Giannis Antetokounmpo may have played his last game in a Bucks uniform at the end of their series against the Pacers. A shocking report from ESPN’s Shams Charania now indicates that the Bucks superstar is open to considering a move away from the Bucks. After this report was published, the NBA media went into a frenzy about predicting where the Bucks’ star could land if they decide to let him go in a trade.
According to ESPN’s Brian Windhorst, the San Antonio Spurs and the Rockets are in the best position to make a trade offer that may persuade the Bucks to let Giannis go. He said, “Two things you have to know about the Bucks when you consider a trade. The Bucks do not control their first-round pick for five years. That means if the Bucks are gonna trade him, thinking that they’re going to tank for the next three years and rebuild, not gonna happen, they need quality players (in return). And the other thing that you need to know is, if you’re gonna trade Giannis to a team that’s going to be a super team, getting that team’s draft assets is not exciting because they’re not going to be very high picks for the next few years. So you’re going to look at teams that have players to trade and other teams’ draft assets that they can trade beside theirs. San Antonio and Houston! San Antonio and Houston! San Antonio and Houston, pay attention there.”
He further added two other team names that might be underdogs to land Antetokounmpo in a trade, but could play a crucial role in facilitating a trade for the Bucks’ star in a three-team trade. Windhorst said, “And the other thing is Brooklyn because Brooklyn has Phoenix’s future drafts but Brooklyn’s current players not that strong, not as exciting of a player acquisition. The other team to watch, the New Orleans Pelicans. Now why would I say to watch the New Orleans Pelicans? Because the New Orleans Pelicans hold the next three drafts for the Milwaukee Bucks. And if you’re going to do a deal with the Bucks and open a door for a rebuild, you will have to try and go to New Orleans, try and get the Milwaukee stuff out of New Orleans and offer it back to the Bucks. Of course the Pelicans could make their own offer but I suspect teams would try and do a three-team trade. All of these things will be clarifying once Giannis makes a decision…”
Analyzing Giannis Antetokounmpo’s Fit With Rockets, Spurs
Antetokounmpo is currently owed $54.1 million next season. As per the salary cap estimates, that is about 35% of a team’s total salaries that a team is permitted to pay without incurring a luxury tax. This means that teams like the Rockets or San Antonio will have to figure out a way to offer players with an equivalent salary.
For the Rockets, this may have to involve a trade of Jalen Green or Alperen Sengun, since Fred VanVleet, who is yet to pick up his player option, is not a very attractive player for a trade, even though his salary amount can help tip the scales for the Rockets. Rockets will likely look to give up a young, promising player like Jabari Smith Jr or Tari Eason to convince the Bucks in any trade that doesn’t include the above-mentioned three players. However, that may not be enough, so they will have to either include the 2031 first-round pick and the 2027 swap rights with the Nets to even consider a trade for Antetokounmpo.
For the Spurs, the most exciting prospect would be the frontcourt duo of Antetokounmpo and Wembanyama. However, in order to make the trade happen, the Spurs will likely have to trade Devin Vassell or Keldon Johnson. The biggest bonus for them is that they landed the No. 2 pick in this year’s draft lottery. Therefore, the Spurs will ideally look to retain their core of Wembanyama, Fox, and Stephon Castle. Everything else should be up for grabs for the Bucks in a potential trade.
