While Giannis Antetokounmpo has become the headliner of what has been a surprisingly quiet trade season so far, it remains to be seen if the Milwaukee Bucks superstar will actually request a trade by the Feb. 5 deadline.
Whether it's by February or this summer, it feels inevitable that Giannis will request a trade at some point. As currently constructed, the Bucks roster is not built to contend. They also have minimal assets to upgrade their roster around Giannis. It was rumored that they were going "big game hunting" (subscription required) this trade season, but the fact that the names popping up include Zach LaVine and Jerami Grant shows how much Milwaukee will have to settle to find a realistic trade partner.
Part of the reason the Bucks' hands are tied has to do with the blockbuster Damian Lillard trade that backfired spectacularly. Just two seasons later, Lillard is somehow already back in Portland, but the Blazers still have the assets to show from the trade that initially sent him away. In other words, Lillard's very trade finally gave him the team he needed in Portland all these years in a very roundabout way.
Could this new and improved roster be enough to ultimately convince Giannis to come too?
Blazers have a compelling case to make in the Giannis sweepstakes
It's certainly a pipe dream as teams like the New York Knicks and Miami Heat have emerged as the frontrunners of a potential trade. But there's a non-zero chance that's worth exploring, especially considering his ties to former teammates Lillard and Jrue Holiday.
The Dame-Giannis pairing surprisingly didn't go according to plan, resulting in consecutive first-round playoff exits. But that is more so due to unfortunate injury circumstances and their supporting cast. Perhaps he feels as though he has unfinished business with Lillard?
Portland isn't the big market or the warm-weather he's reportedly seeking, but from a pure winning standpoint, the Blazers have to be an attractive landing spot.
Part of the issue in trading for superstars like Giannis is that teams have to essentially gut their roster to land him, defeating the purpose of the trade, as it doesn't ultimately upgrade the roster. That's why teams like the San Antonio Spurs are electing to build their roster organically with the development of their promising young core rather than taking a home run swing and accelerating their timeline.
The difference, however, is that the Blazers don't have a clearly defined timeline. They have a confusing mix of youth and veterans. If they wanted to accelerate their rebuild and contend with Lillard, Giannis, Jrue Holiday, Deni Avdija, and others, it would still be risky, but it would also make much more sense.
Portland has young assets such as Scoot Henderson and Shaedon Sharpe that could appeal to Milwaukee, with the headliner of any package being the return of their first-round pick and swaps so the Bucks can effectively initiate a rebuild.
Portland would still have plenty of talent remaining on the roster after giving Milwaukee what it wants. That's something Giannis needs to be considering in any potential landing spot. Not only does that team have to be interested in making a win-now move for a superstar, but they also have to have the pieces to contend around Giannis in life after the blockbuster package.
That's what makes Portland an underrated landing spot compared to the rest of the league. They have unique leverage that could make them a dark horse in a potential Giannis sweepstakes.
Now he has to be open to the idea of coming to the beautiful Pacific Northwest.