Two-time NBA MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo has requested a trade from the Milwaukee Bucks after 13 years with the franchise, and many teams have already made aggressive trade offers as the trade deadline looms.
Having won the NBA Championship in 2021, it seems the Greek forward is now calling time on his career at the Bucks. There is no doubt that most teams in the NBA would welcome him with open arms, but the difficulty lies in the financials of a potential trade, given that Giannis is one of the highest-paid players in the league.
With that being said, which franchises have the required muscle to complete a trade without completely demolishing their own roster?
Golden State Warriors
The Warriors are in a unique position: they have their ageing superstar, desperate for one more deep playoff berth before he calls it quits, in Stephen Curry, and a lot of young assets in Jonathan Kuminga and Brandin Podziemski who do not really fit in San Francisco.
Following the ACL injury to Jimmy Butler, they are now looking at options to trade for Giannis after having been fixated on a trade for Michael Porter Jr. before Giannis requested a trade. If the Warriors were to be involved in a deal for Antetokounmpo, it would most likely have to be a three-team deal. It also depends on the Bucks’ willingness to take an injured Jimmy Butler and, most likely, future picks, as well as on what the other team would be receiving.
Minnesota Timberwolves
The Timberwolves likely have the best assets to make a trade for Giannis, with young players like Rob Dillingham and Jayden McDaniels, along with more proven players such as Julius Randle and Naz Reid.
The possibility of Giannis linking up with Anthony Edwards should send a shiver down the spines of everyone else in the NBA, but it will likely again depend on a third team’s willingness to accept specific assets rather than what they want.
Los Angeles Lakers
Perhaps the least likely outcome of them all, it would be remiss not to mention the possibility of Giannis joining Luka Doncic on the Lakers. A deal here would probably have to include LeBron James, and you don’t just trade LeBron, even if he is nearing the end of his career.
Though they aren’t likely to acquire Giannis, reports have long indicated they are interested in Kuminga, so they could be involved in a trade with the Warriors for the Congolese forward at some point.
It is going to be a fascinating trade deadline period, with many teams likely going all out to acquire such a superstar. There is little doubt that whoever he joins will be joining an already established superstar in Curry, Edwards, or Doncic, surely making them contenders come the end of the season.
Very interesting read, I think it could drag into summer, unless Miami give up everything they have to offer, (ware, herro, Jacquez, jovic, Wiggins plus all the picks) as the bucks don’t seem too interested in the warriors offer, even though I think it’s the best available, with a bunch of young players plus the most future draft capital, with the post curry picks (gsw can offer 2026/ 2028/2030/2032 unprotected picks and then another pick swap in 2031) becoming foreseeably extremely valuable . Like you say it will probably come down to if another team would take either Jimmy or Draymond, as it make no sense for the bucks to take either of them. I imagine they could work something out, for example jrue holiday and Robert Williams being involved, Portland would end up getting Jimmy, gsw would be getting jrue holiday and Giannis (teaming them up again) while bucks get rob Williams kuminga podziemski and either moody or hield, as well as the warchest of draft picks. Portland would do this as they get off of a bad long term contract in jrue holiday and team up Jimmy and dame lillard around a young exciting team, with Jimmys contract being an expiring as well.
I personally don’t see the bucks accepting a Timberwolves offer over the heats or warriors due to no blue chip young talent or a boatload of draft picks. The lakers as well don’t seem to have the assets despite potentially being one of Giannis favourable choices (along with New York and Miami)
Teams will restock in the offseason to make better offers, so it could be in the bucks interest to wait till the offseason, although if they were trying to rebuild they wouldn’t be able to tank this season while having Giannis, and would not be able to get a high draft pick in a loaded draft class.
Great article