If the San Antonio Spurs wanted to get the Milwaukee Bucks' attention regarding a possible trade for Giannis Antetokounmpo this summer, winning the NBA Draft Lottery would have been a good way to do so. Cooper Flagg, far and away the top overall pick, would have been the ultimate asset to include in a trade package for a player of Giannis' caliber.
They just missed out.
Spurs fans likely had their hearts drop when it was revealed they would be picking second in the draft, with the Dallas Mavericks taking home the top pick. Landing that top pick - and Flagg in a few months - could have put the Spurs far above the rest of the league in terms of being able to make a legitimate offer for Giannis Antetokounmpo, given their massive stockpile of assets and Flagg's potential.
Spurs still have a great Giannis package, but not THE Giannis package
To be clear, the Spurs still have a great combination of assets they could offer the Milwaukee Bucks if moving Giannis becomes a reality. The second pick in the draft isn't shabby, and the Spurs also have a collection of other picks and young players, such as Rookie of the Year Stephon Castle, that could be of interest to Milwaukee if they trade Giannis away. They just aren't the clear-cut front-runners.
Currently, if Giannis does seek a fresh start, the Spurs, Oklahoma City Thunder and Houston Rockets seem like the legitimate three contenders who could make a run. The Dallas Mavericks could create a compelling offer centered around their newly acquired top overall pick, but only time will tell if that's a direction they are interested in.
Any Giannis Antetokounmpo trade package would end up more than likely being the biggest set of moving parts in NBA history. Every single team in the league will be calling, trying to get something done to add one of the best players in the game today, but very few have what it would take to do it.
As of now, Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks have not made any concrete decisions on his future with the franchise. Though ESPN's Shams Charania reports that Giannis may be open to other options, there is certainly a pathway that leads him back to Milwaukee. However, until someone comes out and confirms that, these trade rumors will run rampant across the NBA.
Stay tuned for more Milwaukee Bucks analysis.