The Bucks may be forced to trade star Giannis Antetokounmpo this summer, but it must be to the right team. Giannis has made it clear that he wants to compete for a championship at the highest level again, and his next team must have an obvious runway there. But it also leaves open the chance of Giannis staying in Milwaukee if they can rebuild a contender around him.
Giannis’ message to his next team has been very clear
Through his entire trade saga, Giannis has made one thing clear: he wants to compete for a title. His preference is to do that in Milwaukee, and he’s doing everything in his power to make it possible with the Bucks. And the Bucks do still have some avenues left for rebuilding a proper contender around Giannis, whether that’s trading for a star or drafting an impact rookie.
Even this season, the Bucks could still have an outside shot at making some playoff noise if they sneak through the Play-In Tournament. Although it probably isn’t Giannis’ preferred method of reaching the postseason, the end result is all that matters. And if the Bucks can somehow prove to be playoff contenders, all the rumors could disappear overnight.
However, if Giannis does get traded, his next team will need to make sure they have enough around him to compete. It’s a tall task for any team to manage: having enough assets to put together a Giannis trade package and also a great supporting cast around him afterwards.
If his next team isn’t able to accomplish that, they’ll get a continuation of the trade drama that’s plagued Milwaukee all season long. And Giannis likely won’t feel the same loyalty to a team he just joined compared to his feelings about the Bucks.
For any potential suitor, the difficulty of satisfying Giannis lies in his definition of a championship contender. On paper, it shouldn’t be hard to build a competitive team around the Greek Freak. He’s averaging 28 points, 10 rebounds, and 5.6 assists per game this season. On top of that, he’s also been a solid rim protector and overall defender. Putting him on a solid, well-built roster should almost guarantee a playoff spot, assuming Giannis is relatively healthy.
But becoming an inner-circle title contender is a lot harder. The best teams can’t just rely on one player anymore; they need co-stars and solid depth too. Getting there after trading a haul for Giannis is no small feat. But it’s one that plenty of teams will try to do this summer. Even if the task of balancing moving pieces seems nearly impossible, general managers will be willing to take the risk to acquire a talent like Giannis still in peak form.