With the trade deadline looming, the trade buzz involving Giannis Antetokounmpo has been growing louder. Following Shams Charania’s report about Antetokounmpo’s willingness to be traded, several teams have been presented as potential suitors.
Among these, the Golden State Warriors appear to have a solid chance of pursuing the Milwaukee Bucks‘ superstar. However, after a recent report by NBA insider Henry Abbott about Giannis Antetokounmpo’s list of preferred landing spots, Stephen Curry and the Warriors may have less reason to feel optimistic.
“One person told me that Giannis’s preferred list is three teams: the Heat, the Wolves, and the Knicks,” Abbott stated. “Now, another person told me that it is not his list, but would not tell me what his list is. So take it all with a grain of salt.”
The Miami Heat and the New York Knicks have been heavily linked with Giannis Antetokounmpo this season. Several trade packages have been formulated to help facilitate a move, with recent proposals even hinting at the Knicks opting for a three-team deal involving the Blazers.
The Heat have garnered some interest lately, primarily because Bam Adebayo and Antetokounmpo share an agent. However, the challenge with making a deal happen lies in the Bucks’ asking price for Antetokounmpo.
With the Bucks demanding talented young players and significant draft compensation, both the Heat and the Knicks may face some challenges while formulating a convincing offer. Meanwhile, the Minnesota Timberwolves, while an intriguing fit, may not have the assets to make such a trade.
Apart from the aforementioned names, the Toronto Raptors have also been identified as another team that could make a run at acquiring the Bucks’ superstar, according to DallasHoopsJournal.com’s Ashish Mathur. With Toronto reportedly willing to part with anyone except Brandon Ingram and Scottie Barnes, the Raptors also possess enough meaningful assets to formulate a proposal.
Abbott prefaced his statement by sharing that a change would be inevitable, and by potentially partnering up with Rich Paul, Giannis Antetokounmpo would find himself on the way out of Milwaukee.
Although Antetokounmpo has shown a preference for some teams, it doesn’t necessarily imply that these franchises would be capable of acquiring him. On that note, the Golden State Warriors can remain hopeful in their ability to present an ideal trade offer to the Bucks.
Two New Suitors Emerge For Giannis Antetokounmpo
Amid all the noise, NBA insider Chris Haynes noted that two new suitors could emerge for Giannis Antetokounmpo: the Brooklyn Nets and the Atlanta Hawks.
In accordance with the Bucks’ demands, the Nets and Hawks are positioned as intriguing trade destinations, with Brooklyn possessing superior draft assets for a trade.
The Hawks possess the assets to trade for Antetokounmpo. Given that the franchise was interested in acquiring Anthony Davis before his injury, Atlanta could take a similar approach by packaging Kristaps Porzingis, Zaccharie Risacher, Luke Kennard, and potentially two first-round picks to finalize the deal.
While impressive, the Nets’ potential proposal may seem more appealing to Milwaukee.
ESPN’s Brian Windhorst recently noted that Brooklyn’s assets included 10 tradable first-round picks and a star-caliber player in Michael Porter Jr. to build their package around. By formulating a proposal centered around Porter Jr., Terance Mann, and three first-round picks, the Nets may have the best chance of acquiring Giannis Antetokounmpo.
While the trade rumors have gained traction, realistically, there is no guarantee that the trade will happen before the deadline. Reports have already indicated that the Bucks are likely to be patient while considering their options.
Hence, although there is a sense of urgency among other teams, given Milwaukee’s stance and Antetokounmpo’s current injury status, an offseason trade appears to be the more likely outcome.
