Gannis Antetokounmpo has made it clear over the past few months that he is not fully committed to a longer-term future with the Milwaukee Bucks.Â
Shams Charania of ESPN reported the 2021 Finals MVP had eyes for the New York Knicks, but Brian Windhorst claimed teams around the league were calling the Bucks in hopes of landing the perennial MVP candidate. While Milwaukee reportedly wasn’t listening to any of those calls, multiple franchises are keeping close tabs on Antetokounmpo.Â
“When that report came out, the fact that the Knicks and Bucks had some level of negotiation, as you can imagine some teams checked in with the Bucks. Like, ‘Hey, are you open to negotiations with Giannis?’” Windhorst said on Antetokounmpo’s future, adding that Milwaukee didn’t entertain a trade idea because of its high hopes for this season. “But there’s no way that this Giannis thing is not gonna come back to the surface.”
An Antetokounmpo trade would likely come with a historic haul back to the Bucks, regardless of which team he goes to. While the Knicks, Golden State Warriors, San Antonio Spurs, and a few others have been named as top destinations, an under-the-radar team on the rise could be a surprise candidate to land the two-time MVP.Â
Giannis Antetokounmpo Trade Pitch To The Pistons
The Detroit Pistons went from having the worst record in the NBA two years ago to winning their first playoff game since 2008 in April. Much of that was due to the quick rise of Cade Cunningham, as in his fourth season, he averaged 26.1 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 9.1 assists, finishing seventh in MVP voting.
With Detroit on the rise, they need another superstar to pair with their playmaker, and Antetokounmpo could be who they target next. Here’s what a full trade would look like, according to a recently published article by Bleacher Report:
Detroit Pistons receive: Giannis AntetokounmpoÂ
Milwaukee Bucks receive: Tobias Harris, Jaden Ivey, Ausar Thompson, a 2027 first-round pick, a 2029 first-round pick, and a 2031 first-round pickÂ
“The most important part is the foundation. And there are real reasons for both teams to be interested in that,” Andy Bailey wrote about the mock trade. “Detroit would have two top 10-15 players, with a supporting cast that would still include a rim-running double-double machine (Jalen Duren), shooting (from Duncan Robinson) and a promising young wing (Ron Holland).”Â
Detroit makes the trade because it immediately vaults them into title-contender status, with two top players in the league in a weak Eastern Conference. While they would be giving up two of their top young players in Ivey and Thompson, as well as multiple first-round picks, the deal turns them into a team that can win multiple playoff rounds.Â
For Milwaukee, the front office might not want to lose perhaps the best player in franchise history, but the deal would bring in young players and assets that could help fuel a quick rebuild.
The Bucksâ Uncertain Future
According to Charania’s recent reporting, Milwaukee wasn’t interested in what the Knicks, or any other team for that matter, could offer for Antetokounmpo. They believe he, alongside new addition Myles Turner and the rest of the supporting cast, can compete in the East next season.Â
The Bucks did lose Damian Lillard, Brook Lopez, and Pat Connaughton, and failed to bring back another true playmaker to run the floor with Antetokounmpo. They kept Kyle Kumza, Kevin Porter, and other rotational players, but compared to the rosters of teams like New York and Cleveland, Milwaukee is lagging.Â
Antetokounmpo expressed his interest in continuing to fight for another championship, and at this point, the Bucks just aren’t at the same level as the other top teams.Â
“I want to be on a team that allows me and gives me a chance to win a championship,” Antetokounmpo said at his remote appearance during the team’s media day. “I think it’s a disservice to basketball, just to the game, to not want it to compete in a high level, to want your season to end in April.”
As their star has made it clear he is open-minded about a potential move, it might be best for the team to look at its options now, while Antetokounmpo is healthy and still a consistent MVP candidate. It would be hard for a team like the Knicks to offer a ‘kitchen sink’ type deal with young players and draft picks, but the Pistons’ offer could be more enticing.Â
“Even the most optimistic outlook of Giannis’ current supporting cast probably doesn’t include the Bucks realistically contending for a title any time soon,” Bailey added. “This is the kind of trade package that could make the Bucks seriously consider a fresh start.”
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