We once delved into a potential Giannis Antetokounmpo trade to the Utah Jazz before, but that was back when there wasn't even confirmation that he and the Bucks were on the outs. Now that there is, suddenly this becomes an even more legitimate discussion because the Jazz would have an offer that could top basically anyone else's.
ESPN's Brian Windhorst confirmed that Giannis requested a trade from the Bucks prior to the season even beginning. However, it was a soft trade request because he was willing to play for the team anyway. Based on Windy's intel, it sounds like the Bucks superstar has run out of patience.
"Guys, he asked to be traded already," - @WindhorstESPN details what's going on with Giannis and the Bucks 😯 pic.twitter.com/NPlLayk8xu
— ESPN Cleveland (@ESPNCleveland) December 3, 2025
The Bucks are 9-13, and the best players they have to support the Greek Freak are Myles Turner, Kyle Kuzma, and Ryan Rollins. That's a laughable trio compared to the likes of Khris Middleton, Jrue Holiday, and Brook Lopez.
If the Bucks were to entertain a trade with the Jazz, he could have a similarly potent group in Utah that he once had in Milwaukee, which, must we remember, got him a title four years ago.
The Jazz's offer would be too good to pass up
It's recently come out that the Jazz's plans are to build around Lauri Markkanen. For how good the Finnisher is, he's not the best player on a title team. It goes without saying that Giannis is, and that Markkanen would be an exceptional second-in-command. He has the size, scoring prowess, and elite shooting to make Giannis' life easier and the Jazz harder to stop.
If Milwaukee entertains a Giannis trade, Utah wants to make one without including Markkanen, and the Bucks want pretty much everything the Jazz would have to offer, this would likely be the package they would have to send to the Bucks.
-Keyonte George
-Ace Bailey
-Kyle Filipowski
-Taylor Hendricks
-Jusuf Nurkic
-Kyle Anderson
Along with that, the Jazz would have to give up their best assets with those players, which includes the top-four protected Lakers pick in 2027, the 2031 unprotected Suns pick, and however many picks the Bucks would want the Timberwolves and Cavaliers owe the Jazz. Plus, outside of this season, the Jazz have their picks to offer.
Jazz fans will be apprehensive to part ways with George and Bailey with how promising they've looked, but it's how this business. To become great, a team has to give up something they would be super hesitant to sacrifice for the greater good. George and Bailey looks like they'll be excellent players for the long haul, but the opportunity to get Giannis, one of the best players ever, is good to pass up.
Utah also offers plenty of cap flexibility in a deal like this (Sidenote: the Bucks may also demand they put Georges Niang and Kevin Love in the deal to take some more long-term salary besides Giannis). Plus, there would be some irony in Nurkic going into a trade for Giannis after what the former said about the latter a few months ago.
A trade like this would also confirm that the Jazz would keep Walker Kessler, as a trio of Giannis, Markkanen, and Kessler would be fearsome for the entire NBA. Utah would have to fill out the rest of the roster, but those three together could convince multiple players to come ring chase in Utah.
Odds are, Utah wouldn't be on Giannis' list, but his frustration with Milwaukee has primarily stemmed from the team's playoff failures due to an aging core. If a deal like this were struck in Utah, that wouldn't be a problem. It would be quite the Hail Mary pass for the Jazz, but Danny Ainge has proven how good he is at throwing Hail Mary passes.