Latest On Giannis Antetokounmpo
The Bucks are seeking clarity regarding what several teams are willing to offer for Giannis Antetokounmpo before reaching a final decision on a trade, league and team sources tell Sam Amick and Eric Nehm of The Athletic.
The Celtics, Timberwolves and Magic are among the teams involved in negotiations, according to the authors’ sources. The Trail Blazers have also expressed interest in acquiring Antetokounmpo, but Milwaukee seems to prefer using Portland as a third team to help facilitate a deal and reclaiming some of the draft picks it sent away in the 2023 Damian Lillard trade.
The Heat, who made an aggressive pitch for Antetokounmpo prior to the trade deadline, are still viewed as the frontrunners across the league, according to Amick and Nehm. Many sources expected a deal with Miami to be completed in February before the Bucks pulled out, and the current package is expected to include Tyler Herro, Kel’el Ware, Jaime Jaquez Jr., either Pelle Larsson or Kasparas Jakucionis and draft assets that could involve up to three first-round picks. The authors note that Herro unfollowed the Heat on Instagram this week, creating speculation that a deal was about to get done.
Sources who spoke to Amick and Nehm cited “a sense of distrust” from some teams lingering from the way Milwaukee conducted trade discussions leading up to the deadline. It was the first time that general manager Jon Horst actually welcomed league-wide offers for Antetokounmpo, and the team seemed willing to make a deal. However, skepticism mounted about the Bucks’ “level of sincerity” as the deadline drew close, and the two-time MVP ultimately wasn’t moved.
Amick and Nehm cite the Celtics as posing “a serious threat” to Miami’s pursuit of Antetokounmpo, as league sources tell them that he would be willing to commit to a four-year, $275MM extension with Boston. Jaylen Brown would likely be headed out in that scenario, with the Bucks expected to flip him elsewhere in exchange for younger players and draft picks if it winds up being a two-team deal.
Amick and Nehm describe the Wolves as “an emerging option” for Antetokounmpo. It’s been repeatedly stated that he prefers to stay in the Eastern Conference, but league sources tell the authors that the Bucks are interested in what Minnesota could offer. They hear that Milwaukee would want Jaden McDaniels, Naz Reid, Terrence Shannon Jr. and the team’s two tradable first-round picks (No. 29 this year and their 2033 selection). However, the Wolves consider McDaniels off limits, according to Amick and Nehm, along with young center Joan Beringer. It’s also not certain, they add, that Antetokounmpo would sign an extension with Minnesota.
Sources tell Amick and Nehm that some teams are asking the Bucks to present them with offers that they would consider acceptable, rather than going back and forth with proposals. The hope is not only to get clarity from Milwaukee’s side, but to minimize the number of players whose names get leaked to the media. Bucks co-owner Jimmy Haslam indicated last month that the team hopes to resolve Antetokounmpo’s future by the start of the draft, so that leaves 11 more days for the machinations of a deal to play out.
Giannis Rumors: Heat, Blazers, Celtics, Wolves, Warriors, More
Even though the Heat and Trail Blazers are the only two teams that Jake Fischer of The Stein Line has been able to confirm are in active pursuit of Giannis Antetokounmpo, that doesn’t mean they’re the only two clubs still interested in acquiring the Bucks star, as Fischer writes in his latest subscriber-only story at Substack.
According to Fischer, there have “undeniably been rumbles” about the Celtics‘ potential involvement. While his sources say Boston has yet to seriously engage Milwaukee in trade talks about Antetokounmpo and also hasn’t meaningfully explored sending out Jaylen Brown in a trade, those same sources can’t rule out either scenario as a possibility, Fischer explains.
Antetokounmpo shares a skills coach (Drew Hanlen) with Celtics star Jayson Tatum and has been repeatedly said to have an affinity for Boston as a potential landing spot. Additionally, Brown is a far more accomplished player than anyone in the Heat’s offer, which is why the Celtics are considered a potential Giannis suitor that “genuinely concerns” Miami, Fischer writes.
In fact, the Heat may be more wary of the Celtics’ involvement than the Trail Blazers’ pursuit of Antetokounmpo, given that questions about whether Giannis would sign an extension with the Blazers may dissuade Portland from going all-in for the two-time MVP, Fischer notes.
Here are a few more of the latest rumblings on Antetokounmpo:
- The Timberwolves and Warriors were among the teams pursuing Giannis at February’s trade deadline, but sources tell Fischer that neither Minnesota nor Golden State seems to be a major factor in the Bucks’ recent trade discussions.
- Fischer also hears that there haven’t been any “significant” recent talks between the Bucks and Magic about Antetokounmpo. There was some speculation that Orlando could become a more serious suitor after a disappointing season that culminated in a first-round loss, especially given the team’s connections to Giannis — Magic executives Jeff Weltman and John Hammond were in Milwaukee’s front office when the team drafted the Greek forward, and new head coach Sean Sweeney spent four years with Antetokounmpo as a Bucks assistant coach.
- While the Rockets were once viewed as a potential Antetokounmpo suitor, they hadn’t pursued a deal for Giannis as of a few days ago, a source tells Barry Jackson of The Miami Herald.
- One scout told Jackson he thinks the market for Antetokounmpo has been smaller than anticipated. Jackson speculates that the changing value of first-round picks due to the NBA’s draft lottery reform may have made some clubs more reluctant to give up those first-rounders.
- There’s no indication at this point that the Heat would trade center Kel’el Ware on his own or that the Bucks would flip him to another team if he were included in a package for Giannis, but a source who spoke to Jackson suggested that, based on the level of league-wide interest, either team would “very likely” be willing to net a first-round pick for Ware.
Draft Notes: Bulls, Cenac, Spurs, Mavericks, Hall
Houston big man Chris Cenac worked out for the Bulls on Monday, a source tells Joel Lorenzi of The Athletic (Twitter link). The 6’11” big man, who spent his freshman season with the Cougars before declaring for the 2026 draft as an early entrant, is ranked 21st on ESPN’s big board.
Donovan Atwell (Texas Tech), Tobe Awaka (Arizona), Josh Dix (Creighton), Nate Johnson (Kansas State) and Xaivian Lee (Florida) also participated in Monday’s workout with the Bulls, Lorenzi reports. Awaka (No. 49) is considered a potential second-round pick, while the other four players are projected to go undrafted.
Chicago controls the fourth, 15th, 38th and 56th picks.
Here are few more notes on June’s draft:
- The Spurs (20th, 35th, 42nd, 44th) also control four draft picks. Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints hears Cenac is a “real possibility” for San Antonio at No. 20, assuming he’s still available (Twitter link).
- The Mavericks conducted a pre-draft workout on Monday featuring Sam Alexis (Indiana), DJ Armstrong (UMBC), Quincy Ballard (Mississippi State), Kylan Boswell (Illinois), David Dixon (Duquesne) and Mark Mitchell (Missouri), reports Mike Curtis of The Dallas Morning News (via Twitter). Dallas currently has two first-round picks (ninth and 30th) and one second-rounder (48th). Boswell (55th on ESPN’s board) is considered the most likely player to be selected later this month.
- Former Virginia point guard Dallin Hall worked out for the Wizards last week and had a workout with the Magic on Sunday, agent Jake Cohen tells Jason Beede of The Orlando Sentinel (Twitter link). Hall, a senior this past season, spent three years at BYU prior to transferring to Virginia.
Wes Unseld Jr. To Be Finalist For Bulls’ Head Coaching Job?
The Bulls are casting in a wide net in their search for a new head coach, reportedly talking to at least a dozen names about the position. One of those candidates is no longer available after Spurs top assistant Sean Sweeney was hired to be the Magic‘s new top coach.
League sources tell Jake Fischer and Marc Stein Line (Substack link) that Sweeney ranked highly on Chicago’s initial list of candidates, and Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints has heard similarly (Twitter link).
Chicago is expected to have a list of finalists for the job by “early next week at the latest,” according to Fischer and Stein, who report that current assistant coach Wes Unseld Jr. is on track to be part of that group.
Unseld, 50, has been the Bulls’ top assistant for the past two seasons under Billy Donovan, who decided to part ways with the organization about a week after the 2025/26 season ended. Unseld was previously the Wizards’ head coach for two-and-a-half seasons and was an assistant for 16 years before that.
In addition to Unseld, Siegel states that Chris Quinn (Heat) and Micah Nori (Timberwolves) are still candidates for Chicago’s head coaching job. Fischer and Stein also mentioned Nori — a finalist in Portland’s search — in connection to the Bulls’ opening.
The Bulls’ search is being led by new head of basketball operations Bryson Graham, but former top executive John Paxson, who is now a senior advisor, has also been part of the interview process, per Fischer and Stein.
Latest On Giannis Antetokounmpo
Discussing the Giannis Antetokounmpo trade market during the latest episode of the Milwaukee Bucks Point Forward podcast, Bucks beat writer Jim Owczarski of The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel suggested that the lack of concrete updates recently may, paradoxically, suggest that talks are getting more serious.
“I’m not reporting anything, but the quiet is eerie,” Owczarski said (Twitter audio link). “And what I mean by that is that means something’s happening. And that’s just being on the beat for six years. That’s how (Bucks general manager) Jon Horst operates. Jrue Holiday appeared out of thin air. Damian Lillard appeared out of thin air. Trading Giannis Antetokounmpo is not something that is going to be leaked and sort of bread-crumbed out in public. That’s just not how this is going.
“I think the lack of news…and the quiet on a story that’s been pursued nationally for so many years indicates that all of the parties involved have gone omertà. The code of silence. You generally don’t do that unless you’re trying to get something done.”
Bucks co-owner Jimmy Haslam stated about four weeks ago that the team hopes to have resolution one way or the other on the Antetokounmpo saga by the draft, and there’s no indication that timeline has changed. As Owczarski notes, if Milwaukee does trade the star forward, the team would like to be able to add at least one pick in a loaded 2026 draft.
Of course, Haslam didn’t say that a trade must happen by the draft — it’s also possible that Antetokounmpo could make a long-term commitment to the Bucks and tell the front office he plans to sign a new contract when he becomes extension-eligible in October. However, Owczarski says he’s not sure how much the team has explored the possibility of trying to acquire another star player to pair with Giannis.
Here are a few more Giannis-related items of interest:
- Later in the Point Forward podcast, Owczarski discussed what a package from the Heat for Antetokounmpo might look like and speculated about what the Magic would have to offer to get Milwaukee’s attention (video link via The Journal Sentinel).
- The Heat‘s interest in acquiring Antetokounmpo remains just as strong as it was before February’s trade deadline, league sources tell Barry Jackson of The Miami Herald, who says Bam Adebayo is the only Miami player “off limits” in the team’s trade talks with the Bucks. The Heat already have a good idea of which of their players Milwaukee likes, Jackson writes, noting that it’s “doubtful” Miami would draw the line on any specific role player. Jackson says that any trade is more likely to happen sometime after the NBA Finals end, in case more suitors emerge in the coming weeks, and adds that the Heat aren’t concerned about the offensive fit of a potential Adebayo/Antetokounmpo pairing.
- While the Celtics loom as a potential wild card in the Giannis sweepstakes, Jay King of The Athletic considers whether taking that sort of swing would be in Boston’s best interest, pointing out that president of basketball operations Brad Stevens could aggressively reshape his roster this summer without targeting Antetokounmpo.
- Eric Pincus of Bleacher Report, who has been putting together several hypothetical trade packages for Antetokounmpo in recent weeks, ranks those hypothetical returns for the Bucks, suggesting that the Cavaliers would be well positioned to win the bidding if they change their stance on Evan Mobley and become more willing to discuss the big man with the Bucks.
Heat Remain At Forefront Of Giannis Antetokounmpo Sweepstakes
As the Bucks continue to weigh possible trade options involving Giannis Antetokounmpo, the chatter about the Heat “remains louder than all the rest,” according to Sam Amick and Eric Nehm of The Athletic.
As Amick and Nehm explain, many agents, executives, and other sources around the league believe the star forward will ultimately end up in Miami after the Heat seemingly came closer than any rival suitor to acquiring Antetokounmpo at February’s trade deadline. Those deadline discussions were so advanced, league sources tell The Athletic, that Heat officials believed a deal would get done before Milwaukee ultimately opted to stand pat.
NBA insider Jake Fischer also stated in his latest rumor round-up for Bleacher Report (video link) that he views the Heat as the top team to watch in the Giannis sweepstakes.
Both Fischer and The Athletic’s duo note that Antetokounmpo has long been intrigued by the Heat, with Fischer suggesting that interest dates back at least five or six years, while Amick and Nehm say the two-time MVP is “impressed” by the team culture in Miami.
As Amick and Nehm outline, the Heat’s offer would likely include 2025 All-Star Tyler Herro, young center Kel’el Ware, and Sixth Man of the Year runner-up Jaime Jaquez Jr., along with this year’s No. 13 overall pick and two future first-rounders.
Given that Milwaukee has been on the lookout for a package that features either a “blue-chip” young star or a ton of valuable first-round picks, it remains possible that the Heat could be outbid by another team with interest in Antetokounmpo.
However, some of those clubs may not be prepared to part with the player necessary to get a deal done – the Cavaliers, for instance, appear unwilling to give up Evan Mobley for Antetokounmpo – while others may be reluctant to give up a massive package for a player who only has one year left on his guaranteed contract. The Trail Blazers, for example, are said to have interest in Giannis, but the belief, as Amick and Nehm confirm, is that he prefers to remain in the Eastern Conference, so it’s unclear whether he’d sign an extension with a team like the Blazers. That makes Portland a less likely landing spot, per The Athletic.
Fischer also expressed skepticism about teams like the Thunder, Timberwolves, Warriors, and Rockets being serious threats for Antetokounmpo at this time.
In their story for The Athletic, Amick and Nehm also explore the Celtics and Magic as potential landing spots for Giannis. While there are no concrete indications that either team is in active pursuit of the 10-time All-Star, Antetokounmpo is believed to be “very intrigued” by the idea of ending up in Boston, per Amick and Nehm, and Orlando’s new head coach Sean Sweeney is very familiar with Giannis, having previously spent four seasons as an assistant coach in Milwaukee.
A Celtics offer for Antetokounmpo would likely have to include Jaylen Brown, who might need to be rerouted to a third team. Paolo Banchero, meanwhile, would probably have to be the centerpiece of a Magic offer.
If the Heat do manage to land Antetokounmpo, there will be questions about the club’s depth, as well as Giannis’ fit alongside Bam Adebayo, Amick and Nehm point out. As good as an Antetokounmpo/Adebayo duo would be defensively, neither player really stretches the floor on offense, so playing them alongside one another create spacing issues. However, the Heat don’t seem overly concerned about that potential issue as they attempt to land a star player for the first time since acquiring Jimmy Butler in 2019.
Magic’s Jeff Weltman Discusses Sean Sweeney Hire
The Magic‘s recent decision to bring in Sean Sweeney as their next head coach marks the third coaching hire of president Jeff Weltman‘s nine-year tenure. This hiring process looked very different from previous ones due to the fact that Sweeney is currently in the midst of a playoff run as the lead assistant coach for the Finals-bound Spurs, Jason Beede writes for the Orlando Sentinel.
“I have to say, a huge thanks to the San Antonio organization because they really wanted to let Sean have every opportunity that he could to pursue a job that he really wanted,” Weltman said. “And so, they were really amenable. We had to work on off days and just make it work the best way that we could. It wasn’t optimum but we made it work. They were very cooperative cause they didn’t want to hold Sean back.”
According to Weltman, following the initial interview with the 41-year-old coach, the team moved quickly in pursuing next steps to bring him into the fold.
“The first thing that you notice with Sean is he has like a natural intensity about him,” Weltman said. “It’s not something that he has to try to put on or impress you with. It’s just there. He’s very locked in. His focus and his intensity I think underlies a lot of the way he delivers information (and) receives information.”
The Magic rose above the level of a bottom-10 offense for the first time in a decade this season under Jamahl Mosley, but still ranked just 18th while battling numerous injuries to key players throughout the season. Unfortunately, the defense also took a hit, falling to 13th after finishing in the top three in back-to-back years. Sweeney will be tasked with unlocking a more efficient offense while trying to get the defense back to an elite level.
Weltman emphasized that while expectations were raised this season, due in part to the offseason blockbuster trade for Desmond Bane, the team is still very young on the whole. The Magic are led by Paolo Banchero (23 years old), Franz Wagner (24), Jalen Suggs (24), and Bane, who represents the aged veteran at 27. They also have Tristan Da Silva (24), Anthony Black (22), and a trio of young, unproven players in Noah Penda (21), Jase Richardson (20), and Jett Howard (22).
Because of that, Weltman is still taking a long view on the team and its potential.
While Sweeney may be considered more of a defensive-minded coach, Weltman was clear in his belief that his new hire will be well-rounded and up for the task of streamlining the team’s offense.
“Sean’s been an offensive coach, too, so I don’t know how those tags get slapped on people,” Weltman said. “But a lot of it comes down to basic principles and teaching the game in a way that the players have to adhere to. And I think he’s had success doing that in the places that he’s been. Obviously, he’s never done it from the No. 1 seat. That’ll be a new experience for him. But again, when you put together the ingredients of those things that we talked about, plus his natural intensity, his integrity, his character and his work ethic — he is relentless — those ingredients are kind of what you hope for (that) could lead to being a real special coach.”
Stein’s Latest: Giannis, Magic, Braun, C. Johnson, Sixers
The Magic‘s decision to hire Sean Sweeney as their next head coach has led to increased speculation about Orlando potentially pursuing Giannis Antetokounmpo, according to Marc Stein of The Stein Line (Substack link), who says some people around the league already viewed the Magic as a possible suitor for the two-time MVP.
Antetokounmpo has a known affinity for Sweeney, a former Bucks assistant who spent four seasons with the Greek forward in Milwaukee. Stein writes that the two “worked closely” together.
As Stein observes, Sweeney isn’t Antetokounmpo’s only connection to the Magic, as senior advisor John Hammond selected the 31-year-old with the 15th overall pick in the 2015 draft. Magic president of basketball operations Jeff Weltman still regularly contacts Hammond for advice, Stein reports.
League sources tell Stein that the Heat and Trail Blazers are “already in pursuit” of Antetokounmpo, with Miami considered a top trade contender for the nine-time All-NBA member.
There’s a growing belief around the league that Antetokounmpo’s future will be resolved in the next few weeks after owner Jimmy Haslam set a soft deadline of the NBA draft, Stein adds.
Here’s more from Stein’s latest rumor round-up:
- Rival teams are expecting the Nuggets to make Christian Braun and Cameron Johnson available in trade talks this summer, according to Stein. Denver has said re-signing restricted free agent Peyton Watson will be a priority this offseason and there’s technically nothing preventing the team from doing so while keeping its other higher-priced players, assuming ownership is willing to pay the luxury tax bill. However, the Nuggets project to be well over the second apron if they bring back the same group, with Braun and Johnson among their trade candidates. Johnson’s expiring $23.1MM contract is considered far more appealing than Braun’s five-year, $125MM rookie scale extension, which begins next season, Stein notes.
- One of the reasons the Nuggets prioritized a long-term deal with Braun last offseason is he’s “routinely described” as one of Nikola Jokic‘s favorite teammates, league sources tell Stein. Jokic has finished either first or second in MVP voting each of the past six seasons.
- Vice president of player personnel Prosper Karangwa is expected to remain with the Sixers after the team hired Mike Gansey as its new head of basketball operations, according to Stein, who previously linked Karangwa to the Lakers and Mavericks. Stein reiterates that 76ers assistant GM Jameer Nelson is expected to be promoted to GM and that current GM Elton Brand is considered likely to be offered a new role in Philadelphia.
Southeast Notes: Heat Draft, Avdija, Sweeney
Would the Heat consider drafting a smaller guard — by height and/or weight — with their lottery pick? It’s not out of the question, according to The Sun Sentinel’s Ira Winderman.
“I always remind our scouts,” Heat assistant general manager Adam Simon said, “we always talk about we have our principles of what we like, what we look for. There’s things that we always try to like. Who doesn’t like length? Who doesn’t like athleticism? Who doesn’t like positional size? But, as you know, there’s heart and there’s IQ and there’s ability to outplay deficiencies that you might have based on size. And if you look in the history of the game, if you basically overlook something based on one aspect of the evaluation, that player can outplay it.”
Winderman notes that Jalen Brunson has led the Knicks to the Finals this season. Alabama’s Labaron Philon (who weighs 176 pounds), Texas Tech’s Christian Anderson (180), Louisville’s Mikel Brown (180), Houston’s Kingston Flemings (183) and Baylor’s Cameron Carr (184) are some of the smaller guards who are expected to come off the board in the first round.
“There are players that aren’t athletic that make it,” Simon said. “There’s players that are in that size range that become Hall of Famers.”
Here’s more from the Southeast Division:
- On draft night two years ago, the Wizards agreed to trade Deni Avdija to the Trail Blazers for a 2024 first-round pick (which was used to select Bub Carrington), a 2029 first-round pick, second-round picks in 2028 and 2030, and veteran guard Malcolm Brogdon. Was it a mistake? It’s a complex question, considering how Avdija has blossomed in Portland. However, as Josh Robbins of The Athletic notes, trading Avdija helped position the Wizards to win high lottery picks in the 2025 and 2026 drafts.
- Spurs assistant Sean Sweeney was officially hired as the Magic‘s head coach on Monday. What should Orlando fans know about him? He’s noted for his creativity, he’s respected by superstars, and he has been a serious candidate for numerous head coaching openings in recent years before the Magic hired him, Jason Beede of the Orlando Sentinel writes.
- In case you missed it, the Hawks officially confirmed that Onsi Saleh is now the team’s president of basketball operations and has signed a “long-term” contract extension.
Magic Hire Sean Sweeney As Head Coach
JUNE 1: Sweeney’s hiring is official, the team announced (Twitter link), confirming that he will remain with the Spurs through the NBA Finals.
“Sean brings a tremendous work ethic and a high degree of intensity that set the tone for everything he does,” president of basketball operations Jeff Weltman said. “Sean’s attention to detail and his ability to communicate and teach the game clearly stands out. He’s grounded in competitiveness and accountability, while also embracing a modern, competitive approach to coaching.”
MAY 29: The Magic are finalizing a deal with top Spurs assistant Sean Sweeney and will hire him as their head coach, sources tell Shams Charania of ESPN (Twitter link). He’ll receive a four-year deal, reports Chris Mannix of SI.com (Twitter link).
Jake Fischer and Marc Stein of The Stein Line had reported earlier today that Orlando was “very interested” in Sweeney, who was connected to multiple teams with head coaching vacancies this offseason. The Magic had also been considering Jeff Van Gundy and Billy Donovan, who were the club’s other finalists, per Charania (Twitter link).
Sweeney, who joined the Nets as a video coordinator in 2011, was promoted to an assistant coaching role in Brooklyn in 2013, then followed Jason Kidd to Milwaukee, working as a Bucks assistant from 2014-18. Following a three-year stint as a Pistons assistant from 2018-21, Sweeney reunited with Kidd in Dallas, serving as an assistant for the Mavericks from 2021-25.
A year ago, Sweeney left Dallas to become the lead assistant under Mitch Johnson in San Antonio. He earned the title of associate head coach with the Spurs and was responsible for running the team’s defense, which improved from 25th in defensive rating in 2024/25 to third in ’25/26.
After they parted ways with former head coach Jamahl Mosley, there was a sense that the Magic might be seeking a veteran head coach with prior experience, since they were seeking a candidate who could help the team make a deeper playoff run following three consecutive first-round exits. However, the Magic will opt for another first-time head coach, as Sweeney “blew away” the team during the interview process, as Charania writes in a full story.
According to Charania and Stein (Twitter link), Magic officials flew to San Antonio during the Western Conference finals to meet with Sweeney. The plan is for the veteran assistant to finish out the remainder of the postseason with the Spurs before joining the Magic. That could happen within the next few days if the Spurs are unable to beat the Thunder in Game 7 on Saturday.
The Bulls had interest in Sweeney, who was also said to be in the mix for the Pelicans’ head coaching job before New Orleans hired Mosley. Additionally, there was a belief that the Mavericks might seek a reunion with their former assistant, though there hasn’t been much chatter about that job, so it’s unclear if Dallas ever really pursued him.
With Sweeney headed to Orlando, three head coaching searches are now complete, as the Magic join the Pelicans (Mosley) and Bucks (Taylor Jenkins) in hiring new coaches. The Bulls, Mavericks, and Trail Blazers still have openings.