Analyzing Giannis Antetokounmpo’s Three Preferred Trade Destinations
After a historic and legendary 13-year career with the Milwaukee Bucks, 10-time NBA All-Star and two-time NBA MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo will be seeking a new home either before the trade deadline or in the offseason.
Following the news of Antetokounmpo’s desire to depart from Milwaukee, a new report from Dallas Hoops Journal details the three teams that Antetokounmpo would prefer to be traded to. Let’s examine those three teams and analyze their fit, as well as what they would need to give up to acquire the superstar’s services.
Giannis Antetokounmpo Teams Up With Jalen Brunson and KAT On the New York Knicks
Out of the other two teams mentioned in the report, the Knicks are the best suited for Antetokounmpo to win a championship right now. New York possesses the best roster out of all three teams, with All-Star players in Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns, who will undoubtedly represent a major big three with Antetokounmpo in the mix for years to come. Although based on reports surrounding the Bucks’ asking price in an Antetokounmpo trade, there will be quite a high price to be paid on that front.
The Knicks currently possess minimal young assets and draft picks to put together a direct trade with Milwaukee. This means that New York will have to initiate a multi-team deal to acquire him. This will also mean that other teams will be asking a big return in the process.
The biggest hurdle will be who the Knicks put up for sale, with names like Mikal Bridges and OG Anunoby being the two biggest names on the roster to be included in potential deals. That dilemma makes the fit in New York a little murkier.
From a system perspective regarding the Knicks’ current offensive structure, the acquisition of Antetokounmpo would be a massive upgrade for the team. New York has shown to be wholly dependent on the offensive brilliance of Brunson to get any sort of stable production on that end of the floor, as the team lacks any other shot creators and playmakers to lessen Brunson’s offensive load.
However, with Antetokounmpo in the picture, the Knicks can knock out both that offensive weakness as well as one other one at the defensive end. While the Knicks boast strong perimeter defenders across the roster, the team struggles with its paint defense and overall rim protection. Much of that is due in part to the team’s lack of great shot blockers aside from Mitchell Robinson.
Giannis Ends Up In Toronto To Help Get the Raptors Back To Contending Status
The most asset-rich franchise of the three teams, the Raptors would have to give up very little in return for Antetokounmpo, and that alone would make this move the most intriguing. Toronto has been looking for star players to help give their roster the boost they need, as the Raptors possess one of the youngest rosters in the NBA. That youth, combined with the Raptors’ talented core, would give Antetokounmpo his second-best chance at a title outside of the Knicks.
However, the fit just doesn’t seem right as Toronto is already overloaded at the forward position. Having a three-headed monster at the forward position in Scottie Barnes, Brandon Ingram, and Antetokounmpo will make the Raptors a handful for smaller teams. The Raptors are also one of the more inconsistent teams on offense, as they rank just 20th in the NBA in effective field goal percentage.
Outside of the wonky fit on offense, the Raptors’ defense would undoubtedly become one of the scarier ones in the league. Toronto currently ranks in the top 10 in defensive rating and points allowed per game, and with Antetokounmpo in the fold, those rankings will certainly go up a tick. That seamless fit on the defensive end could provide enough of a lift for the Raptors to contend for a title both this season and for the future with Giannis on the roster.
The Miami Heat Front Office Finally Gets the Superstar They’ve Been Looking For
From a front office and coaching perspective, the Miami Heat would be a home run destination for Antetokounmpo. While the Heat’s roster offers plenty of firepower to compete for a title, the coaching staff would be the biggest difference maker for the Heat’s championship hopes with Giannis.
There is perhaps no coach better at amplifying a player’s strengths and making in-game adjustments than Miami’s longtime and legendary Head Coach Erik Spoelstra. The talent is the biggest area of concern for a potential move to South Beach for Antetokounmpo, as the Heat does not possess the same level of star power as the Knicks or Raptors. Much of that is due to what Miami will have to give up to get Antetokounmpo.
While both Toronto and New York can offset their losses in a trade, the Heat would not be so lucky on that end. However, the long-term outlook with Antetokounmpo in a Heat uniform is a step above both of those teams. The Heat would clear a considerable amount of cap space in the trade for Antetokounmpo. While the potential for a championship in the short term would not be feasible, at least for this season, the Heat’s long-term success would be much brighter than any team.
If Antetokounmpo wants more than just one more ring quickly, the Heat would be a great destination to potentially add more championships to his resume while still in his prime.
