Bucks' last go for broke swing to keep Giannis is staring them in the face

Despite a general belief that the Milwaukee Bucks are sliding toward a rebuild, they could have one more all-in gamble at their disposal before the trade deadline. It's a long shot, it might sound laughable, and it's probably not even a good idea, but could they go after Cleveland's Donovan Mitchell in a last-ditch effort to extend the Giannis Antetokounmpo era in Milwaukee? We're talking low-likelihood percentages as it is, but it could be less far-fetched than it seems.

"People around the league are watching the Donovan Mitchell situation," ESPN's Tim Bontemps said Monday on The Hoop Collective podcast. "He's got one guaranteed year left on his contract. He has not made it out of the second round of the playoffs in his career."

Those remarks do not derive out of thin air. Stuck in the second-apron, amid an underwhelming season, the Cavaliers must decide whether their current group can reach the promised land sooner rather than later. Mitchell is owed $50 million next season and can leave afterward. The clock is ticking. 

Based on dollar amount, contract length, and potential return, it would be remiss to exclude Mitchell from consideration. If Cleveland is willing to listen, the Bucks could initiate talks. 

Blockbuster for the ages would be Bucks' last gasp

It's not just Bontemps who sees instability in Cleveland. Host Brian Windhorst backed him up by suggesting that the time has to ask whether the Cavaliers would consider breaking up their "core four" of Mitchell, Darius Garland, Evan Mobley, and Jarrett Allen.

If the Cavaliers don't think that group can reach the pinnacle, shedding salary now would be a win for the future. At 30-21 they are in decent shape, but for a team that began the year as a favorite to win the East, sitting in fifth place is a disappointment. If the roster remains mired deep in the second apron, the front office will be effectively handcuffed as far as adding talent in the offseason, likely the last with Mitchell under contract.

Among playoff contenders, the Cavaliers are not in an enviable position. 

Let's get to the Bucks' perspective. What would an offer even look like? Kyle Kuzma and Bobby Portis, plus Ryan Rollins and a 2031 first-round pick? All that for a year and a half of Mitchell's services before, most likely, he declines his 2027 player option and hits free agency.

It's hard to imagine a world where the Bucks get a deal done without including Rollins. That hurts. Right now, the young guard looks like the brightest thing in a bleak feature. Could Milwaukee get away with attaching protections to that 2031 first-rounder, or else trading it as a swap? 

The Cavaliers would benefit considerably from a financial standpoint. They have legitimate incentives to unburden their books for a future roster built around Mobley, whose extension carries through 2029. Re-routing Kuzma and Portis for expiring salaries would be an ideal outcome. On top of that, they would have Rollins and some form of draft capital to aid a smooth transition to a new team identity.  

The Bucks, for their part, would get a bona fide star. Mitchell is averaging 28.8 points, 5.8 assists, and 1.5 steals on highly efficient shooting splits. His 5.4 win shares are nearly equivalent to the win-share value of Kuzma, Portis, and Rollins combined (6.0). Make a move or two around the edges, and maybe, with Giannis healthy, you end up with a feisty Play-in squad. If Milwaukee gives up Rollins in a deal, it would be preferable to do so for Mitchell before Ja Morant. 

Clearly, this would be the Bucks shoving all-in at the expense of the future. Is that a good idea with an 18-29 roster? This team is clearly bad; now Giannis is hurt again. It all screams disaster. 

Moreover, would a Mitchell trade convince Giannis to ink an extension this offseason? He could simply play out next season and leave in 2027 free agency with Mitchell. No Giannis, no Mitchell, no Rollins, no pick.

Good news horrified Bucks fans, it probably won't happen. 

Be all that as it may, if keeping Giannis is the one and only goal, then trading for Donovan Mitchell could be one completely unexpected answer. The NBA Trade Deadline has seen stranger things happen.