The Milwaukee Bucks will canvas the trade market for Giannis Antetokounmpo's next running mate this summer in an effort to keep him in town. Right now, there's no telling who will become available, but there is suddenly one eye-catching name making the rounds, and that's Cleveland Cavaliers star guard Donovan Mitchell.
Per The Athletic's Fred Katz (subscription required), the Cavaliers will offer Mitchell an extension in the summer. If he does not sign it, they will consider trading him. Mitchell becoming available would make him one of the hottest names on the market, and landing a player of his caliber could be what forces Giannis to put all of this trade chatter behind him and remain a Buck.
Would a Cavaliers' playoff collapse signal the end of Mitchell's tenure and initiate a trade? Teams like the Bucks are certainky keeping an eye out.
Bucks know they need a splash to keep Giannis
The recipe is clear. When things look bleak, put all of your assets on the table for a star, and Giannis will sign an extension. It happened when the Milwaukee Bucks landed Jrue Holiday, and it worked in the immediate aftermath of their Damian Lillard trade as well. With Giannis' future once again among the hottest topics of conversation, the Milwaukee Bucks will go big-game hunting once more.
Mitchell makes all the sense in the world as a Bucks target.
The seven-time All-Star just had one of his best regular seasons to date, averaging 27.9 points while hitting 48.3 percent of his shots, 5.7 assists, 4.5 rebounds, and 1.5 steals per game. Having that type of firepower next to Giannis Antetokounmpo would take so much pressure off the Greek Freak, unlike this season, where he was constantly forced to carry so much of the workload.
On top of that, unlike other stars who might be available, such as Kawhi Leonard, Mitchell is yet to turn 30 years old. He has a lot of good basketball in him and fits snugly next to Giannis, timeline-wise. These two could be a formidable one-two punch for years to come, helping the Milwaukee Bucks rise back to contention after an off-year.
Bucks quietly equipped to get another star player
Despite what the talking heads say, the Milwaukee Bucks are actually well-positioned to land another star this summer. It starts with their soon-to-be replenished draft capital. On draft night, the Bucks will have three first-round picks to trade, including one this summer. If they can acquire a player with the recognition of Mitchell, it's absolutely worth putting those picks on the table.
Contract-wise, the Bucks have a handful of movable assets that could help them land a big fish. No, Kyle Kuzma and Bobby Portis alone aren't getting any deals done, but when the Bucks start attaching first-rounders to discussions, things suddenly get a lot more interesting. The Milwaukee Bucks have pulled rabbits out of hats before; they can do it again.
For any of this to become remotely possible, the Bucks need their Central Division rivals to collapse. Mitchell wants to win and get his money. If he feels like Cleveland cannot offer that, perhaps a move to Milwaukee alongside one of the best players in the world and a new head coach could be enticing to him. Bucks fans should keep a close eye on the Cavaliers this postseason.
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