The Milwaukee Bucks are approaching the NBA trade deadline intent on adding another star player to help Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard. Of course, this will come at a steep price, with Khris Middleton being the main asset teams will want, and whose contract would make acquiring another big-name player possible.
According to Evan Sidrey, the Bucks are now the betting favorites to land Chicago Bulls two-time All-Star Zach LaVine:
The Bucks are now the betting favorites to become Zach LaVine’s new team after the trade deadline, per @DKSportsbook:
Bucks = +120
Bulls = +140
Warriors = +250
Suns = +800Milwaukee is willing to move Khris Middleton and other assets in exchange for LaVine. pic.twitter.com/VKjZgq1mCj
— Evan Sidery (@esidery) February 2, 2025
While many fans would welcome trading Middleton, it would be one of the more significant trades in franchise history. Despite the recency bias against him, there is no denying that, when he was healthy and during his prime, the three-time All-Star made himself one of the best players in franchise history.
That being said, trading Middleton would pale in comparison to what the Dallas Mavericks did on Saturday night.
The Dallas Mavericks Traded Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers
Late Saturday night, Shams Charania of ESPN reported that the Mavericks had traded Luka Doncic, Maxi Kleber, and Markieff Morris to the Los Angeles Lakers for Anthony Davis, Max Christie, and a 2029 first round pick:
BREAKING: The Dallas Mavericks are trading Luka Doncic, Maxi Kleber and Markieff Morris to the Los Angeles Lakers for Anthony Davis, Max Christie and a 2029 first-round pick, sources tell ESPN. Three-team deal that includes Utah.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 2, 2025
The news of the trade was so unfathomable that many fans had to check and make sure that it was Shams who reported it and not a parody account. Even after it was confirmed that it came from his account, many believed he had been hacked.
The senior NBA insider had to release several posts afterwards assuring fans that the trade was, in fact, real:
Yes, this is real. Sources tell ESPN: Full trade:
– Lakers: Luka Doncic, Maxi Kleber, Markieff Morris
– Mavericks: Anthony Davis, Max Christie, 2029 LAL 1st
– Jazz: Jalen Hood-Schifino, 2025 Clippers 2nd, 2025 Mavericks 2nd https://t.co/bltojdTaQj
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 2, 2025
It’s 1000% real: pic.twitter.com/ncNjpN37gU
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 2, 2025
Hours after the trade was announced, it was rumored that the Mavericks had approached just one other team regarding a possible trade involving Doncic and another star.
According to several rumors following, that team was the Bucks, and the aforementioned star player was Giannis.
Milwaukee Bucks Fans Are Grateful to Jon Horst for Not Trading Giannis Antetokounmpo
Now, it should be understood that Mavericks general manager Nico Harrison has since stated that the Lakers were the only team he talked to about a potential trade involving Doncic, whom Dallas had concerns about regarding his weight and conditioning.
That being said, the rumors that he had called Bucks general manager Jon Horst about trading Doncic for Giannis still persist:
Sources: The Dallas Mavericks originally approached the Milwaukee Bucks with a Luka Dončić-for-Giannis Antetokounmpo trade offer, but the Bucks had firmly rejected the proposal. pic.twitter.com/WmKhNURf5b
— Cris Davis (@CrisDavisReport) February 2, 2025
And whether or not it is true, Milwaukee fans are thankful that their superstar is sticking around. If Horst did indeed turn Harrison down, fans are truly grateful:
This would’ve ruined me https://t.co/SF6nsAD0Hr
— Socialist Bucks (@socialistbucks) February 2, 2025
Not really sure if this account is real or not.
However Giannis could be 40 and on the brink of retirement. I’m not trading him. He’s shown loyalty to this team and this city. We must reciprocate. https://t.co/fxb8jN6Abr
— 𝕂ashew “Jordan Love SZN” ➐ (@KashwrapSupreme) February 2, 2025
Thank you Horst 🙏 https://t.co/4uJMZQPPpp
— Jordan “Toyotathon” Love (@ToyotathonLove) February 2, 2025
It had to be Milwaukee for Giannis.
Horst said “no thanks” https://t.co/ut7smH3g2e— Justin Wills (@itsjwills) February 2, 2025
Horst prolly saw the Dallas area code and thought he was getting invited to a pickleball tournament and immediately hung up the phone when they asked for Giannis https://t.co/TqImKQn9BT
— DT (@GianniGoat) February 2, 2025
Of course, the Bucks are never going to trade Giannis unless he asks for one, and that in and of itself is not as big of a possibility as the national media would have fans believe.
One must really feel bad, though, for Mavericks fans. Doncic was their version of Giannis, and he is now gone in the blink of an eye.
What is more, by being traded, Doncic can no longer sign a supermax contract. Had he been retained by Dallas, he would have been eligible for a $345 million extension this summer.
In other words, the Mavericks robbed him of $116 million as the most he can sign for now is $229 million. Obviously, that is still a lot of money, but business sure can be brutal in professional sports.
More Milwaukee Bucks News from Wisconsin Sports Heroics
- Giannis Antetokounmpo Speaks Up on Bobby Portis Role as Backup Big Set to Miss 5th Straight Game
- Giannis Antetokounmpo Reacts to Stunning Luka Doncic-Anthony Davis Trade
- 2021 Bucks Champ Traded by Los Angeles Clippers to Utah Jazz
- Bucks’ Brook Lopez Says This New Giannis Skill as Made Him Unguardable
- “Enough Is Enough;” Giannis Breaks Silence on Tense Interaction with Chris Paul
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