The Orlando Magic expressed interest in trading for Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo before the 2026 NBA trade deadline, according to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype.
Orlando has an aggressive front office, led by president Jeff Weltman and senior advisor John Hammond, who drafted Antetokounmpo in 2013 when he was with the Bucks.
The Magic are up 3-1 against the Detroit Pistons in the first round of the 2026 playoffs. Desmond Bane, Paolo Banchero, Franz Wagner, Jalen Suggs and Wendell Carter Jr. are the leading players in Orlando. The Magic’s front office would have likely had to part ways with one or two core players to acquire Antetokounmpo in February.
Antetokounmpo played in only 36 games this season because of injuries. He averaged 27.6 points, 9.8 rebounds, 5.4 assists, 0.9 steals and 0.7 blocks per game. The Bucks, who missed the playoffs this season for the first time since 2016, went 17-19 when Antetokounmpo played.
Antetokounmpo has spent his entire NBA career with the Bucks. He’s a two-time MVP, one-time Finals MVP, one-time Defensive Player of the Year and 10-time All-Star. Antetokounmpo led Milwaukee to the 2021 championship in six games against the Phoenix Suns. The Bucks have won only one playoff series since then.
Antetokounmpo will make $58.5 million next season. He has a player option worth $62.8 million for the 2027-28 season. The forward is eligible to sign a four-year, $275 million extension with the Bucks on October 1. If he declines the extension, Antetokounmpo will be traded, according to Milwaukee co-owner Wes Edens.
Antetokounmpo holds career averages of 24.1 points, 9.9 rebounds, 5.0 assists, 1.1 steals and 1.2 blocks per game. It will be fascinating to see where he’s playing next season.
For what it’s worth, Antetokounmpo prefers playing for an East Coast team since the East Coast is closer to Greece, according to Eric Pincus of Bleacher Report, and Orlando is an East Coast city. Antetokounmpo’s wife and kids live in Greece.
Kirk Goldsberry of The Ringer reported in March that the Magic were expected to aggressively pursue a trade for Antetokounmpo this summer. Let’s see if that’s still the case once the 2026 NBA Finals end.
