Cleared to return after a year-long Achilles injury, the former Bucks forward is ready for an NBA comeback in the 2025–26 season.

In return, Brooklyn has a healthy list of first-round draft picks, including four in June (Nos. 8, 19, 26 and 27) and plenty in the future from teams like the New York Knicks, Philadelphia 76ers and all of its own. The Nets can almost compete with the Thunder in draft compensation, but no one else has the salary flexibility like Brooklyn.

Svyato is an NBA writer at Athlon Sports, covering the Golden State Warriors, New York Knicks, Sacramento Kings, Denver Nuggets, Phoenix Suns, and Oklahoma City Thunder. His love for basketball is only rivaled by his love of Funko Pops.

Despite another first-round exit, the Eastern Conference playoffs as a whole have proven the Bucks are not far away from getting back into contention.

Discover the desperate trade proposal for the Milwaukee Bucks to convince franchise star Giannis Antetokounmpo to stay.

He did so by being the quintessential lead man of the Showtime Lakers' fast break, which is considered the greatest of all time. He pushed the ball upcourt with reckless abandon, but he also used his 6-foot-9 frame to his advantage in the paint, especially when the game slowed down.

Wherever the former two-time MVP decides to go, one thing is certain: the team that lands Giannis Antetokounmpo will be acquiring one of the greatest European talents in NBA history. But before that happens — if it happens — the Milwaukee Bucks have a tough decision to make.

Could the Cleveland Cavaliers emerge as a blockbuster landing spot for Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo? The NBA is all abuzz about a possible Giannis departure from Milwaukee this summer.