Potential playoff contenders for Giannis Antetokounmpo? Why the Bucks could be the big winners of the postseason

The Milwaukee Bucks never intended to trade Giannis Antetokounmpo at the NBA trade deadline in February, if only because many of his suitors could have sweetened their offers with more draft picks in the offseason.

Not only that, but the playoffs have a way of exposing teams for what they are, revealing the emperor’s robes, showing exactly how far away they really are from competing with a team like the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder.

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We haven’t even gotten past the first round of the playoffs and already there is significant development. Some surprising teams can now convince themselves that they are one Antetokounmpo away from title contention. Likewise, some suitors who thought they didn’t need Antetokounmpo now need a serious roster shakeup.

Let’s take a look at some of the potential playoff contenders.

First round: The Trail Blazers lost to the San Antonio Spurs 4-1

According to Bill Oram of The Oregonian, the Blazers “are ready to make an offer” for Antetokounmpo’s services if he is willing to sign a long-term extension in Portland.

They have a trump card that no other team can offer the Bucks: their own draft picks. Since trading Damian Lillard to Milwaukee in September 2023, Portland has held the rights to the Bucks’ 2029 first-round selection in addition to trades in 2028 and 2030.

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Of course, the Blazers also re-signed Lillard, who is expected to return from a ruptured Achilles tendon at age 36 next season, and his fit with Antetokounmpo has already proven awkward in Milwaukee. Likewise, Deni Avdija has led the league in drives this year, and his downhill game will come with some redundancy alongside Antetokounmpo.

First round: Hawks trail New York Knicks 3-2 (Game 6 Thursday, 7 p.m. ET)

Rich Paul, Jalen Johnson’s agent from Atlanta, actually proposed a Johnson-for-Antetokounmpo trade on his podcast in January, though it never came to fruition.

“If it’s the Bucks, I’m looking for a young player, with high character, high talent and high IQ,” Johnson’s agent said. “I’m calling Atlanta. I want Jalen Johnson. He’s from Milwaukee.”

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Additionally, the Hawks have a first-round pick in June’s draft against the New Orleans Pelicans. That selection has a 29.3% chance of landing in the top 4 and a 6.8% chance of landing at No. 1 overall. He could definitely become Milwaukee’s best asset. And few teams have a better roster structure to deploy around Antetokounmpo.

First round: Timberwolves lead Denver Nuggets 3-2 (Game 6 Thursday, 9:30 p.m. ET)

According to Jon Krawczynski of The Athletic, there was mutual interest between the Timberwolves and Antetokounmpo in getting a deal done during the regular season. Antetokounmpo was reportedly interested in being paired with Anthony Edwards, and Minnesota was actively pursuing complicated multi-team deals to make one happen.

The Wolves may be convinced, if healthy, that they can still compete in the Western Conference as it is, since they played so well against the Nuggets. If they were to drop out of the first-round series, without Edwards and Donte DiVincenzo, it’s hard to imagine them becoming less interested in Antetokounmpo’s services.

First round: Rockets trail Los Angeles Lakers 3-2 (Game 6 Friday, 9:30 p.m. ET)

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Before trading for Kevin Durant last offseason, the Rockets were considered among the favorites to land Antetokounmpo if the Bucks ever made him available, given Houston’s pipeline of talented young players and draft picks. They could easily build an attractive package for Milwaukee around Alperen Şengün or Amen Thompson.

Except, earlier in the season, the Rockets reportedly weren’t on Antetokounmpo, preferring instead to see how far their young core could take them. Well, it looks like the existing core won’t get them anywhere near contention, as they trail the Los Angeles Lakers, leaving everything on the table, including the pursuit of Antetokounmpo.

First round: Cavaliers lead Toronto Raptors 3-2 (Game 6 Friday, 7:30 p.m. ET)

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The Cavaliers checked on Antetokounmpo’s availability early in the season, according to ESPN’s Brian Windhorst, though the structure of any potential deal was largely speculative. It made sense. The Cavs, who won 64 games last season, had taken a step back, necessitating some sort of retooling of their top four stars.

So, Cleveland instead traded 26-year-old All-Star guard Darius Garland for 36-year-old future Hall of Famer James Harden, fully committing to a championship bid. Except now the Cavs risk losing in the first round. Such a loss would almost certainly lead them to consider trading away more of their core, including Evan Mobley.

Toronto Raptor

First round: Raptors trail Cavaliers 3-2 (Game 6 Friday, 7:30 p.m. ET)

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The Raptors, who have plenty of good players but no great ones, are always looking for a superstar. Look at what they accomplished in one season with Kawhi Leonard.

Meanwhile, Collin Murray-Boyles has emerged as a real asset in these playoffs, potentially sweetening any offer Toronto might make to Milwaukee. Combine that with matching salaries and a collection of draft assets, and suddenly the Raptors find themselves in a conversation for Antetokounmpo that we didn’t think possible at the start of the season.

First round: Magic lead Detroit Pistons 3-2 (Game 6 Friday, 7 p.m. ET)

The Magic were a mess two weeks ago. A talented starting lineup of Paolo Banchero, Franz Wagner, Desmond Bane, Jalen Suggs and Wendell Carter Jr. underperformed expectations and it looked like they would fire their head coach, Jamahl Mosley.

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Now, they could become the No. 7 seed. 8 in NBA history to upset a No. 1 seed. 1 in the opening round of the playoffs, while on Friday they lead 3-2 against the Detroit Pistons at home in Orlando. But no one considers them contenders.

Could they still convince themselves, with a new coach and the collective improvement of their relatively young core, that they can compete next season? Or, more likely, are they considering a switch from, say, Banchero to Antetokounmpo?

First round: 76ers trail Boston Celtics 3-2 (Game 6 Thursday, 8 p.m. ET)

It’s unclear how the Sixers would make a deal for Antetokounmpo that didn’t include rookie VJ Edgecombe. He should be the future of the franchise, along with Tyrese Maxey, as they are one of the most talented backcourts in the league.

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But Philadelphia executive Daryl Morey is as creative — and perhaps desperate — as it gets, and if he envisions a better future with Antetokounmpo at the helm, there’s no telling what he might do to make it happen, including dealing with Edgecombe.