There's never a dull moment in the NBA rumor mill.
With the NBA Finals finally underway, the off-season draws closer for the league's 30 teams, 28 of which are already deep in their plans on potential trades, signings, and the upcoming draft, next month.
The disgruntled Giannis Antetokounmpo is undoubtedly the biggest name on the market (that we know of, hello last season's Luka Doncic trade), and with that, teams are scrambling to find packages to send to the Milwaukee Bucks in hopes of securing the services of the perennial All-NBA forward.
In the potentially league-changing deal proposed by Bleacher Report's Eric Pincus, two-time NBA MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo lands in Toronto while the Bucks setup their future with emerging young stars and picks galore -- the Lakers and Bulls also land in the proposal, both acquiring intriguing pieces without giving up any important future assets.
Toronto Raptors Receive
- Giannis Antetokounmpo
- Jevon Carter
- Jalen Smith
Milwaukee Bucks Receive
- R.J. Barrett
- Gradey Dick
- Chris Boucher
- Ja'Kobe Walter
- Gabe Vincent
- 2025 First-Round Pick (#9 overall)
- 2026 First-Round Pick (swap)
- 2027 First-Round Pick (unprotected)
- 2028 First-Round Pick (swap)
- 2029 First-Round Pick (unprotected)
- 2030 First-Round Pick (swap)
- 2031 First-Round Pick (unprotected)
- 2032 First-Round Pick (top-five protected)
- 2026 Second-Round Pick (via Los Angeles)
Los Angeles Lakers Receive
- Lonzo Ball
- Jakob Poeltl
Chicago Bulls Receive
- Dalton Knecht
- Jarred Vanderbilt
- Shake Milton
- AJ Lawson
- $10 million trade exception
- $9 million trade exception
- $1.5 million trade exception
It's not hard to understand why the Raptors would do the deal. Giving up only Barrett, Dick, and Poeltl off the roster while parting ways with first-round picks that would likely be late in the round should Giannis remain his perennial MVP-level self in addition to Scottie Barnes, Brandon Ingram, and Immanuel Quickley.
For the Bucks, they'd be picking twice in the first-round for the next eight seasons while also snagging your new on-ball star in Barrett coupled with surging star, Gradey Dick. If Damian Lillard is able to return late in the season after recovering from his torn Achilles, the Bucks could find themselves knocking on the door of the playoffs...and if it doesn't work with Lillard and Barrett...the future still remains pretty bright with Dick, a bunch of money, and two first-round picks for nearly a decade-straight.
The Lakers would be thrilled to fill their biggest need by acquiring Poeltl to give them a true starting-caliber center while also being able to dump the contracts of Gabe Vincent and Jarred Vanderbilt in the process. Dalton Knecht is a nice piece, but it's a small price to pay for bringing in Poeltl and also tossing aside some not-so-great contracts.
Also, welcome back Lonzo Ball, who's a massive upgrade over Vincent in the backup point guard role, and if he can remain healthy and show his improved shot is here to stay, he can very much play alongside Doncic and Austin Reaves if J.J. Reddick wants to play small-ball.
Lastly, the Bulls may be the happiest of the bunch if this deal came to fruition. Sending out Jevon Carter and Jalen Smith while bringing back a bunch of expiring deals, some valuable trade exceptions, and snagging a solid, young, role player in Knecht? Sign them up.