The Milwaukee Bucks are hurtling towards a crossroads with superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo.
While they certainly want to keep their homegrown MVP, the way the roster is currently constructed is just not enough to compete for a championship, let alone make a Conference Finals run. At the end of the 2025-26 season, Antetokounmpo will be extension eligible, and that will be when the Greek Freak decides whether he wants to remain in Milwaukee or play out the rest of his career elsewhere.
If the Bucks don't want to risk getting to that point with the 2021 Finals MVP, it could be in their best interest to canvass the market now and see what they could get in a trade for one of the best players in basketball.
Bucks Trade Idea Ships Giannis Antetokounmpo to Spurs for Haul of Lottery Players and Picks
Bleacher Report's Andy Bailey recently put together a trade proposal that would send Antetokounmpo to the San Antonio Spurs to team up with Victor Wembanyama, while the Bucks receive one of the largest returns in recent NBA history.
San Antonio Spurs receive: Giannis Antetokounmpo
Milwaukee Bucks receive: Devin Vassell, Dylan Harper, Stephon Castle, a 2026 first-round pick, a 2028 first-round pick, a 2030 first-round pick (via Minnesota) and a 2031 first-round pick (via Sacramento)
"Of course, as is almost always the case in star trades, the picks might be as important as the players. And while those first two from the Spurs might not have a ton of value (thanks to how good San Antonio would be after this deal), the pick from the Minnesota Timberwolves is a wild card, and the one from the Sacramento Kings, given their organizational track record, could be basketball gold," wrote Bailey.
"Put all of them together with Castle, Harper and whatever else Vassell might turn into, and again, it's hard to imagine many teams around the league being able to challenge this haul."
While the Bucks replenishing their draft pick stock is a major win for a team with little to no assets thanks to previous win-now trades, getting back three promising young players, two of which were high lottery picks, is even more important.
Over the last few seasons, Milwaukee has been veteran-heavy. Getting an injection of young talent such as reigning Rookie of the Year Stephon Castle and No. 2 overall pick Dylan Harper would breathe fresh life into a team that desperately needs it.
While losing a player like Antetokounmpo would certainly sting for Milwaukee, the return they would get for him in this mock trade would help ease the pain.
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