Following his futile dominance in the Milwaukee Bucks’ five-game first-round playoff series loss to the Indiana Pacers, Bucks superstar forward Giannis Antetokounmpo’s future is up in the air.
According to The Athletic’s John Hollinger, an upstart Western Conference squad could be among the two-time MVP’s premier suitors if he becomes available this summer.
Antetokounmpo scored 30-plus points in four of Milwaukee’s five Round 1 outings, recording a double-double in all five. He also delivered a 30-point, 20-rebound, 13-assist triple-double in Tuesday’s 119-118 overtime Game 5 road loss in which his team squandered a seven-point lead late in the game.
Given Milwaukee’s lack of draft capital for the foreseeable future and Antetokounmpo’s co-star Damian Lillard’s recent left Achilles tear, the franchise appears to be at a crossroads. Trading Antetokounmpo could be the team’s best course of action to recoup some assets and retool for the future.
John Hollinger Names San Antonio Spurs As Serious Threat To Land Giannis Antetokounmpo
During his Wednesday piece on the state of the Bucks, Hollinger advocated for the team to target a draft pick-centric haul in an Antetokounmpo deal. Among his four “favorites” to land the nine-time All-Star were the San Antonio Spurs, who could pair him alongside rising superstar big man Victor Wembanyama.
According to the senior columnist, the framework for a trade could involve 2025 NBA Rookie of the Year Stephon Castle, extensive draft capital, and salary filler.
“You might get Stephon Castle. The Spurs also have two 2025 lottery picks (their own and Atlanta’s), an unprotected 2027 pick from [the] Atlanta [Hawks] and several swaps, plus they can deal their own picks in 2029 and 2031,” Hollinger wrote.
“Keldon Johnson and Harrison Barnes would be the salary ballast. If Antetokounmpo was OK going to any non-glamour market, this is probably the one where the allure is clear (Wemby-Giannis!) and the trade assets make sense.”
Giannis in Year 12:
— 30/12/7
— 60.1 FG%
— Led Bucks in PTS, REB, AST
— Led East in PPG
— Led East in RPG + APG
— Led East in triple-doubles
— Career-high in triple-doublesThe only player in NBA history with a 30/10/5 season on 60+ FG%. pic.twitter.com/UK303JQTgS
— StatMuse (@statmuse)
After losing Wembanyama (shoulder) and his co-star De’Aaron Fox (finger) to season-ending injuries, San Antonio finished 13th in the West (34-48) this year. However, at full strength, the $3.85 billion franchise is expected to make noise in the West next season.
The addition of Antetokounmpo would likely give the Spurs the NBA’s most imposing frontcourt duo by a wide margin and expedite their ascension.
Spurs Expected To Face Considerable Competition in Potential Pursuit of Antetokounmpo
While Hollinger believes San Antonio could present a top-four trade package for Antetokounmpo, he noted that Milwaukee will likely receive league-wide interest.
“Those four teams [Spurs, Houston Rockets, Brooklyn Nets, Toronto Raptors] are the favorites, but the Bucks will get calls from all 29 if they make Antetokounmpo available,” Hollinger wrote. “Even without access to their own future picks, the Bucks are in such a bad spot that the only logical move is to bang the gavel on a Giannis bidding war and rebuild with the spoils.”
As such, the Spurs appear to have their work cut out for them as they look to take the next step in their roster construction this offseason.
