Brian Windhorst Reveals Price For Cavs To Land Giannis Antetokounmpo
If the Cleveland Cavaliers want to make a trade with the Milwaukee Bucks for Giannis Antetokounmpo, they can get it done. But will they bite the bullet?
Speaking on ESPN Cleveland, NBA insider Brian Windhorst suggested ways the Cavs could improve their roster after being swept from the Eastern Conference Finals by the New York Knicks.
One of those ways is by getting Antetokounmpo in a trade from the Bucks.
According to the veteran scribe, the Cavs could have Antetokounmpo on their roster next year, but it would come at a high cost: they would have to make former NBA Defensive Player of the Year Evan Mobley the centerpiece of the trade.
Mobley... would instantaneously have Milwaukee's attention."
"I don't like the idea of trading a 25-year-old (Mobley) for a 31-year-old (Antetokounmpo)... but if the Cavs were willing to make Mobley available, it would instantaneously have Milwaukee's attention. It just would," Windhorst said.
"Cause you're talking about a guy who's under contract for four more years, who's been an All-NBA player and a Defensive Player of the Year. What they're being offered (from other teams) is just not that."
Cavs Can Beat Heat's Offer for Antetokounmpo
If the Cavs put Mobley up for sale, then he would be the centerpiece of a trade for Antetokounmpo, and it would help Cleveland beat the current trade package from the Miami Heat.
The Heat are said to be offering the Bucks a package that includes Tyler Herro, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Kel'el Ware, and multiple first-round draft picks for Antetokounmpo.
It's a strong offer, but none of those players are former All-NBA players like Mobley. Therefore, the Cavs could make a stronger offer for "The Greak Freak."
Related: Heat Have Made Trade Offer to Bucks for Giannis Antetokounmpo
If Antetokounmpo is traded this summer -- and by all accounts, the Bucks are working hard to find an enticing trade package for their longtime superstar -- then Milwaukee needs to bring back elite pieces for him in a trade. Herro, Jaquez, and Ware are all nice players, and those future first-round picks could turn into something good.
But none of them are established talents like Mobley is, and just 25, with untapped potential.
More NBA:
- LeBron James Divulges Timeline for Potential Retirement Decision
- Kendrick Perkins Makes Bold Statement About Alex Caruso
- Shaquille O'Neal Sends Blunt Message On Breaking Up The Celtics
Would Cleveland Pull the Trigger on Moving Mobley?
According to Windhorst, the ball is in Cleveland's court right now. The longtime NBA scribe truly believes that if the team is willing to move their young big man, the Bucks would accept him as the main piece in a trade for Antetokounmpo.
But if the Cavs agree to the deal, then a contract extension with Antetokounmpo -- who only has one more year left on his current contract -- has to be a part of the trade.
"Giannis has one year left on his contract. So, if you got serious about it, if you were giving up Evan Mobley at four years, $210 million, if you were giving up a young All-Star on a controlled deal for (four more) years, you'd have to know that Giannis was going to re-sign," Windhorst said.
"So, before everybody has Giannis in a Cavs jersey, I just laid out two enormous ifs. If the Cavs were willing to do it, and if Giannis was willing to sign. Cause you can't trade Mobley for a guy who's going to be here for a year. You can't do it."
According to Windhorst, this type of franchise-altering move would have to be approved at the ownership level, meaning Cavs owner Dan Gilbert would have to OK any deal involving Mobley for Antetokounmpo.
Would he say yes to it? It's hard to say. But after the Cavs got swept out of the Eastern Conference Finals despite having the highest payroll in the NBA, anything is possible.
Related: Dan Gilbert Hints at Changes After Knicks Sweep Cavs
Copyright 2026 The Arena Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
This story was originally published May 27, 2026 at 10:01 PM.