Giannis Antetokounmpo is the talk of the town—as expected whenever a former MVP in the prime of his career hints that his future is up for discussion. The nine-time All-Star hasn’t requested a trade outright, but with the Milwaukee Bucks struggling and trade rumors brewing since the summer, the buzz is palpable.
The Chicago Bulls have even surfaced as a potential destination for Antetokounmpo, though it still feels like a long shot. Chicago’s inclusion likely stems from comments he made back in 2022, when he said, "I think anybody you ask that question that plays basketball, if he said no, he’d be a liar," after being asked about the possibility of playing in the Windy City.
Still, even with the recent buzz building, a new report indicated that the Bulls had little interest in pursuing Antetokounmpo, even after his camp reached out to gauge Chicago’s openness to a deal.
The reasoning behind why the Bulls had little to no interest in exploring trade possibilities was conveniently left out. But if one were to guess, it’s that Chicago wasn’t willing to part with players like Matas Buzelis or mortgage its future draft capital for a player already into his 30s.
Nonetheless, even if the Bulls don’t pull off a blockbuster deal for a mega-star like Giannis, there’s still potential fallout they could capitalize on. If Antetokounmpo does force his way out, a rebuild would almost certainly follow in Milwaukee—and several veterans would likely follow the Greek Freak out the door.
Myles Turner: The Bulls’ ideal consolation prize
Among the various names that immediately come to mind, Myles Turner is the first. Milwaukee made the rash decision to waive and stretch nine-time All-Star Damian Lillard’s remaining $103 million to create the flexibility for a splashy free-agent move aimed at appeasing Giannis. That move was signing Turner.
Therefore, if Antetokounmpo formally requests a trade and the Bucks grant it, Turner’s presence in Milwaukee becomes essentially moot. And as a 29-year-old stretch five, he’d be highly coveted—especially by Chicago.
Earlier, it was noted that Chicago likely wouldn’t part with young players and draft picks for a 31-year-old Giannis. So why would the Bulls make a similar move for Turner? Simply because acquiring Turner wouldn’t come anywhere close to being as costly or crippling as landing Antetokounmpo.
Sure, Turner is valuable, but with averages of 12.6 points, 5.7 rebounds, 1.6 blocks, and 2.3 three-pointers per game, the former Pacer hardly qualifies as "mortgaging assets" territory. However, if Giannis bolts, Milwaukee’s likely priority would be to move Turner’s $109 million contract. That said, according to NBA insider Jake Fischer, Turner would still attract suitors and wouldn’t come cheap.
A move that’s simple and solves needs
Still, Fischer mentioned Golden State Warriors’ Jonathan Kuminga as a potential salary match for Turner—and he isn’t exactly a highly coveted asset these days. For the Bulls, sending an expiring contract like Zach Collins, along with a player such as Ayo Dosunmu, could do the trick. Milwaukee would clear Turner’s salary while taking on two expiring contracts, one of which (Dosunmu) could be retained as a core piece moving forward.
But Chicago might be reluctant to part with Dosunmu, and the Bucks could prioritize draft capital above all else. That could make sending Collins—or another player in the $18–$21 million range—along with a couple of draft picks, a more appealing option.
Regardless of what Milwaukee would demand or which players Chicago would be willing to part with, Turner remains an appealing option for the Bulls. He fills a much-needed void as an intimidating interior presence, boasting a career average of 2.2 blocks per game. On top of that, Chicago wouldn’t sacrifice Nikola Vucevic’s floor-stretching ability if Turner were to take the place of the 35-year-old big man.
Turner is such a plug-and-play big man that he would be valuable on practically any team in the league. His main weakness is rebounding, but that wouldn’t concern Chicago, as they rank sixth in the NBA in rebounds per game anyway.
While the Bulls wouldn’t be landing the marquee prize in the Giannis trade speculation, Turner is a tremendous consolation. He addresses Chicago’s needs without mortgaging assets, his game is built to age gracefully, and he’d be around for at least three more seasons as the Bulls continue their rebuild—either as a veteran presence or potentially as a tradeable piece down the line.