Discarded Giannis trade scenario offers silver lining Bucks can't ignore

Inevitable or not, trading Giannis Antetokounmpo is not an outcome likely to thrill many Milwaukee Bucks fans this offseason. Still, a satisfactory return haul would salve some of the sting. Having not one but two top 10 picks in this year's stacked draft? That's worth a thought. 

Few trade partners could give the Bucks a better complement to their own pick, the 10th overall, than the forgotten Los Angeles Clippers. 

Bucks can't help but be intrigued by prospect of a top five pick

To be clear, the Clippers are not among the frontrunners in a potential Giannis blockbuster. Antetokounmpo has already thrown a jab at the city of Los Angeles, casting doubt on whether he would extend there. Plus, the Clippers don't have a blue-chip prospect to send the Bucks in a trade. A Kawhi Leonard package doesn't make sense for either team. 

Suddenly, however, Los Angeles has new life. The Clippers lucked into the fifth overall pick by virtue of the Ivica Zubac trade they made with Indiana at the deadline. As a stipulation of the deal, Los Angeles would receive the Pacers' 2026 first-rounder if it fell between No. 5 and No. 9. Well, it did. Tough luck for Indiana fans. 

That's a highly appealing asset, and the Bucks would happily be beneficiaries. Netting the Clippers pick in a Giannis trade would grant access to a tier of prospects currently outside their range. Darius Acuff. Keaton Wagler. Even Caleb Wilson could end up going fifth overall.

Add to that the Bucks' own pick and they would have two top 10 prospects to work with on next season's roster. Wagler and Cameron Carr? Not a bad way to kick off a rebuild - sorry, a post-Giannis retooling period. 

Clippers can offer immediate upside if Bucks turn page on Giannis era

The Clippers would have no problem making the money work even without involving Leonard. Trading for Giannis would imply pursuing a title sooner rather than later. Rather than trade Leonard, the Clippers could package Darius Garland and another medium salary, plus the No. 5 pick and additional draft capital. 

Is that a home-run offer for the Bucks? Maybe not, but it would give them an interesting compilation of assets in the short-term, along with long-term value via future Clippers draft picks. The fifth prospect off the board in 2026 could certainly become the blue-chipper the Bucks seek. 

Few teams can dangle a better immediate payout in the 2026 draft. If no ideal offer materializes  - and if Giannis decides he would, after all, be interested in joining Leonard for a Finals run in LA - that Clippers deal is a lot more attractive than many hypothetical offers elsewhere. 

Add us as a preferred source on Google

Follow