Is a trade for Giannis Antetokounmpo even a question?
THE Milwaukee Bucks are in pole position when the NBA returns. They boast of the frontrunning MVP candidate, possibly also the Defensive Player of the Year in Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Any discussion of a trade for him would be criminal at this point, and the idea that the team in question is actually the Golden State Warriors further compounds the situation.
Nevertheless, it is still in the cards because the Warriors have placed themselves in a similar position when they shocked (and ruined) the NBA by adding Kevin Durant to a team which set the best regular season record (73-9).
Discussions on Warriors Off Court podcast hosted by Connor Letourneau of the San Francisco Chronicle has interesting statements from Wes Goldberg, Warriors beat writer for Mercury News. Warriors owner Joe Lacob is “infatuated” with Giannis.
With the Chase Center needing to recoup the lost revenue of this season (they had a league-worst record prior to the pandemic), the Bay Area fans may already have had enough of Steph, Klay and Dray. Who could be a bigger draw, especially for the long term future of the franchise?
Higher price
There is no way that the Milwaukee Bucks will initiate this unless Giannis threatens to leave. He is on the line at the end of next season, which could end in September instead of the usual June.
In our previous speculative piece, the suggestion was Andrew Wiggins, the Warriors lottery pick this year, possibly Kevon Looney and a first round pick from the Minnesota Timberwolves and other future picks. The Bucks, if they were even placed in that hot seat, would not take that.
Giannis Antetokounmpo is a generational talent, the best that Milwaukee had since Lew Alcindor. Trading him, no matter what they reason or what they got in return is probably one of the franchise’s biggest “what-ifs.”
If they would be forced to make a similar move, they should cash in. The Warriors will never trade Steph Curry, but Klay Thompson would be a different matter. The Bucks could ask for Klay, Wiggins and all the draft assets.
Are the Warriors fans different now?
One intangible that was discussed in those podcasts is how the Warriors’ fans actually feel about their team. Sure, they went to five straight NBA Finals, something that hasn’t been done since the 1960s. But there are certain sectors who claim that the titles with Kevin Durant were somewhat hollow.
It’s similar to winning a video game with a cheat code. While we kept on saying that a team has a right — even a responsibility to strengthen their team as much as possible, the Durant signing virtually destroyed parity in the NBA.
Of course, these were fans from the 29 other NBA teams, among them, the LeBron “stans” and the old school fans who harped about rivalries in the 80s.
Is that a valid argument? Nobody complained in the 80s when the Lakers added two first overall picks to Magic and Kareem, James Worthy and Klay’s dad, Mychal Thompson. The Celtics also added NBA champion and MVP Bill Walton to form their historic 1986 title team.
No matter how the fans actually see it, even if they would petition to keep Klay, the vibe is that Lacob, the guy who signs the paychecks, will take Giannis at any cost.
Envious dilemma
Giannis is likely to be a two-time MVP at 25 years old. It would be crazy to pass on any opportunity to acquire him. See the Anthony Davis trade for the Lakers. It was hotly debated, and the Lakers were even criticized by some pundits for gutting their core. But superstars win championships, and even if you have All-Stars, if you can trade up a notch, NBA history has always been on the side of quality over quantity — even if it means short-term dividends.
Would there be any other destinations for Giannis? Teams would have to gamble since he is approaching free agency. Would the Warriors be ready to lost Klay Thompson and their future for a ring with Giannis then lose him next year, like the Raptors lost Kawhi?