They are reportedly targeting the two-time MVP and hoping to reunite him with Jrue Holiday and Damian Lillard, both of whom he played with during separate stints with the Bucks. Antetokounmpo played three seasons with Holiday and won the 2021 NBA championship in their first season together.
Holiday was then traded by the Bucks in a three-team deal in 2023 that, interestingly, involved Lillard. The Bucks acquired Dame, but the team was plagued by injuries. They underperformed in the 2024 and 2025 playoffs, exiting in the first round both times. The biggest achievement of the Giannis-Lillard era was winning the NBA Cup in 2024.
The Blazers are interested, but they will face stiff competition, especially from teams in the Eastern Conference. There are reports suggesting that Antetokounmpo would prefer to remain in his current conference.
The Bucks’ plans also remain unclear. They can offer their franchise player a new maximum contract on or before October 1, or he can choose to become a free agent after the 2026-27 season.
Blazers’ alternative to Giannis Antetokounmpo
Portland has a contingency plan. They have another target in mind—someone who was once regarded as Antetokounmpo’s Western Conference counterpart before injuries derailed his career.
The Trail Blazers could pivot to pursuing an Anthony Davis trade for a significantly cheaper price, if they miss out on Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Davis still prefers to be traded from the Wizards, and Portland actually checked in with the Mavericks last season before he was dealt. pic.twitter.com/43qfUwxk53
— Evan Sidery (@esidery) June 7, 2026
Davis is currently with the Washington Wizards after he was traded there by the Dallas Mavericks. He has said a lot of times that he is excited to play in the Capital and that he looks forward to working with Trae Young and the team’s young core.
The Wizards are going to select no. 1 overall in the 2026 draft. They are expected to select AJ Dybantsa.
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