The trade rumors around Giannis Antetokounmpo leaving the Milwaukee Bucks are coming in hot. The speculation around his possible trade has lined up several prospective destinations in the league, with many analysts scrutinizing all the possible reasons why Antetokounmpo and a certain team could be the best fit for each other.
Amid all of this, veteran NBA journalist Chris Haynes revealed Antetokounmpo’s preferences for his next destination. Speaking to Rachel Nichols after the NBA Cup weekend in Vegas, Haynes said Antetokounmpo wants a team in a city that has “some sun, a big market, and competes for a championship.”
“Ultimately, for Giannis, wherever he lands I think preferably he would like to have some sun. He would like to be probably in a big market. Outside of that, he just wants to be on a team where he can compete for a championship. He’s adamant that’s a main priority.” @ChrisBHaynes pic.twitter.com/GWkXk5VNzi
— Dru (@dru_star) December 13, 2025
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Well, that narrows down to essentially a team in California – either in Los Angeles or the Bay. Now, as for the big market and competing for the championship part, we are left with two options – the Lakers and the Warriors.
While the fans are split over the possible destination being the Lakers or the Warriors, some even joked about ‘Sun’ as a reference to Antetokounmpo wanting to join the Phoenix Suns. Giannis has been linked to both the Lakers and the Warriors for quite some time, and if he were to land in any of these two franchises, they would have to part with some of their assets this season.
However, Giannis turns into a free agent in 2027. This could mean the Lakers and the Warriors could fully pursue the Greek Freak without compromising on any of their assets. For the Lakers, Austin Reaves is a possible asset to trade, and for the Warriors, it’s Brandin Podziemski and Jonathan Kuminga. It would be interesting to watch the bidding and the trade battle teams engage in to get the Greek maestro to join their roster.
Fans Ponder Giannis Antetokounmpo’s Possible Destinations Based On His Preferences
Giannis Antetokounmpo’s preferences have sparked a debate among fans about which team he might next choose. While all the signs point towards the Warriors or the Lakers, some fans believe he might be eyeing the Spurs, given that it fits the description. Here is what the fans had to say on Giannis’ preferences.
One fan said:
“Sound like the Bay.”
Another fan added:
“The lakers sounds perfect for those conditions.”
This fan wrote:
“Got to be the Dubs, he’d fit seamlessly.”
Another fan wrote:
“The truth comes out… He wants to go to LA but he don’t wanna play wit Bron… So he goin to GSW 😂.”
This fan added:
“Phoenix or San Antonio. It ain’t the lakers fam.”
It would be interesting to see how the teams fight it out to woo Giannis into their franchise. Either way, having Antetokounmpo in any NBA team easily elevates them as a contender.
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