The 2025-26 NBA season is coming to a close, but the offseason waits for nobody. Once again, Giannis Antetokounmpo’s name will dominate offseason trade rumors. ESPN’s Brian Windhorst, always brimming with information and rumors, had the latest on potential Antetokounmpo destinations.

Let’s explore the possibility of a Cavaliers-Bucks trade involving Antetokounmpo, break down potential salary matches, and discuss how he fits on the court.

Next Team Odds

First things first, let’s see how the latest news has affected the odds on Antetokounmpo’s next team.

Miami, always on the hunt for the next star under Pat Riley, has the shortest odds. They have the picks, salary, and motivation to get it done. Milwaukee is second, as our oddsmakers like the chances of nothing changing. Brooklyn comes in third, with rumors circulating they may want to shorten the rebuild timeline. The Cavs have jumped up to fourth on the back of the latest rumors, closely followed by the Boston Celtics and the Oklahoma City Thunder. Those are some scary thoughts. Then we get into the long shots like Portland, Golden State, New York, and so on.

Cleveland, fourth in odds, has an interesting path to acquiring Antetokounmpo. Let’s look at the potential trade packages.

Potential Trade Packages

Next season, Antetokounmpo is on the books for just north of $58 million. Currently, the Cavaliers are projected to be over the second apron. The latest reporting is that James Harden wants to come back at a reduced salary, which would presumably get them under the second apron, which makes the trade a bit easier to process.

Still, Cleveland needs to add a fair bit of salary into the deal, and the natural starting point is Evan Mobley. The 25-year-old former DPOY is heading into the second year of a five-year, $269 million extension, and will make a bit more than $50 million this upcoming year. Mobley alone could be the foundation of the deal if they cut enough salary, or they could add in one of Sam Merrill ($9.1 million), Dennis Schröder ($14.8 million), or Max Strus ($16.7 million).

Mobley is young, under control for four more years, and is the kind of foundational piece few other teams could offer in a potential Antetokounmpo trade. Merrill, Schröder, and Strus are all solid pieces who could help Milwaukee in the short term or be rerouted for more assets. Presumably, the Bucks would ask for picks, but Mobley gets them awfully close to a deal by himself.

There is another route, however. Jarrett Allen begins a three-year, $90 million extension this season, with the first year coming in at $28 million. Allen, Strus, and Schröder get them just above Antetokounmpo’s $58 million salary, making it a viable trade. It may take more picks, or the addition of young players like Jaylon Tyson, to get a deal over the line. But it’s another viable option if the Cavs want to acquire Antetokounmpo and pair him with Mobley in the frontcourt.

Evaluating Potential Deals

This is where things get complicated for both teams. The Cavs just made it to the Eastern Conference Finals, a significant milestone considering their struggles during the Donovan Mitchell era. But they also finished with a playoff record below .500 after being swept by the Knicks. Should Cleveland take the all-in approach in the first place? And if they do, is it better to trade Mobley, the youngest of their four core pieces? Or do they trade Allen, forcing them to add more picks/players, and hedge their bets by keeping Mobley?

Personally, I am a bigger fan of the Mobley-Antetokounmpo fit than the Allen-Antetokounmpo fit. Mobley’s ability to shoot, handle the ball higher up the floor, and ratchet up their defensive versatility makes it a very appealing pairing. Allen, more of a traditional center, makes it easier for teams to load up help on Antetokounmpo’s drives, and doesn’t help Antetokounmpo as much defensively.

It can go either way for Milwaukee. Mobley gives you a young piece to build on in the post-Antetokounmpo era, the kind you’re not going to get from other suitors. With no significant contracts on the books, Milwaukee won’t mind if he’s slightly overpaid on his current deal. Allen and other pieces would come with a greater haul of draft picks, and they can increase their return by moving Allen to a third team. It’s a choice between a completely blank slate and lots of draft assets, or Mobley and a mostly blank slate. Not a bad start for a rebuild.

We are sure to get more updates on Giannis Antetokounmpo’s trade feelings throughout this offseason. Stay tuned.