Giannis Antetokounmpo could become the biggest name on the move before the February trade deadline. He reportedly feels frustrated with the Milwaukee Bucks for failing to build a championship-caliber roster around him.
If the Greek Freak requests a trade, a host of teams would likely jump at the chance to acquire him. The Atlanta Hawks have been mentioned as a potential landing spot, but Bill Simmons doubts it would be a smart fit.
If the Bucks pursue a trade for Antetokounmpo, they would likely target Hawks small forward Jalen Johnson. Johnson is putting up 24 points per game this season and looks poised to make his first All-Star appearance. While the Hawks would hate to give him up, parting with Johnson to acquire one of the best players in the world could make strategic sense.
However, Simmons insists that the Hawks should consider Johnson “untouchable” and not part with him, even for Giannis Antetokounmpo.
“He’s untouchable. If I’m [the Hawks], and [the Bucks] were like, ‘You can have Giannis for Jalen Johnson,’ I would have a seven-hour meeting about it, but I would much rather have the younger guy who keeps ascending. I would try to figure out a way to bring Giannis into it, versus making him the centerpiece. I just don’t think there’s a world where they trade him at this point,” Simmons asserted.
Is Giannis Antetokounmpo for Jalen Johnson worth it?
Dec 14, 2024; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) shoots against Atlanta Hawks forward Jalen Johnson (1) during the first half in a semifinal of the 2024 Emirates NBA Cup at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-Imagn Images
Tim Legler echoes that sentiment, saying the Hawks should prioritize keeping Johnson over Antetokounmpo because of his seven-year age edge. Although Giannis is the more accomplished player now, Johnson has the upside to grow into an MVP-caliber star, and moving him could prove to be a costly mistake for Atlanta.
“I totally agree because of the explosion in his offense over the last 18 months. There’s no telling what his ultimate ceiling is. When you have a guy that young, that talented, who is doing it this easily, you really don’t even know how much more there is to grow,” Legler remarked.
Dec 4, 2024; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) and Atlanta Hawks forward Jalen Johnson (1) square off in the first half at Fiserv Forum. Mandatory Credit: Michael McLoone-Imagn Images
The Hawks would find it difficult to land Antetokounmpo without including Johnson, but they still hold several other valuable pieces. The most straightforward option would be to trade Trae Young. Since Antetokounmpo is clearly the superior player, the Bucks might also look for someone like Onyeka Okongwu to balance the deal.
Alternatively, the Hawks could create a big three of Young, Johnson, and Antetokounmpo by trading away several young players and future draft picks.