The Bucks have continued to deal with uncertainty about their superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo's future, and they will be forced to make a major trade before the deadline. Whether it's trading away Giannis or making an all-in move to add talent, the Bucks will be the NBA's center of attention.
Giannis' latest injury has added another layer of complexity to the Bucks' dilemma, but a major trade could still be on the way.
The Bucks need to make a huge trade one way or another
No matter how you look at it, the Bucks are clearly nowhere close to a championship contender right now. This leaves them at a franchise crossroads ahead of the trade deadline. Giannis is still a generational talent in his prime, and his talents are being wasted on the current Bucks roster.
The more likely option is to pursue a big trade to bring in more talent and hopefully give the team new life. But the Bucks have few desirable assets, and they'll have to give up a lot for a trade that truly moves the needle. One of the team's biggest weaknesses is a lack of young talent, but a win-now move could just make the problem even worse.
There are plenty of rumored names that could be on the move and have an immediate impact on the Bucks. Whether it's an established star like Anthony Davis or a complementary piece like Trey Murphy III, the NBA is overflowing with trade targets. But getting one of these marquee players will require the Bucks to give up their few desirable players or precious future draft picks.
That's a tough pill to swallow for a franchise whose future already looks bleak. Even if a blockbuster trade of that magnitude turns out well and leads to huge improvement this season, the Bucks would still be mortgaging their future. But that could be the price of keeping Giannis around and building a contender worthy of his talents.
The other nuclear option is trading Giannis for a huge haul now. A player of his stature doesn't typically get traded in the middle of the season, but last year taught us that it's not impossible. Giannis himself has refused to demand a trade, so shipping him out without express permission could be considered a massive betrayal by the Bucks front office. Doing so as he's nursing a calf injury seems even less likely, but opposing teams might be willing to overlook the injury for his ability.
Even with that additional emotional baggage, a Giannis trade could be the best option. If the Bucks can get him to a contender, it should be better for his career than wasting time on an 11th seed. It would also start the Bucks' rebuild and give them more clarity on their path going forward.
Regardless of what the Bucks do this trade deadline, the entire basketball world will be watching them.