Bleacher Report's Zach Buckley just proposed a Giannis trade that would haunt Milwaukee for the next twenty years. This is exactly the kind of disaster the Bucks need to avoid at all costs.
The proposed deal: OG Anunoby, Josh Hart, Miles McBride, Pacome Dadiet, a 2026 first (top-8 protected via Washington), plus 2028, 2030, and 2032 first-round swaps for Giannis and Thanasis Antetokounmpo.
Let's be brutally honest: this package is just not the best relative to what Milwaukee should demand for a two-time MVP still in his prime.
Bleacher Report's trade pitch has the Bucks shooting themselves in the foot
Let's talk about the trade piece by piece. Anunoby is a nice role player, and nobody's denying that. Over the past few years he's built up a portfolio of being a solid defender and decent three-point shooter, but he's simply not a foundational piece you build around.
So too does Hart bring energy and hustle, which is great, except Milwaukee without Giannis won't need more effort guys who help you win games once your foundation is set.
Then the role players: McBride is a backup point guard with limited upside. Dadiet is a complete unknown who might never contribute meaningful NBA minutes (especially once you throw him into the developmental purgatory that is the Milwaukee Bucks under the Doc Rivers regime).
The pick situation is even worse. One actual first-rounder that's top-8 protected, meaning the Knicks can keep it if they end up underperforming. Then three pick swaps spread across the next six years, which only convey value if the other team is significantly worse than you, which New York won't be if they just acquired Giannis. It also extends the Bucks' rebuild by almost a decade.
The biggest red flag is that this trade simply does not meaningfully set the Bucks up for a rebuild in any way, shape, or form. There's no young star to build around, no unprotected picks to tank for, no pathway back to contention. Milwaukee would be stuck with a roster of role players and minimal draft capital.
There will likely be better trade offers out there if the Bucks actually shop Giannis properly. Miami has more attractive young talent. Golden State could offer better picks. Even teams not currently in the conversation could assemble superior packages if given the opportunity.
Doing this trade would just mean the Bucks caved and gave Giannis the specific destination he wanted, since it's been reported he would prefer going to the Knicks.
To put things into perspective, just compare this sham of a package to, say, what the Nets got for Kevin Durant: Mikal Bridges, Cam Johnson, four unprotected first-round picks, and a pick swap. That's a real haul.
Milwaukee would be setting themselves back decades by accepting this deal. Once completed, they find themselves with no pathway to getting another star, no lottery picks to rebuild through the draft, just a collection of role players and fake assets that look good on paper but provide zero actual value.
The verdict
Grade: F
This mock trade would be nothing short of malpractice if Milwaukee actually considered it. If this is the best offer New York can muster, Milwaukee needs to tell them to get lost and open up negotiations to every team with actual assets. Let Miami, Golden State, Houston, and others drive up the price.
Giannis wanting to be a Knick doesn't obligate Milwaukee to accept a garbage package. Force New York to pay fair value or watch him go somewhere else. That's the only leverage the Bucks have left, and they can't just waste it on role players and low-value picks.
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