There's an argument to be made that if Giannis Antetokounmpo gets traded, he will be the greatest player to ever seek a trade and then get dealt. Understanding this, the Milwaukee Bucks are asking any interested parties to cough up assets accordingly. Insider Jake Fischer (subscription required) reported on Milwaukee's rumored asking price, and it's significant.
"[The Bucks are] asking for the moon," one general manager told The Stein Line on Thursday morning. "All of your young players and all of your draft picks."
Bucks will look to gut any team trading for Giannis
When rumors of Giannis potentially seeking greener pastures first bubbled to the surface, Bucks fans were rightfully nervous. Would the Milwaukee Bucks receive an adequate package in return? Would they take less to move Giannis where he wants? Would they fumble a generational haul to jumpstart a rebuild? Thankfully, it looks like they are taking the right approach.
The Bucks have every right to demand such a haul. Yes, he's been hit by recent injuries, but Giannis is still one of the NBA's greatest players. He can raise any team's ceiling in the blink of an eye. If anyone wants the Greek Freak, they'd better be willing to pay more than the next team. This will likely become an all-out bidding war over the next week or even into the NBA offseason.
With this demand in mind, it's unsurprising that the Miami Heat feel like the natural frontrunner if the Bucks legend is moved within the next week. Miami can offer a combination of draft picks and young players, including Tyler Herro, Kel'el Ware, Jaime Jaquez Jr., and Kasparas Jakučionis. If they were to trade Andrew Wiggins elsewhere, they could acquire more draft capital to send Milwaukee's way.
Other interested suitors, such as the Golden State Warriors, Minnesota Timberwolves, and especially the New York Knicks, don't have that. With the first two teams, it's one or the other, while the Knicks don't have either. Unless those teams gain desirable assets out of thin air, it makes far more sense for the Milwaukee Bucks to stay in touch with the Heat.
Now, with Milwaukee's massive asking price in mind, it wouldn't be surprising if the Giannis saga got dragged out into the summer. In a few months, teams will gain access to more draft capital, fattening up their offers to appease Milwaukee. Their current strategy may be to test the waters right now, get teams engaged, but then tell them to call back down the road.
Losing Giannis Antetokounmpo would undeniably hurt, but if the Milwaukee Bucks can get a mammoth haul in return, it would lessen the blow mightily.
Stay tuned for more Milwaukee Bucks analysis.