounmpo’s caliber usually yield packages that include star players or established young talent combined with multiple draft picks. The Mavericks aren’t equipped with the best package to offer the Bucks, especially in the draft compensation department, but there is a way to acquire Antetokounmpo.
A hypothetical trade scenario would likely break up the Mavericks’ core since they would have to match Antetokounmpo’s $54.1 million salary. Dallas could reach that salary figure by trading Kyrie Irving ($36.5 million) and Klay Thompson ($16.6 million) to Milwaukee. Dallas would also likely have to relinquish its No. 9 pick — and perhaps pick No. 30 — from this year’s draft to the Bucks, who currently own the 10th pick.
However, Ujiri and Schmitz have said on multiple occasions that they’d like to see Irving play alongside Flagg this season. If that remains the case and Irving’s feelings are mutual, then the Mavericks would have to try a different trade scenario — one that keeps Irving in Dallas.
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This one is far more difficult because Irving has the highest salary on the roster and the Mavericks would be required to send more players to Milwaukee. This trade would require at least four of the five of the following players: Thompson, Daniel Gafford ($14.3 million), P.J. Washington ($14.1 million), Naji Marshall ($9 million) and Caleb Martin ($9.5 million).
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After the final game of the regular season, Thompson admitted that he is “not sure” if he will be back in Dallas next season. He, alongside Gafford, Washington, Marshall and Martin, were each acquired and signed under former general manager Nico Harrison. It’s possible Ujiri may evaluate whether they align in a long-term rebuild around Flagg.
The team that acquires Antetokounmpo will receive one of the best players in the NBA, one who averaged 27.6 points, 9.8 rebounds and 5.4 assists in 36 games last season.
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Ujiri and Schmitz have plenty of lofty decisions to make over the next few weeks as the draft, free agency and trade season loom.
The Bucks desire to have a resolution for Antetokounmpo’s future long before then, which means the long-anticipated sweepstakes for the Greek Freak could be reaching a dramatic conclusion soon.