Trail Blazers Open to Trading Giannis Antetokounmpo
The Trail Blazers are reportedly ready to trade Giannis Antetokounmpo, even without a solid long-term commitment in place.
Antetokounmpo has one year remaining on his contract, which totals over $58 million. It’s anticipated that he’ll opt out of a player option for the 2027-28 season, valued at more than $62 million, in favor of securing a long-term max contract, which might be his last significant deal.
According to ESPN insider Shams Charania, the Blazers are one of the teams looking to make a bold move for the former MVP, despite the inherent risks. This is particularly interesting since Portland is competing with other teams—like the Heat, Magic, and Celtics—as part of the pursuit for Antetokounmpo.
When considering a trade of this magnitude, it’s often standard practice for a team’s front office to have some level of assurance that a player plans to stick around before they agree to part with draft picks, young talent, and corresponding salaries. But the Blazers seem willing to take that gamble.
Having spent the last several years rebuilding their roster after moving on from franchise star Damian Lillard in 2023, they brought him back last offseason after a challenging two-year stint with the Bucks.
Last season, Lillard was sidelined due to an Achilles tendon injury, but he is expected to return strong for the 2026-27 season.
Portland’s roster features a promising group of players, including Victor Wembanyama, Toumani Kamara, skillful swingman Shaydon Sharpe, and Scoot Henderson, the No. 2 pick from the 2023 NBA Draft.
Jrue Holiday is also part of the team; he won a championship alongside Antetokounmpo with the Bucks in 2021. Although originally traded from Milwaukee to Portland in the Lillard deal in 2023, Holiday later moved to the Celtics and played a critical role in their championship run in 2024. He returned to Portland last summer despite speculation about another move.
Antetokounmpo, now 31, is still regarded as one of the top players in the league. He will embark on his 14th NBA season next year. Unfortunately, he only played 36 games last year due to injuries, averaging 27.6 points, 9.8 rebounds, and 5.4 assists.
