Desperate times call for desperate measures. That is something that the Milwaukee Bucks will have in the back of their mind for the next few months. Which teams will get more desperate to trade for Giannis Antetokounmpo? Will they trade their franchise superstar or stand their ground? One team to keep in mind is the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Bucks Should Start Rooting for Denver Against the OKC Thunder
According to the latest reports, the Greek Freak is finally open to a potential trade out of Milwaukee to continue his career elsewhere. Truth be told, every team in the league would love to get him.
But the reality is, not every team can offer the type of assets that the Bucks want and need. One team that might get desperate enough to trade for Giannis Antetokounmpo is the Thunder. But to get there, they need to lose to the Denver Nuggets in the second round.
What Do the Bucks Need in a Giannis Antetokounmpo Trade?
The problem is that the Milwaukee Bucks do not control their draft future for the next five years. The Brooklyn Nets hold their pick in 2025, the New Orleans Pelicans control their pick in ’26 and ’27, while the Portland Trail Blazers control their pick in ’28, ’29, and ’30. That means that the Bucks cannot afford to bottom out and rebuild through the draft. And since three different teams control their draft future, a single trade will not bring back all those. Even if they trade him to say, the Pelicans, for their picks in 2026 and ’27, that is only two of the next five first-round picks.
The second issue is that if the Bucks trade him to a playoff team, that team’s first-round picks will no longer be valuable. For the next few years, that team should be a contender, and its first-round picks will fall in the high 20s.
So, the Bucks need a team that can offer draft capital from a third team and quality young players. While there might be rumors about the Brooklyn Nets, San Antonio Spurs or Houston Rockets, one team lurks in the shadows. That is how we get to the Oklahoma City Thunder, a team that has some of the best young players and has a plethora of draft picks.
Will the Thunder Get Desperate Enough?
In the past 20 years, there have been two extremely desperate franchises that have made a ludicrous trade. The first one is the Brooklyn Nets, who, under new owner Mikhail Prokhorov, wanted to compete instantly. So, they made a trade with the Boston Celtics. When that blew up, the Celtics got Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown thanks to the picks from the Nets.
The second franchise is the Los Angeles Clippers. Desperate to find a partner for Kawhi Leonard, they traded their entire future for Paul George. This is how the OKC Thunder became a contender. They got Shai Gilgeous-Alexander in the trade and several picks. And they still have picks incoming from the Clippers.
The question is whether the Thunder will be desperate enough to pull the trigger on a Giannis Antetokounmpo trade with the Bucks? Last year, they were the No.1 seed and lost in the second round to Luka Doncic. This year, they tied the the fifth-best regular season record ever. If they fail to get past the second round again, there might be some desperation.
What can the Thunder Offer in a Giannis Antetokounmpo Trade?
Let’s start with the obvious: Jalen Williams. He might be the next James Harden in terms of a potential star who can break out when given the offensive rein. He will also be on a team option for next year. Having a potential star on a cheap contract is extremely important for franchises trying to rebuild. The Thunder have other young players to offer like Ousmane Dieng, Cason Wallace, Ajay Mitchell, and Aaron Wiggins.
But the real prize is in the draft capital. The Thunder have picks incoming from a third of the league in the upcoming seven years. In this year’s draft only, they have a first-rounder from Miami, a swap with the Clippers, and a potential (top-six protected) pick from the Philadelphia 76ers.
In 2026, they have a first-round pick from Utah (top-eight protected), while in 2027, they can swap with the Clippers and have a top-five protected pick from Denver. One of their juiciest picks is the Dallas Mavericks’ first in 2028, when the Mavs might be without Kyrie Irving, Klay Thompson, and Anthony Davis. On top of that, they have second-round picks from nearly half the league in the next five drafts. If the Bucks decide to trade Giannis Antetokounmpo, the Thunder are definitely the team with the most to offer. The question remains, will the Thunder get desperate enough?
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