I don’t know if you heard this yet, but Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo is a trade candidate. Giannis trade rumors are perhaps the worst-kept secret in the NBA, second only to the Miami Heat being the preferred trade destination for the beginning of Antetokounmpo's post-Milwaukee NBA career.
The Greek Freak is due $58.5 million for the 2026-27 NBA season and holds a player option on the final year of his contract for the 2027-28 NBA season.
Moving Giannis is not a simple trade exercise, and that creates an opportunity for the Chicago Bulls to enter into a Giannis trade as a third-team facilitator, given the Bulls' ample salary cap space that can grease the skids of a Giannis trade between the Bucks and Miami Heat.
Exploring a hypothetical Bulls-Bucks-Heat trade framework to move Giannis to Miami
Again, moving Giannis in a trade would require a complex trade structure among three teams if the principal goal is to move him to Miami. A deal framework such as the following would accomplish a few outcomes:
Bulls Receive:
- Kyle Kuzma
- Bobby Portis
- Jericho Sims
- Andrew Wiggins
- Miami unprotected 2030 first-round pick
Bucks Receive:
- Josh Giddey
- Isaac Okoro
- Jalen Smith
- Nikola Jovic
- Jaime Jaquez Jr.
- Kel’el Ware
- $23.3 million in cap space, per Spotrac
Heat Receive:
- Giannis Antetokounmpo
- Tre Jones
The Bulls in this scenario would receive a surplus unprotected first-round draft pick, bring Bobby Portis back to Chicago for a defensive vet presence, and a flyer opportunity to evaluate center Jericho Sims as a 2027 NBA offseason extension candidate.
Wiggins and Kuzma represent $49.6 million in expiring salary, according to Spotrac, that the Bulls could immediately waive and carry as dead salary against their 2026-27 cap sheet.
The Bucks would receive a combination of young players and cap flexibility to kickstart a retool or rebuild, which is a reasonable return for a 31-year-old Antetokounmpo who only appeared in 36 games during the 2025-26 NBA season due to recurring calf injuries.
The Heat, of course get the headline prize of Giannis Antetokounmpo, plus Tre Jones as a value contract guard who exudes the characteristics the Heat value on their roster in terms of defensive effort and downhill scoring ability.
It’s quite possible the Bulls will be on the outside looking in of a Giannis trade, but the Bulls certainly have the assets to make themselves an interesting facilitator partner to the Bucks and Heat if needed.
Add us as a preferred source on Google