RealGM Basketball Wiretap

17 June 2026

• Bucks Looking For Three First-Round Picks In Upcoming Draft

  The Milwaukee Bucks are looking to have as many as three first-round picks in the upcoming draft, according to Jake Fischer of The People's Insider.

  It was reported on Tuesday that the team are not "in love" with the Heat's trade package for Giannis Antetokounmpo, which would involve receiving the No. 13 pick.

  Antetokounmpo would reportedly sign an extension with the Celtics should he get traded to the team.

  Jon Horst and the Bucks front office also recently traveled to Orlando to watch Mikel Brown Jr. work out.

• Bucks Not In Love With Heat Trade Package For Giannis Antetokounmpo

  Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo has been linked to the Miami Heat for years. This time around, it seems like a potential deal is closer than ever, given Antetokounmpo's readiness to leave Milwaukee. However, the Bucks aren't in love with the Heat's trade offers.

  Miami's package reportedly revolves around Tyler Herro, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Kel'el Ware and the No. 13 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft. This deal would likely also need to include Nikola Jovic to meet salary-matching requirements. That package isn't one that Milwaukee likes enough to rush a deal through, despite their ownership setting a deadline of having clarity by the draft.

  This has led to the Bucks looking at multi-team trades, as well as engaging with other teams on trading for Antetokounmpo. The Boston Celtics are reportedly involved in trade talks for Antetokounmpo, but those trades would likely involve three or four teams before being finalized.

• Giannis Antetokounmpo Willing To Extend If Traded To Celtics

  Giannis Antetokounmpo has given indications that he's willing to extend with the Boston Celtics if he's traded to the team. While Boston reportedly remains interested in dealing for Antetokounmpo from the Milwaukee Bucks, there are some complications.

  The Celtics prefer to work directly with the team they are trading with, without players and agents involved in the trade talks. Antetokounmpo and his reps have tried to be involved in this process, despite not agitating for a trade to one specific team.

  Boston is also aware that trading for Antetokounmpo would force the team to somewhat change their style of play. In addition, it would mean breaking up the long-time duo of Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, as Brown would likely be involved in the trade.

• Giannis Antetokounmpo Has Been Focused On Trade To Heat

  With the NBA Finals now over and the draft one week away, trade talks involving Giannis Antetokounmpo are expected to intensify. The Miami Heat have long been the favorites to acquire Antetokounmpo as there is strong mutual interest between he and the franchise, but the Milwaukee Bucks have signaled that they want to continue exploring alternative trade packages.

  "The league believes this is finally going to happen," said Brian Windhorst on Monday's edition of Get Up on ESPN. "I would be remiss if I didn't point out that he can still commit to re-signing with the Bucks, but talks have intensified over the last seven to 10 days.

  "Look, he has focused on wanting to be a member of the Miami Heat. And because he only has one year on his contract, he has some control over that.

  "But the Heat and the Bucks have been talking for months and not agreed to a deal, because the Bucks don't love the Heat's offer. There are third teams involved. There are fourth teams involved.

  "In recent days, we have seen that the Boston Celtics have shown some interest there. But a Celtics' offer has a stumbling block: Number one, you would be breaking up, potentially, Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. Number two, it would mean changing the entire structure of how the Celtics play basketball.

  "Stay tuned. There will be more on that as the week unfolds."

  Miami's offer is believed to be built around Tyler Herro, Kel'el Ware, Jaime Jacquez Jr. and the No. 13 overall pick in this month's draft.

  The Celtics reportedly made an offer for Antetokounmpo last week, which presumably involved Jaylen Brown.

• Vince Legarza, Brad Jones Join Bucks' Coaching Staff

  Vince Legarza and Brad Jones were announced as assistant coaches on Taylor Jenkins' staff with the Milwaukee Bucks.

  Legarza was previously an assistant for Mike Budenholzer with the Suns and Bucks.

  Jones was previously an assistant for Jenkins while with the Grizzlies.

• Potential Heat Trade For Giannis Antetkounmpo To Include Tyler Herro, Kel'el Ware, Jaime Jaquez Jr.

  The Miami Heat would include Tyler Herro, Kel'el Ware and Jaime Jaquez Jr., along with the No. 13 pick in the upcoming NBA Draft, in a potential deal for Giannis Antetokounmpo, according to Marc Stein of The Stein Line.

  While the Heat remain the favorites to land Antetokounmpo, the Celtics also remain in contention to complete a deal.

  The Celtics reportedly made an offer for Antetokounmpo last week, which presumably involved Jaylen Brown.

  The Atlanta Hawks, New Orleans Pelicans, and Portland Trail Blazers have been rumored as possible third teams to help facilitate a deal.

  The Bucks are operating as if they'll have an extra first-round pick in addition to their No. 10 selection in the upcoming draft.

• Knicks Were Ready To Trade For Giannis Antetokounmpo Last Offseason If Bucks Made Him Available

  The New York Knicks were prepared to pursue a trade for Giannis Antetokounmpo last summer had the Milwaukee Bucks made him truly available.

  Antetokounmpo had indicated to people around the league that he would be open to a trade to New York if Milwaukee moved him. The Knicks expressed interest in exploring the possibility, sources said.

  One source with knowledge of the discussions said the Bucks likely had no real intention of trading their superstar during the 2025 offseason. The source added that New York would have made a move for Antetokounmpo if Milwaukee had been willing.

  "I don't think Milwaukee was really serious about trading him," the source said. "But if they had been willing to trade him, the Knicks would've traded for him."

  At the time, the Knicks believed their roster was talented enough to compete for a championship. The team also felt that hiring Mike Brown as head coach, replacing Tom Thibodeau, would add flexibility for a deep playoff run.

  Despite holding interest in Antetokounmpo, New York's roster remained largely intact. The Knicks went on to win the 2026 NBA Finals, defeating the San Antonio Spurs in five games.

  Antetokounmpo is now expected to be traded by the Bucks by the 2026 NBA draft with the Knicks effectively off the table and prepared to defend their title. Antetokounmpo is expected to remain in the Eastern Conference with the Miami Heat and Boston Celtics currently considered the two favorites.

• Celtics Reportedly Made Trade Offer To Bucks For Giannis Antetokounmpo Last Week

  The Boston Celtics reportedly made an offer to the Milwaukee Bucks for Giannis Antetokounmpo last week, according to The Ringer's Bill Simmons. Boston has "dove in" on the Antetokounmpo sweepstakes.

  This was a change in tune from Simmons, who had previously reported that he heard Boston wasn't involved in trading for Antetokounmpo. Simmons said he doesn't know what changed the Celtics minds, but that they are now involved in dealing for the superstar forward.

  On draft night, the Celtics will hold up to four tradeable first round picks and two swaps.

  It's been rumored that any trade for Antetokounmpo would involve the Celtics dealing Jaylen Brown to the Bucks or to a third team, which would then route draft capital and young talent to Milwaukee. Rumored third teams have included the Atlanta Hawks, New Orleans Pelicans, Portland Trail Blazers and others.

  The Athletic reported recently that Antetokounmpo would sign with the Celtics long-term if he were traded to the franchise.

• Karl-Anthony Towns Never Got 'Vindictive' Over Giannis Antetokounmpo Trade Talks

  Karl-Anthony Towns faced trade speculation involving Giannis Antetokounmpo during his first offseason with the New York Knicks in 2025, a situation that could have disrupted the team's championship run before it began.

  The Milwaukee Bucks and Knicks engaged in a multi-week discussion in August 2025 regarding a potential blockbuster trade involving Antetokounmpo. New York never appeared especially interested in pursuing the deal.

  The Knicks also did not offer Towns a contract extension entering the season, and coach Mike Brown's early comments about adjustments to Towns' role added further uncertainty around the center's standing with the franchise.

  Despite the speculation, those close to Towns say he remained unaffected by the rumors.

  "[Towns] wasn't looking around the locker room saying, 'Who wants Giannis here instead of me,'" a source close to Towns told ESPN during the season. "He wants to be in New York. He's a great compartmentalizer, and he wasn't going to be vindictive about it."

  Towns went on to play a central role in New York's championship run, especially in the initial two games of the Finals, which culminated in a five-game NBA Finals victory over the San Antonio Spurs, the Knicks' first title in 53 years.

• Bucks' Handling Of Giannis Antetokounmpo Talks At Trade Deadline Slowing Current Activity

  The trade market for Giannis Antetokounmpo has been slow to take shape, and rival teams say the Milwaukee Bucks' handling of trade discussions at the February deadline is a primary reason, according to league sources.

  During the deadline period, Bucks general manager Jon Horst opened talks to any team willing to make a pitch for the two-time MVP. As the deadline approached, Milwaukee signaled a genuine willingness to deal its most accomplished player in franchise history. Antetokounmpo ultimately remained with the Bucks, fueling skepticism among rivals about the organization's true intentions.

  Several teams now view that process as a fact-finding mission designed to gauge the market ahead of the summer rather than a sincere attempt to complete a trade. Some front offices are now pressing the Bucks to present concrete terms they would accept, rather than engaging in prolonged back-and-forth negotiations.

  Teams are wary of surfacing prominent players in trade discussions only to see those relationships strained if a deal falls apart. The reaction of Miami Heat guard Tyler Herro, who unfollowed the Heat on social media amid trade speculation, illustrates the locker-room risk teams are trying to avoid.

  Bucks co-owner Jimmy Haslam has set the June 23 NBA draft as his target for resolution. Whether rival teams engage more seriously as that deadline approaches remains the central question surrounding one of the offseason's most consequential roster decisions.

  The Bucks have signaled that they expect to acquire additional draft picks and their evaluation of offers will heavily focus on tradeable first round picks.