With the Atlanta Hawks missing the playoffs for the second consecutive season, there are many who are starting to believe that the only way out of the rut is to make a splash move. In 2024-25, both Jalen Johnson and Dyson Daniels broke out as star-caliber players but that might not be enough. As a result, dreams of pairing point guard Trae Young with another All-Star talent have started to come alive through media outlets.
Dominique Wilkins Speculates About Hawks-Giannis Antetokounmpo Trade
Recently, Bleacher Report’s Eric Pincus listed the Hawks as the fourth-most realistic landing spot for Giannis Antetokounmpo if he should leave the Milwaukee Bucks. With that in mind, it should come as no surprise that Hawks legend Dominique Wilkins recently discussed the possibility of his former team landing the two-time NBA MVP in an exclusive interview with Kyle Odegard of ESports Insider.
“Man, that’s a blockbuster deal right there,” Wilkins says. “Who wouldn’t want Giannis? I’d be lying if I said anything differently.”
Wilkins, while enthralled by the idea of a Young-Antetokounmpo duo, cautions that it would come at a steep price.
Though 30 years old, Antetokounmpo “is not an old man by any stretch of the imagination.” That being said, the Hawks chances of acquiring Antetokounmpo and keeping Young without surrendering Johnson or Daniels are slim to none. Nevertheless, “there’s not a team in the league who wouldn’t want (Antetokounmpo).”
Speaking to what Antetokounmpo could bring to Atlanta, Wilkins notes that the 6-foot-11 point-forward’s “decision-making and ability to get people open is next level.” This is an interesting comment given that Young has long been the team’s primary facilitator. Yet, having a player who Young can share that responsibility with can take the Hawks to the next level. Actually, that’s one reason why the team’s so bullish about Johnson.
However, Antetokounmpo is much more than another fulcrum for the offense to swing off of. Over the past six seasons, he’s averaged 29.9 points per game, terrorizing his opponents on the way to the rim. He’s also been a defensive weapon, making plays on and off-ball.
All in all, he’s “a wonderful basketball player.” One that could change the franchise’s fortunes by transforming them into a legitimate title contender. Indeed, Wilkins believes he’d “have won multiple championships” with Antetokounmpo himself as a teammate.
Hypothetical Trade Scenario
What would the Hawks give up for Antetokounmpo in an offseason trade? What would the Bucks accept? When trying to determine hypothetical trade parameters, these are ultimately the two questions that matter the most.
The best trade scenario —that is, the one that works best for both teams —will be the one that can find the middle ground. Neither the Hawks nor the Bucks will get everything they want. Even still, they’ll rake in a huge haul.
With that in mind, the Hawks could offer the Bucks a trade package that features Johnson, Onyeka Okongwu, Georges Niang and four first-round picks (2025 No. 13, 2025 No. 22, 2027 first-round pick, 2029 first-round pick) for Antetokounmpo and Tyler Smith. Such a deal allows them to upgrade from Johnson without giving up Young, Daniels, or Zaccharie Risacher. Notably, though he’s rarely seen the court in his young career, Smith tallied 20 points on 6-9 shooting from the field in his last game.
Meanwhile, the Bucks get a jump start on their rebuild with multiple first-rounders and a player who has a lot of overlap with Antetokounmpo in Johnson. Okongwu allows them to move on from Brook Lopez, whose time in Milwaukee may soon come to an end.
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