Dwight Howard knows what it's like to be the face of a franchise. He also knows what it is like to leave the team that drafted him, thinking that there may be greener pastures elsewhere. That didn't pan out for Howard, who was never the same dominant force after parting with the Orlando Magic, and he's warning Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo about following the same path.
Shortly after ESPN NBA insider Shams Charania reported that Antetokounmpo may be open to the idea of exploring other places to play, Howard posted the following on X, "Don’t leave Giannis coming from someone who been there." Milwaukee Bucks fans hoping that Giannis Antetokounmpo is in town for the long haul will thank Howard, though it may not change the Greek Freak's thinking.
A Giannis Antetokounmpo trade would be massive
Every team in the league would love to have Giannis Antetokounmpo. He's, on his absolute worst day, one of the three best players in the game today. However, with that in mind, it's going to take a haul for any franchise to get him. If he does ask out of Milwaukee, does any team realistically have the assets to make a historic trade package and remain competitive? There are very few.
There are a handful of teams that could be enticing options for Giannis Antetokounmpo, just like the Los Angeles Lakers were for Howard back in the day, but in the aftermath of the trade, that team may not have enough to compete compared to the old landing spot. Howard lasted just one season in LA before being traded, which became the new norm in his career.
None of this is to compare Antetokounmpo and Howard. As gaudy as Howard's resume is, which he will be rewarded for when he enters the Hall of Fame later this year, Giannis is still the better player in the all-time rankings. Yet, the overall point stands that sometimes, a change of scenery may seem like the best move, but it might not pan out.
Everyone knows how loyal Giannis Antetokounmpo is to the Milwaukee Bucks. Year after year, he has made it clear how much he wants to spend his entire career with the franchise. For him to potentially ask out and look to play elsewhere, he must truly think a change of scenery is the best way forward. For now, any chatter about a potential Giannis trade is nothing more than just speculation.
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