Although the Nets clearly aren’t focused on winning games this season, they’ve long had their sights set on Giannis Antetokounmpo and their rebuild shouldn’t prevent them from making an offer for the Bucks superstar, says Brian Lewis of The New York Post (subscriber link). Multiple sources Lewis has spoken to said the Nets plan to be competitive in 2026/27.
“Then this is their moment,” one league source told The Post. “Really depends on if they decide that their aimless tank is over. They could sure make the best offer.”
As Lewis writes, “best” is a relative term and an ideal offer for Milwaukee depends on what the team is prioritizing. But the Nets certainly have a large stash of draft assets if they decide to pursue the two-time MVP.
On the latest edition of the Hoop Collective podcast (YouTube link), ESPN’s Brian Windhorst agreed that the Nets could be a suitor for Antetokounmpo, Lewis notes.
“Brooklyn has 10 tradable firsts, Michael Porter Jr. and 11 tradeable firsts as of draft night,” Windhorst said. “… I think Brooklyn will seriously consider making an offer.”
Lewis’ aforementioned source assumed Porter would be involved in an outgoing package for Giannis, but an assistant GM thought the 27-year-old forward would be more likely stay in Brooklyn, speculating that Nic Claxton and Terance Mann would be included instead for salary-matching purposes.
“The Nets make a lot of sense for him,” one Eastern Conference assistant GM told Lewis. “They have some good future picks. [They] could, in theory, trade five future [first-round] picks, keep this year’s pick, shut him down for the year? Tank?“
Yoooo this could be the surer way to get him to NYC
Fuggedaboutit 🙃🤑🥴
“Then this is their moment,” one league source told The Post. “Really depends on if they decide that their aimless tank is over. They could sure make the best offer.”
Does this league source have a brain injury? In what world would this make any sense whatsoever for a team like the Nets, who are as far away from contending for a championship as you can be?
Because they’ll still have cap space and if they can manage to get a deal done without giving up MPJ and keeping a few of their intriguing young players that’s not so terrible? Not saying it’s likely and this does seem entirely speculative, but the Nets were already thought to be aggressive in free agency. And if that was indeed the plan then this would fit into that thinking (provided the price is right, of course).
sheagoodbye:
They have so little talent on that roster and they’re so far from competing for anything seriously to add a player in his 30s who’s had injuries is completely ridiculous. I don’t care about the cap space. What in the world would be the point of this? If they’re going to be aggressive, you’d be going after younger veterans. This guy only makes sense as a final piece for a legitimate championship contender.
Yup cap space lol. Although I don’t know who is a FA.
I still don’t see it …….
Huh..?
Shanghai Ducks are also all in.
I heard Baylor was making an offer as well.
This is why they will forever be a losing franchise. Why would a team in the midst of a rebuild trade young talent and draft picks for a 34 year star that is clearly in the downward part of his career. Maybe you get 3 good years out of him but nothing like his prime years.
Why in the world would Giannis agree to a Nets trade? He wants to win! I understand it gets crazy around the trade deadline, but this is just stupid.