Bucks after Giannis: What massive trade signals for Milwaukee’s future

The Milwaukee Bucks had two roads to chose from in deciding where to send future Hall of Famer Giannis Antetokounmpo, and they took the harder path.

The Boston Celtics dangled Jaylen Brown, a known star who could have kept them in the playoff race next season. The Miami Heat offered youth and picks.

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The Bucks bet on the future.

That tells you a lot about where this franchise thinks it is right now. Milwaukee sent Antetokounmpo and Bobby Portis to Miami for Tyler Herro, Kel’el Ware, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Kasparas Jakucionis, three first-round picks, including the No. 13 in Tuesday night’s draft, a pick swap and a second-rounder. That is a total reset.

NBA BLOCKBUSTER: Bucks trade Giannis Antetokounmpo to Heat in massive deal

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What Milwaukee actually got back

The Bucks are going through a rebuild, but this trade gives them an NBA-talent foundation to start with. Herro, a 2025 All-Star is obviously not a two-time MVP, but he can score, and he’ll make the Bucks fun to watch. Herro averaged 20.5 points, 4.8 rebounds and 4.1 assists in 31.3 minutes for the Heat this past season but was limited to 33 games by a foot injury. He’s a high-volume scorer and shot-maker, the closest thing to a star in this package.

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Ware and Jaquez are cheap, young and show potential for development. They are the type of players that you want in a rebuild. Ware, 22, is a 7-foot center taken with the No. 15 pick in the 2024 draft. He averaged 11.1 points, 9 rebounds and 1.1 blocks in 22.1 minutes over 77 games in the 2025-26 season. With Myles Turner’s future unsettled, Ware could grow into a bigger role in Milwaukee.

Jaquez, 25, bounced back in his third season with 15.4 points, 5 rebounds and 4.7 assists in 75 games last season. The forward is a glue player that helps a team transitioning through a rebuild.

Kasparas Jakucionis, 19, was selected by the Heat with the No. 20 overall pick in the 2025 draft. The center from Lithuania averaged 6.2 points, 2.6 rebounds and 2.6 assists in 53 games during his rookie season, while splitting time with the G League.

The…

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Publish date : 2026-06-23 05:13:00

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