What we’re hearing about the potential Giannis Antetokounmpo trade market

So … the Milwaukee Bucks have had postseason.

Never thoughts that they’re not even in the playoffs. Let’s clarify.

It has been three months since the Bucks determined to carry onto Giannis Antetokounmpo at the trade deadline, partially, as a result of there was an inside perception that the market for his companies could be even higher when the summer time rolled round. But it was all the time a calculated threat, with groups akin to the Golden State Warriors, Miami Heat and Minnesota Timberwolves identified to have made the form of real pitches at the time that, in the finish, might have confirmed to be higher than something that may come their manner down the highway.

At this price, with so many groups which were tied to Antetokounmpo sooner or later getting bounced both in the Play-In Tournament or the first spherical, it’s setting as much as be a potential good storm for Phase II of those talks. Unless, in fact, he surprises the plenty and alerts a need to signal the four-year, $275 million extension that he’s eligible to signal on Oct. 1.

Add in that Bucks proprietor Jimmy Haslam supplied a timeline for his or her plan this week, telling reporters that he expects to have readability on this important matter before the June 23 draft, and it’s protected to say the Giannis discuss will dominate the leaguewide dialog for the foreseeable future.

Especially after this weekend.

The NBA’s draft lottery is Sunday in Chicago, the place a number of potential Antetokounmpo suitors will lastly know the place their first-round choose lands. That kind of intel is essential in famous person discussions like these, because it crystallizes the worth that every group can, and may’t, present with their respective proposals.

It would possibly take a while to evaluate which groups are the most severe on this entrance, as the varied entrance workplaces and possession teams unpack the deeper which means of their demise. But at first look, the Bucks ought to have little or no hassle sparking one other spherical of respectable curiosity as they resolve — but once more — the way to proceed right here.

Then there’s this actuality to recollect, as nicely: Giannis’ voice will play a pivotal half in the course of. If he has a group (or two or three) he really desires to play for, then that kind of endorsement would compel these entrance workplaces to really feel comfy placing much more on the Bucks’ desk.

One last item to recollect right here earlier than we dive into all the completely different group dynamics: This listing would possibly get even longer after the second spherical. What occurs if the Cleveland Cavaliers get swept by the Detroit Pistons? Or the Timberwolves, who had been one in every of the most aggressive Antetokounmpo suitors at the deadline, can’t measure up in opposition to the Spurs? Or the Lakers, who’re in a deep gap in opposition to the reigning champion Oklahoma City Thunder and are identified to be dreaming big this offseason? Maybe the Knicks, who’re identified to have piqued Antetokounmpo’s strong interest in the past, come up wanting the NBA Finals mandate laid down by James Dolan in the center of this season.

The listing, beginning with this group that endured early exits and has been tied to Antetokounmpo beforehand, goes on.

(Teams are listed in alphabetical order)

Atlanta Hawks

Playoff consequence: As the No. 6 seed, misplaced to No. 3 New York in six video games

There was a time when the Hawks had been seen as a possible Antetokounmpo suitor, however these occasions seem to have modified. As basic supervisor Onsi Saleh appeared to sign throughout his end-of-season press convention, and group sources confirmed to The Athletic, the Hawks plan to be very affected person with their younger core and don’t seem prone to pursue Antetokounmpo or some other famous person.

With 24-year-old Jalen Johnson ascending as a serious constructing block, 25-year-old large man Onyeka Okongwu growing right into a core piece, the addition of 27-year-old Nickeil Alexander-Walker and the emergence of 23-year-old defensive specialist Dyson Daniels, the Hawks (46-36) managed to complete with their greatest file since the 2015-16 season. There is roster work to be achieved, as veteran guard CJ McCollum is an unrestricted free agent and 23-year-old wing Jonathan Kuminga has a group choice for subsequent season ($24.3 million).

“We’re really excited about the future, and what holds there — from the draft to the flexibility moving forward, (and) all that stuff,” Saleh told reporters.

This prudent course, which was reported just lately by longtime NBA reporter Jake Fischer, is buoyed by the proven fact that they may get fortunate in Sunday’s lottery. The Hawks, who’ve New Orleans’ first-rounder from the infamous Derik Queen deal last June, have a 9.8 p.c likelihood of touchdown the No. 1 choose, and a 40.2 p.c likelihood of being in the prime 4 (and a 52.9 p.c likelihood of landing between No. 7 and No. 9).

Boston Celtics

Playoff consequence: As the No. 2 seed, misplaced to No. 7 Philadelphia in seven video games

Even earlier than Jaylen Brown sparked a conversation about whether or not he nonetheless desires to be in Boston this week, when his on-line feedback about this season being the “favorite season of his career” had been complicated at greatest and controversial at worst, league sources had pegged the Celtics as a group to look at on the Antetokounmpo entrance.

There had been indicators of curiosity at the February trade deadline, and it could stand to motive that the postseason end solely will increase the odds that the Celtics will contemplate something and every part on the subject of star gamers. Don’t neglect about the random reward that Antetokounmpo heaped upon Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla back in early April whereas discussing the Bucks’ struggles. But Brown’s feedback, not surprisingly, added gas to this hearth round the Association.

They had been extensively seen as unusual for 2 very apparent causes. For starters, the first-round loss merely wasn’t as much as the Celtics requirements, because it marked the first time in franchise historical past they gave up a 3-1 playoff collection lead. Secondly, the overwhelming majority of this season that he cherished a lot got here with Jayson Tatum out whereas recovering from his Achilles tendon tear and with Brown dealing with lead-role duties all by himself for as soon as (and sure incomes a justifiable share of prime 5 MVP votes alongside the manner).

It doesn’t take elite detective work to attract sure conclusions from his stance.

Then got here the feedback from Hall of Famer Tracy McGrady, who stated that Brown was experiencing frustration that “lies deeply in the organization” on a podcast with his cousin and fellow Hall of Famer, Vince Carter. Yet there was significant pushback on this growing narrative ever since, with Celtics president of basketball operations Brad Stevens telling reporters on Wednesday that he has no information of Brown being pissed off and Brown saying, “If it was up to me, I could play in Boston the next 10 years.” A group supply reiterated as a lot, indicating that there have been no inside points between the two sides. A league supply near Brown shared the same message.

Brown, it’s price noting, is eligible for a two-year, $142 million extension in July and has three seasons left on his present deal (and a mixed $183 million).

But even with out this backdrop, the reality stays that the Celtics have a protracted historical past of chasing superstars that ought to inform the dialogue round them. They’re working towards a league-record nineteenth title, and this present group didn’t look able to profitable it anytime quickly in the playoffs.

Golden State Warriors

Playoff consequence: As the No. 10 seed, misplaced to No. 8 Phoenix in the second Play-In recreation

The Warriors would nonetheless love nothing greater than to deliver Antetokounmpo to city and, finally, signal him to a long-term extension to play alongside Steph Curry in his golden years. But there’s a motive they had been attempting so exhausting to get a deal achieved at the deadline, as they had been nicely conscious that there could be much more competitors for Antetokounmpo’s companies if this case obtained pushed to the summer time. Alas, right here they’re.

That doesn’t imply there’s no hope, however it could assist their potential proposal if the lottery balls landed of their favor. They have a 9.4 percent chance of being in the prime 4 (together with a 2 p.c likelihood at No. 1), however a 77.6 p.c likelihood of choosing eleventh (and 12.6 p.c likelihood at No. 12).

Houston Rockets

Playoff consequence: As the No. 5 seed, misplaced to the No. 4 Lakers in six video games

The Rockets’ demise in opposition to the Lakers made it fairly clear that they want extra on this roster to raise to true title contender standing. The query, as we chronicled recently, is whether or not that comes by means of a blockbuster deal for somebody like Antetokounmpo or, given all the accidents they endured this season, by reuniting with the veterans (Kevin Durant, Fred VanVleet, Steven Adams) who had been sidelined when the postseason rolled round.

As rival executives typically level out, Houston has the kind of elite younger expertise (specifically Alperen Şengün and Amen Thompson) that might function the basis of a promising pitch. The query now’s whether or not the Rockets, with yet another assured season left on Durant’s deal, really feel compelled to hurry issues up by means of one other famous person or stay affected person with their youthful prospects.

Miami Heat

Playoff consequence: As the No. 10 seed, misplaced to No. 9 Charlotte in the Play-In recreation

While lacking the playoffs for the first time since 2019 would possibly recommend the Heat are greater than only one star away from title competition, Pat Riley made it clear the Heat want to be entrance and middle in any discussions surrounding Antetokounmpo’s subsequent group as soon as once more.

In his finish of the season interview, Riley instructed reporters that the group could be “aggressive as hell” in the offseason and getting assist for Bam Adebayo was his prime precedence. Some lottery luck would assist considerably on this regard.

The Heat had been one in every of the most groups in Antetokounmpo at this previous season’s trade deadline, however in the end, the Bucks didn’t need to make a transfer with them. Would they rethink that stance if the Heat’s 4.78 p.c likelihood of leaping into the prime 4 of this yr’s draft hit? Conversely, would the Heat nonetheless need to transfer their first-round choose if it had been in the prime 4? There have been rumblings for fairly a while now that Antetokounmpo could be open to the concept of a Heat relocation, and it doesn’t harm that he wouldn’t must pay state taxes in Florida (ditto for the Magic and the Rockets in Texas).

Orlando Magic

Playoff consequence: As the No. 8 seed, misplaced to No. 1 Detroit in seven video games

This younger Magic core that was so inconsistent in the common season confirmed some indicators of life in the playoffs, leaping out to a 3-1 lead earlier than collapsing in opposition to the Pistons. But the consequence was an plain disappointment, with the extreme lack of taking pictures proving to be an excessive amount of to beat.

Therein lies the irony of their potential Antetokounmpo curiosity. The taking pictures woes wouldn’t be mounted in the event that they discovered a option to land him, however he would offer an improve in each different division. Per a group supply, there have been no discussions at this level about pursuing Antetokounmpo this summer time. It is price noting, nonetheless, that the Magic inquired about the risk heading into the February trade deadline (a group supply confirmed a Hoopshype report from late April indicating as a lot).

For the Bucks, the potential attract of a Magic deal is the prospect of touchdown the likes of 23-year-old former No. 1 choose Paolo Banchero (5 years and a mixed $230 million on his deal, together with a participant choice in the 2030-31 season). The historical past between Antetokounmpo and the Magic’s entrance workplace is price remembering, too, as president of basketball operations Jeff Weltman was the assistant basic supervisor of the Bucks when Antetokounmpo was drafted in 2013, and John Hammond, who’s the Magic’s senior advisor of basketball operations, was the basic supervisor who took him with the fifteenth choose.

Portland Trail Blazers

Playoff consequence: As the No. 7 seed, misplaced to No. 2 San Antonio in 5 video games

Last summer time, the Trail Blazers featured closely in the pretend trades constructed for Antetokounmpo, however not as the group Antetokounmpo would swimsuit up for subsequent. Instead, Portland was used repeatedly as a potential third group in the trade packages constructed for Antetokounmpo as a result of the Bucks despatched management of their first-round picks from 2028 to 2030 in the trade for Damian Lillard earlier than the 2023-24 season.

But now with proprietor Tom Dundon operating the present, the Trail Blazers have grow to be a group that is likely to be taken with making a splash and fast-forwarding their construct by vying for the proper to grow to be Antetokounmpo’s subsequent group. While that may not have made a lot sense at the begin of final summer time, Portland took one other step ahead this season with its first playoff journey since 2021 and appears poised to take one other step subsequent season.

Twenty-five-year-old ahead Deni Avdija made his first All-Star recreation. Jrue Holiday, one in every of Antetokounmpo’s favourite teammates, joined the roster final offseason. And Damian Lillard, the Greek Freak’s operating mate for 2 seasons in Milwaukee, will probably be able to return from the Achilles tear that will finally finish his time with the Bucks.

Yet there’s vital skepticism amongst rival executives that Antetokounmpo would welcome this selection, as he’s believed to be taken with becoming a member of a real title-contender. The Trail Blazers, even with him, would seemingly battle to achieve that tier. As these playoffs have proven thus far, becoming a member of a top-tier group in the East could be the wiser option to attain that objective. That sentiment comes up ceaselessly in leaguewide discussions about what Antetokounmpo would possibly need, because it’s extensively believed he’d choose to play for an Eastern Conference group.

Toronto Raptors

Playoff consequence: As the No. 5 seed, fell to No. 4 Cleveland in seven video games

When Masai Ujiri — the new head man in Dallas — ran the entrance workplace for the Raptors, Toronto was typically linked to Antetokounmpo in trade rumors. With Ujiri’s fearless method to pursuing famous person abilities and his shared African connections with the Bucks famous person, the Raptors all the time ended up on the listing of potential suitors for Antetokounmpo.

Bobby Webster, Ujiri’s longtime no. 2 in Toronto, now runs issues for the Raptors and it is likely to be time for him to assume about the form of all-in transfer his former boss would make.

In head coach Darko Rajaković’s third season, the Raptors made the playoffs for the first time since 2022 and pushed the Cleveland Cavaliers to the brink of elimination, however got here up quick in the first spherical. While that is likely to be thought of a powerful first step towards competition for some groups, the Raptors are additional alongside of their construct than you would possibly understand.

The Raptors are already on the hook for over $180 million in wage for his or her prime eight gamers for the 2026-27 season, which implies they’re already over the projected wage cap of $166 million and barreling in direction of the luxurious tax and apron traces as nicely. Their wage commitments recommend they plan to be a playoff group, and whereas they could like their group that simply had a powerful postseason exhibiting, buying and selling for a two-time MVP might velocity up the course of.