Rich Paul reignited the conversation around Giannis Antetokounmpo’s future this week, laying out what type of return he believes makes sense for Milwaukee, per Fadeaway World. His appearance on the Game Over Podcast created immediate buzz since Antetokounmpo continues to dominate headlines with uncertainty swirling around the franchise.
“With Giannis, it doesn’t have to be a star because you’re not getting a star back. You’re not getting Luka, you’re not getting Jokic, you’re not getting Shai,” Paul said. “If I’m the Bucks, I’m looking at a young player, high character, high talent, high IQ. I’m calling Atlanta. I want Jalen Johnson. He’s from Milwaukee.”
Sam Quinn of CBS saw the podcast and said, “I just found out Jalen Johnson is from there, so I guess that’s why Rich Paul would encourage it, but man, he’s in an absolutely perfect situation right now. Idk why you’d mess with that to go play for a team whose five-year outlook is pretty bleak, even if it’s home.”
Paul’s comments sparked instant debate. Mentioning Atlanta added new weight to the ongoing conversation about realistic trade frameworks, especially as teams prepare proposals for a potential Giannis sweepstakes. His stance also sharpened the discussion around how the Bucks should evaluate their future if they reach a breaking point.
Milwaukee still controls the timeline. The organization would prefer to keep Giannis, yet ongoing struggles have created tension around their season and raised questions about long-term stability. Many around the league now believe that a trade has become a genuine possibility.
Rich Paul Believes the Hawks Offer a Path Forward
With Antetokounmpo’s future uncertain, teams continue to plan their strongest pitches. Milwaukee expects packages built around multiple players and picks, although not every team has the assets to even enter the conversation. Paul believes the Hawks can.
Instead of using Trae Young as the centerpiece, Paul suggested Atlanta could keep Young and still create a compelling offer by centering their package on Jalen Johnson. Paul highlighted Johnson’s youth, character, and talent as the traits Milwaukee should prioritize.
Johnson’s numbers reflect the type of leap that raises his value leaguewide. In 22 games this season, he is averaging 23.4 points, 10.5 rebounds, 7.9 assists, 1.6 steals and 0.4 blocks while shooting 53.4 percent from the field and 40.4 percent from three. He has powered Atlanta’s 14-11 start and already looks like a franchise cornerstone at 22 years old.
Johnson normally would not come up in trade conversations. A chance to acquire Giannis changes that dynamic, especially since Giannis continues to produce at an elite level with averages of 28.9 points, 10.1 rebounds, 6.1 assists, 0.9 steals and 0.9 blocks on 63.9 percent shooting and 43.5 percent from three.
Inside the Tension Around Milwaukee’s Season
Giannis is now meeting with his agent to discuss his outlook on the organization. Shams Charania reported that the internal strain has started to reach the locker room.
“My understanding is that the locker room can also feel the tension at play here. The harder dialogue could occur, depending on how this team shapes up the rest of this month. They have six of their next nine games on the road, so it is a tough schedule coming up,” Charania said on NBA Today.
Milwaukee still believes it can convince Giannis to stay. That belief depends on wins and momentum before the trade deadline in February. The challenge increases since the team now must push through this stretch without Antetokounmpo on the court.
The supporting cast feels the pressure. Turner, who signed a four-year deal worth 108.9 million dollars this summer, now carries expectations as the player teammates look to for stability. If he cannot elevate his play, the Bucks could find themselves in a slide that shapes the franchise’s long-term direction.
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