Rich Paul Says Bucks Should Target Young Atlanta Hawks Forward

There are a lot of people with a lot of opinions as to what the Milwaukee Bucks should do when it comes to the potential trade of star forward Giannis Antetokounmpo. One of those is super agent Rich Paul. Recently, the head of Klutch Sports threw out the idea on his show “Game Over with Max Kellerman and Rich Paul” that the Bucks should look to acquire Atlanta Hawks and Klutch player, Jalen Johnson. 

While there is the obvious self-interest in this trade pitch, the logic behind the thinking is pretty straightforward. Milwaukee will never get back a player at Antetokounmpo’s elite level, no matter what team or teams they partner with, so maybe they should shift their mindset. Instead of chasing another aging star or trying to remain competitive, they should pivot towards youth and upside. “If I’m the Bucks, I’m looking at a young player, high character, high talent, high IQ. I’m calling Atlanta,” Paul said. 

With Johnson, the Hawks currently have a 24-year-old, fifth-year, 6’8” forward on the verge of becoming an All-Star. Averaging a career high 23 points, 10 rebounds, and eight assists, with shooting averages of 57/40/80, Johnson has the size, athleticism, and versatility to give the Bucks a building block for the future. Add in the fact that he is from Wausau, Wisconsin, the hometown narrative can help as a selling point to the Milwaukee fanbase. 

Locked into a cap-friendly contract, for a player of his stats, paying $30 million per season until the end of the 2029–30 campaign, Johnson and Zaccharie Risacher, and or picks would be the starting point for conversation. The question is, will either team be willing to listen? Will the Bucks feel that they are getting enough in return for a game-changing, two-time MVP who is still in his prime? And will the Hawks be willing to give up two young pieces of their future in order to try and win now with a core of Giannis, Trae Young, Dyson Daniels, and Kristaps Porzingis? 

For Milwaukee, this isn't about winning the trade on paper. It's about accepting reality and pivoting intelligently. Johnson gives them a player who's already producing at an elite level, and one who could potentially be a focal point of a team, not some project they're hoping develops. Risacher adds the draft pedigree as the number one overall pick from 2024. Throw in whatever picks Atlanta's willing to part with, and suddenly you've got a foundation that doesn't require a five-year tank job.

Atlanta, on the other hand, a team that has been good enough to make the play-in, is not good enough to scare anyone in a playoff series. Adding Giannis instantly makes them a top-four seed in the East and gives Young the superstar co-star he's never had, and an elite player the team has not seen since the days of Dominique Wilkins. 

Whether the Bucks and Hawks listen or not, Paul's doing what great agents do; he's not just working for his client, he's working the narrative and shaping how front offices think about value.