Which NBA Team Is The Best Fit For Giannis Antetokounmpo?

The greatness of Giannis Antetokounmpo has somehow gotten lost since his back-to-back MVP seasons.

From a statistical standpoint, Antetokounmpo has improved in terms of per game scoring, turnovers and three-point percentage.

Over the last four seasons, Giannis has averaged 30.4 points, 11.7 rebounds, 6.1 assists, and over a block and steal per game. He has received All-NBA First Team honors, MVP, and Defensive Player of the Year finalist nods, all while playing a reliable 68 games per season.

Despite his personal standard of excellence, the Bucks have not been able to capitalize on the prime years of the Greek Freak since winning their sole championship in 2021.

Since hoisting the Larry O’Brien Trophy, the Bucks have only won one playoff series.

Roster adjustments have been made, most notably the acquisition of Damian Lillard and the departure of Jrue Holiday.

Despite the lack of team success, Antetokounmpo has shown loyalty to Milwaukee, signing a 5-year, $228 million contract in 2021, followed by a 3-year extension to that deal in 2023. This extension keeps Giannis under contract until 2027, where he will have a player-option.

With Lillard likely missing most if not all of the 2025-26 season due his torn achilles suffered in Game Four of this series, the outlook for the Bucks does not currently seem promising.

So, if Giannis does request a change of scenery for the first time in his career, what new team would be the best fit for both parties?

If there is one trend of note from the 2025 NBA Playoffs, it is the number of young rosters gaining playoff experience earlier than anticipated.

With several teams currently constructed from strong draft classes and internal player development, thus keeping their top players under team-friendly contracts, it becomes possible to bid on a player like Antetokounmpo.

For the Houston Rockets, Chicago Bulls, and Detroit Pistons, the fit would make sense from financial and basketball perspectives.

Houston Rockets

The Rockets completed an efficient rebuild since 2020, as they managed to overcome the loss of James Harden by capitalizing on the return from the trade with the Brooklyn Nets.

Now, Houston entered the playoffs with the second-best record in the Western Conference with Jalen Green, Amen Thompson and

all leading their team at just 22-years-old.

While the Rockets would like to win the NBA Championship this year, the expectations were never to win it all in their first trip to the postseason in this new window.

However, as they are on the brink of elimination after an overall even matchup with the Golden State Warriors, they have learned that adjustments are required to become a championship contender.

Although a small sample size, the Rockets have experienced inconsistent offense from their top options. Entering game five of the series, Jalen Green is averaging just 15.5 points per game on a .475 effective field goal percentage. Amen Thompson is only averaging 11.8 points per game in the postseason compared to 14.1 in the regular year, and Jabari Smith Jr has decreased from 12.2 to 8.5 a night.

Alperen Sengun has elevated his play against the Warriors, averaging 22.3 points and 11.5 rebounds per game, and all signs point to his game translating the best to the postseason.

However, the bright future of the 2021 First Round pick should not get in the way of a potential trade for Antetokounmpo.

In fact, the return of Sengun in a potential trade would significantly lighten the amount of draft picks required to trade for Giannis, and would help make the financial hit received by Houston easier to swallow in terms of cap space.

Sengun’s contract is set to jump from $5.4 million this year to $33.9 million next year, thus leaving a $20.2 million jump in payroll.

A third team or retained money from Milwaukee would likely be required to get this deal finalized, however the package of Sengun and three first-round picks may at least begin the conversation between the two teams.

Chicago Bulls

While a trade of this magnitude would be unprecedented for the Chicago Bulls in recent history, it could be the exact move required to escape their NBA Play-In tournament cycle.

After Chicago officially ended the Zach LaVine era this past trade deadline, one of the biggest basketball markets is seeking for their next face of the franchise.

Coby White took the largest leap after losing LaVine, averaging 22.9 points per game on 38% shooting since the trade deadline. Josh Giddey has become a stat-stuffer in his first year with the Bulls, averaging 14.6 points, 8.1 rebounds and 7.2 assists per game for the year, and Nikola Vucevic could play a similar role to Brook Lopez if Giannis were to join the team.

The trade would also make sense financially, as Vucevic and Giddey are the only players earning higher than $20 million AAV in 2025.

The Bucks would likely require twice the draft pick compensation as they would ask from the Rockets, alongside the addition of some young talent like Patrick Williams and Kevin Huerter.

This would challenge the depth of the Bulls. However, with the proven role players around him, the Bulls could provide as similar of a roster as Giannis had around him in his championship season.

Detroit Pistons

If the Detroit Pistons received a call from Bucks General Manager Jon Horst, they would need to consider a critical question: Do they prioritize sustained success, or do they want to potentially become NBA title favorites for the next three years?

The Pistons have the brightest future of any team in the NBA.

Cade Cunningham has become one the games newest stars at just 23-years-old, they have three players 22-years or younger who averaged over 10 points a game this season, and they have one of the best cap situations until some decisions need to be made in 2027.

If Pistons President of Basketball Operations Trajan Langdon hung up the phone on a potential Giannis trade to keep their eyes set on the long-term goal, it would be completely understandable.

If the Bucks were willing to do the deal without requiring Jaden Ivey, Jalen Duren, and Ausar Thompson needing to be involved however, it could elevate the Pistons to the top of the East in just one offseason, without the Pistons needing to be “all-in” on their current window.

From the Bucks’ perspective, it would be difficult to deal with the Pistons and not receive one of their young starters. However, if Milwaukee believes they need a full cleanout of the roster, and would prefer several first-round picks in the late 2020’s, it could be a move to shake the entire Eastern Conference.

Unless the Bucks and Giannis rule out a trade entirely, it is going to be a busy offseason for both parties. Whether the team is already championship-caliber or a bottom-five franchise, they will inquire about the star.