Team personnel around the NBA who have spoken recently to Brian Lewis of The New York Post (subscription required) are expressing less confidence that Giannis Antetokounmpo will ask the Bucks to trade him this summer.
“He’s not that guy (to cause trouble),” one source told Lewis. “He’s going to complain, but he isn’t going to actually burn it to the ground and be the bad guy to leave.”
As Lewis details, it’s perhaps no coincidence that rumors about the Nets‘ interest in pursuing a second lottery pick have gained some traction lately, since that’s viewed as a more realistic move for Brooklyn than landing Antetokounmpo. Even if the Bucks star does become available, the Nets have fallen behind teams like San Antonio, Houston, and Toronto as betting favorites to land him, Lewis notes.
“Toronto has more than anyone to offer for Giannis,” one league source told The Post. “But I don’t think he’s being moved.”
If Giannis were available, the Raptors could make a strong bid for him by including former Rookie of the Year and All-Star Scottie Barnes in their package. Still, it’s debatable whether such a move would make sense for Toronto, according to Eric Koreen of The Athletic, who notes that paying a significant price (Barnes, plus other players and picks) for Antetokounmpo wouldn’t necessarily put the Raptors in a better position to contend than recent iterations of the Bucks.
Here’s more from around the Eastern Conference:
- Since we published our most recent list of the NBA’s longest-tenured head coaches last August, four of the top six names on that list (Gregg Popovich, Michael Malone, Taylor Jenkins, and Tom Thibodeau) have been let go or, in Popovich’s case, stepped down. That leaves Erik Spoelstra of the Heat as the league’s longest-tenured head coach by a significant margin, and he doesn’t take that longevity for granted, as Anthony Chiang of The Miami Herald details. “You have to have great ownership and stability from the front office,” Spoelstra said during the season. “… I’m truly grateful for that, because we’ve been able to work through some tough losses and tough seasons and I think we’ve gotten better from that.”
- Omari Sankofa II of The Detroit Free Press (subscription required) considers how the Pistons might be able to leverage certain teams’ cap and apron positions this offseason by pursuing players from those clubs. Sankofa identifies Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Grayson Allen, Isaac Okoro, and Sam Hauser as four wings whom Detroit could target in free agency or trades. Minnesota, Phoenix, and Boston are coming off second-apron seasons, while Cleveland is on track to exceed the second apron in 2025/26.
- The Magic unveiled a new logo and three new uniforms earlier this week, per a team press release. Orlando’s updated look can be found here.
I am already getting tired of teh Giannis and KD rumors. Just get teh trades over as soon as possible.
I think we’re all in for a looooooooong summer of rumors.
With free agency being basically non existent this season. Trade rumors are going to be flying since a lot of teams need to trade to get better or lose salary.
Cavs would be thrilled if anyone wants to trade for Isaac Okoro, they would throw in Moondog for nothing.
He doesn’t have that bad of a contract for being a 2nd team player. they probably would trade him if they got cap space for his contract to sign jerome. Cavs are l;ucky they dion’t have a real bad contract on the team.
Those Magic jersey’s aint it.
Giannis isn’t going anywhere. Only the national trash rags want him out of Milwaukee.
Don’t cry when he does leave.
No, he’ll be traded. But he’ll quietly insist on going to a marquee area (NY, LA, Golden State) where he can make more money outside of basketball.
You hope you goes to those markets you’re afraid for raptors to be good again. They live rent free in your brain….
These “Experts” are just weak minded haters. Giannis wouldn’t put raptors over the top???? Oh eff off! Scottie, Poetl, Agbaji and 3 firsts for Giannis.(Giannis gets more boards and blocks than Embiid he will be fine at center)
Okay then you are left with a starting lineup of…Quickley,Grady,RJ,Ingram,Giannis.
Bench: Shead,AJ,JaKobe,Mogbo,Chomche etc and whichever draft pick we keep.
Free agents to acquire: Nickel Alexander-Walker and I’m all for keeping Boucher.
So raps can’t win with that if everyone is healthy???? No expectations excuse was used when was Kawhi was with raptors also.
Giannis + Barnes would be an absolute problem for the rest of the league; maintain Ingram, and that’s an instant contender.
Quickley, RJ, Poeltl, Mogbo and picks for Giannis and a bad contract for MIL.
Role players that can be gettable to complement the roster:
Kelly O.
Defensive perimeter players
Shooters
Scottie at the point
1st place in the East
Top 3 player in the world for that trash ain’t gonna cut it.
Hou, SA, even ATL could offer a better swap.
Point is moot as he ain’t going anywhere.
IQ and RJ only netted the Knicks OG and Precious. Those two aren’t pulling Giannis and there’s not enough picks in the world to make it work. Any Raptors trade would have to start around Barnes.
That sounds good Julian but bucks would want Scottie. Then the next good role players that they would want(likely Poetl,Agbaji with 3-4 firsts.
Giannis to San Antonio or Houston —-
It’s going down draft night. Bucks will never ever get a better deal. They can rebuild in one year. Might even make playoffs next year with a new team.
The Bucks will never get a better player than Giannis.
People probably thought that about San Antonio too but can never tell what the future holds
As a Bucks fan I agree, its time. I want our team to have a brighter future going forward, and the only way to do so I by trading Giannis. There where Reports the Bucks where working out some of the top prospects in this draft and even had a phone call with one of them despite not having a FRP in this draft. That makes me wonder if they have a specific prospect they are targeting. I think it would be insane if the trade was annouced on draft night in front if the entire audience and media.
I said the same thing.. Giannis isn’t going to be moved.
Only trading him if he asks to be traded is what weak franchises do who aren’t concerned about future performance and revenue. If you get a great offer, freaking trade him.
As a Buck fan I agree, if a team, makes an amazing offer do it even if he dosent ask out, this could be are only chance for the team to set itself up for a brighter future. I hope the front office would be smart enough to realize this. The Bucks need to look to their NFL counterparts up in Green Bay, the Packers have moved on from 2 all time great hall of fame Quarterbacks, and I would argue they where better off each time they did.
If Giannis requests a trade it wont be me made public to the media. Rather it will be made behind close doors, the media, and fan base wont even know if he requested a trade or not. The Bucks front office often works in a clandestine manner. If/When he gets traded no one will see it coming. The NBA world will hear of the trade either on draft or out of know where before the season begins, and the news will drop like a massive Bomb shell.
Jaylen Brown for Giannis. Celtics needs this trade.