Milwaukee Bucks 2025 Trade Tiers From Untouchables To Moveable

The Milwaukee Bucks will need to get creative this offseason if they want to build a true contender around Giannis Antetokounmpo. That means every option should be on the table, and nothing should be off-limits in the quest to reopen their championship window.

General Manager Jon Horst is surely scanning the NBA landscape for a deal that could move the needle. To help map out the Bucks’ chessboard, let’s break down their tradeable assets and where they stand heading into a pivotal summer.

Note: This ranking focuses only on players or assets under team control. That means no Brook Lopez, Bobby Portis, Ryan Rollins, Gary Trent Jr., Taurean Prince, or Jericho Sims, since they’re not currently under contract.

Untouchables

Giannis Antetokounmpo, Damian Lillard

Antetokounmpo and Lillard fall into this category for very different reasons.

With Giannis, it’s simple: You don’t trade a two-time MVP who’s still in his prime. Despite the endless noise about whether he could or should want out, the Bucks would never get fair value. If Rudy Gobert fetched five firsts and a swap, Mikal Bridges got five firsts and a swap, and Desmond Bane drew a deal of four firsts and a swap, imagine what it would take for Giannis—and even that wouldn’t be enough.

It’s far smarter to retool around Giannis than to blow it all up and hope another generational talent falls in their lap in the next few decades.

Unfortunately Lillard’s injury looms large. No team is lining up to trade for a 35-year-old, undersized guard coming off an Achilles tear with $54 million owed next year. He’s staying put by default.

If the Price is Right

Milwaukee’s 2031 First-Round Pick, Milwaukee’s 2032 First-Round Pick

The Bucks can trade their 2031 first-rounder at any time, while the 2032 pick won’t be in play until after the 2025 draft. They should be cautious with these future picks—Giannis will be deep into his 30s by then, and trading those chips could leave the cupboard bare just as the window closes.

Would Have to Blow Me Away

AJ Green

Green’s on a bargain deal at $2.3 million next season and looks poised for a breakout. His shooting, fit, and potential make him a valuable piece. He’s not untouchable, but it would take an eye-popping offer for Milwaukee to part ways.

Deal Sweeteners

First-round swap rights in 2026, 2028, 2030, 47th overall pick in 2025 NBA Draft, 2026 second-round pick, Andre Jackson Jr., 2031 second-round pick, 2032 second-round pick, Tyler Smith

These are the pieces Milwaukee could throw in to tip the scales in a bigger deal. The swap rights, in particular, offer flexibility without surrendering outright picks—think of them as tools to grease the wheels without giving away the farm.

As BrewHoop cap analyst Van Fayaz noted, swaps would work similarly to when Milwaukee included Khris Middleton in a theoretical swap for Kyle Kuzma: the acquiring team can swap Milwaukee’s pick with the better of what remains after their obligations to New Orleans or Portland are met.

Please Take Them Off My Hands

Kyle Kuzma, Pat Connaughton, Chris Livingston

The Bucks would love nothing more than to hit the eject button on Kuzma’s contract or shed the final year of Connaughton’s $9.4 million deal (he’s reportedly picked up his player option for 2025-26). Unfortunately, Milwaukee doesn’t have spare assets to package as sweeteners.

Livingston’s $2.2 million salary is non-guaranteed, and with a July 15 decision deadline looming, the Bucks shouldn’t hesitate to move on if they need flexibility.