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 tradable 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 to 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?“
Giannis would be starting all over, at minimum 3 lost years. He does not want that.
The Nets can outbid GSW, but he definitely does not want to go there.
You know Giannis LOVES New York City, right?
Replace “Giannis” with literally anyone, that statement means nothing.
Except it does mean something, this article is about Giannis, not anyone else.
Cope harder when Giannis doesn’t come to GSW.
He could very well end up a GSW. But to think living in NYC wouldn’t be something he wants when he’s made that known is hilarious.
Guess Brooklyn and NYC are two different cities to him lol? I never got the fact he didn’t want to play in NY, whether it’s NYK or Nets…lol
Literally every NBA player loves NYC. Meaningless point. Giannis also loves San Francisco…it doesn’t mean anything. Giannis also said he is never living in the USA once his career is over, so….he doesn’t love NYC -that- much, now, does he?
Has Giannis ever said anything about San Francisco?
What’s the source of your claim that “Giannis also loves San Francisco”?
“Cope harder when Giannis doesn’t come to GSW” – ???
This isn’t how the word “cope” is used. You are literally using future events and claiming I am coping?? Nope. Doesn’t work like that. If you said “wishcast harder about Giannis coming to GSW” at least that would make sense.
Please understand what words actually mean before using them to slander me for cheapskate clout via thumbs up from my dedicated group of haters on here.
link to yardbarker.com
You read this
Yoooo this could be the surer way to get him to NYC
Fuggedaboutit 🙃🤑🥴
I’m walkin’ here !
“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?
Contending,comes with Antetokounmpo!
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.
That would be incredible actually
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.
So that’s 6 good Years then considering he’s 31.
They don’t have there draft pick next year. They could shutdown giannis this year. Get a high draft pick. They have porter jr. A ton of cap space and other picks to fill out roster in off-season. Would be fun to see them try.
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.
He doesn’t have a no-trade…
While true, the Nets wouldn’t do a deal for him if he didn’t want to go there.
Because he’s a NYC fanatic? Lol
The anonymous GM who said Nets trade 5 future first road picks, sit him out for rest of year and tank must be the Bucks GM. LOL
Nets may make an offer… what kind of reporting is that? The nets obviously know if they are or aren’t, so what kind of breaking story is this? I might bid for him too, why not?
You must be looking for the breaking news site. This is a rumors website sir
Don’t trade him!!!!!!!
Trade everyone else!!!!!!!!!
I am willing to bet Giannis goes to Golden State to play with Curry for 2, maybe 3 years, or as long as curry keeps playing at this level. Then, he will get traded to a young team that looks ready to compete for years, like the spurs. Wemby can take time to develop and a younger team won’t feel pressured to win right away to make him happy.
Could there be a more FU from the FO to Giannis?
No, and that’s why this trade will not happen. Too much respect between Giannis/FO…
I think it’s wild anyone in management would openly say the word tank.
I would be surprised if Brooklyn made this move, but I think it could really work for them.
If they get Giannis and Portis for Claxton, Mann and three of this year’s rookies plus 4 or 5 future picks they will be in a position to add a number of good shooters through free agency and trade.
Not many other teams will have cap space.
Honestly, this is the kind of move they’ve been waiting for. Plenty of picks, cheap contracts, and cap space to take on bad contracts. G did say he wanted “New York” lol.
The nets deal MPJ, Mann and a dump truck load of picks for Giannis…. to do what? Go add Anfernee Simons in FA? 76 year old LeBron James? The window to win with Giannis is now, and next year would be a wasted season – there’s no one to add to make that team a title contender. And they’d have dealt all their picks away. Makes zero sense.
Raps, wolves, heat make sense…nets??? Ha
Would the Nets and Cavs consider MPJ for Garland and a first?
Garland has been banged up and poor this season but overall they are in need of a shake up cause that big 4 they have continues to not quite live up to the hype.
MPJ would give them a really good outside shooter who could play off of Donovan Mitchell. He’s also a very good rebounder and would allow them to look into Jarrett Allen trades knowing rebounding wouldn’t be as big of an issues with Mobley and MPJ there already.
As for Brooklyn you don’t exactly need a point guard cause your developing Demin but at the same time your buying low on a former all star. You can spend a season or two rebuilding his value back up and look to move him for even more picks when Demin is ready to take over.
Think having a playmaker like him running the team you’d really get the best out of those around him too.
As for a potential Jarrett Allen deal I’d look into Mikal Bridges, Miles Bridges and Jonathan Kuminga.
Offer Terrance Mann, Demin, Highsmith, Traore, Clowney, Powell, Saraf, Wolf, 15m cap space to absorb and the ten 1sts for Giannis and Thanasis
Bucks waive Coffey, Alex Antetokounmpo, Cole Anthony and Andre Jackson
Doc is fired
MIL is likely using BKN as a stalking horse. Makes sense. They’re the team that’s most equipped to do a deal right now (pre-deadline) without a requirement that Giannis agree to stay there. I don’t see either side pulling the trigger on the deal, but it’s part of the process.