- Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks are in a 1-3 hole against the Miami Heat.
- Milwaukee’s star is up for a contract extension this summer.
- If he turns it down, the Bucks should trade him before they lose two-time MVP for nothing.
The Milwaukee Bucks are in an epic hole. If they can’t miraculously dig themselves out, they might lose their crown jewel, Giannis Antetokounmpo.
And they would have no one to blame but themselves. As small market teams struggle to hold onto superstars, it’s often because they aren’t willing to go into the luxury tax.
We saw it in Oklahoma City when the Thunder traded away James Harden. And we’re seeing it now with a Milwaukee team that could desperately use the shooting and playmaking ability of Malcolm Brogdon; too bad they let him walk.
If the Bucks lose to the Miami Heat in the second round, and history overwhelmingly says they will, the Greek Freak might set his sights on greener pastures. Here’s how the Bucks could recoup their losses if they decide to get ahead of 2021 free agency and trade their star.
The Five Best Trades for Giannis Antetokounmpo
First of all, let’s assume that everyone is interested in Giannis. Giannis, however, is rumored only to be interested in a select few teams, including Toronto, Miami, and possibly Golden State. We’ll start with those teams then move onto other tantalizing options.
1. Toronto Raptors
Toronto Receives: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Eric Bledsoe, Ersan Ilyasova
Milwaukee Receives: Pascal Siakam, Kyle Lowry, Terence Davis, two first-round picks
Milwaukee should be looking for a haul equal to or larger than New Orleans’ Anthony Davis sweepstakes. That means they should accept nothing less than their trade partners’ best young player, and then some.
Making the money work out for this one is tricky, but we’ll leave that up to the pros. But if Milwaukee nabs Siakam, who is Giannis-lite, they’ll be set up for playoff success in the years to come.
2. Miami Heat
Miami Receives: Giannis Antetokounmpo
Milwaukee Receives: Bam Adebayo, Tyler Herro, Kendrick Nunn, Andre Iguodala, one first-round pick
Unless Miami ends up winning or comes close to winning the NBA championship this year, they should jump at this opportunity. With two culture-setting superstars at the helm, they will compete for championships for years to come.
Milwaukee, meanwhile, would get an absolute young stud in Bam Adebayo. Along with Herro and Nunn, the Bucks would get deeper while competing now and in the future. Check out what Adebayo can do:
3. The Golden State Warriors
Golden State Receives: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Thanasis Antetokounmpo
Milwaukee Receives: Klay Thompson, Eric Paschall, 2020 first-round pick
The price for a two-time MVP is high. In this scenario, Golden State departs with a franchise pillar in Klay Thompson, their best young player in Eric Paschall, and the number two pick in the 2020 draft.
With Khris Middleton and Thompson on the perimeter, Milwaukee would barely miss a beat if they could trade for a more explosive point guard.
4. The Philadelphia 76ers
Philadelphia Receives: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Eric Bledsoe
Milwaukee Receives: Ben Simmons, Josh Richardson
Here’s another trade that requires cap experts to pull off. But a general Ben Simmons for Giannis Antetokounmpo trade should keep Milwaukee happy.
Simmons would finally be surrounded by shooters and be the undisputed leader of this team. Philly, meanwhile, may consider another blockbuster trade of Joel Embiid to pair Giannis will an all-NBA guard, like, maybe…Bradley Beal.
5. The Denver Nuggets
Denver Receives: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Eric Bledsoe, Ersan Ilyasova
Milwaukee Receives: Jamal Murray, Michael Porter Jr., Will Barton, two first-round picks
This might be the ultimate win-win in this unfortunate scenario. Denver gets the superstar, while Bledsoe finds his perfect home as a passive, defensive-minded point guard.
Milwaukee finally gets a dynamic, sharp-shooting point guard in Jamal Murray. They get future hope with former top-ranked draft pick Michael Porter Jr. Check out his talents below:
Barton helps fill in the gaping wing hole. And the two first-round picks round out Milwaukee’s loss.
Disclaimer: The opinions in this article do not necessarily reflect the views of CCN.com.
