Remember when the LA Clippers traded everything to acquire Paul George from the OKC Thunder in 2019? The Milwaukee Bucks must require any franchise trying to acquire Giannis Antetokounmpo to cough up everything they have in a similar vein. Milwaukee cannot afford to trade their generational talent for pennies on the dollar. It should be the biggest trade in NBA history.
If Giannis is traded, the Milwaukee Bucks must ask for the farm
Giannis being traded is only a conversation because, in case you missed it, ESPN analyst and insider Shams Charania reports that conversations between the Greek Freak, his agent, and the Bucks are set to take place about his future. Within a few weeks, there should be some clarity on whether Giannis wants to stay committed to Milwaukee or seek a fresh start.
In the aforementioned trade, the Clippers sent Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Danilo Gallinari, the Miami Heat’s 2021 unprotected first-rounder, their 2022 unprotected first-rounder, the right to a 2023 first-round swap with the Clippers, the Clippers’ 2024 unprotected first-rounder, Miami's 2025 protected first-rounder for 1-14 (unprotected for 2026), the right to a 2025 first-round swap with Clippers, and the Clippers’ 2026 unprotected first-rounder for Paul George.
It was a steep price, but something LA deemed fine for an MVP-caliber player. OKC has taken that package and become the NBA's next looming dynasty. That type of deal should be the starting point in any Giannis offer. A young player full of potential, a lifetime supply of picks, and salary filler. Deal.
If a divorce is inevitable, the Bucks must drive a hard bargain. Giannis' rumored preferred destination, New York, doesn't have the assets to make an offer even remotely close to this. Trading away Giannis would hurt enough. Trading him for scraps would rub salt in the wound. The Milwaukee Bucks need to gut the future of any team looking to even give them a call.
The question is, if Giannis asks out in the coming weeks, how many NBA teams would legitimately consider shaking things up so drastically mid-season? Integrating a superstar is certainly not an easy feat. Yes, he could immediately give their title chances a boost, but would they feel comfortable doing such a drastic shakeup with zero time to build chemistry, sacrificing their future? It's worth asking.
If Giannis does ask out, teams that can offer him a chance to contend while also giving the Bucks an adequate return are slim. San Antonio, with Stephon Castle, Dylan Harper, and a boatload of picks, can make an interesting offer. The Atlanta Hawks have a breakout star in Jalen Johnson and picks. The Bucks would surely love to get some of their picks back from Portland.
Whether it's those three teams or anyone else, the Milwaukee Bucks cannot afford to play nice just to appease Giannis. This is the future of the franchise at stake.
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