The Milwaukee Bucks have been at the center of offseason trade rumors for years. This is because, of course, they have two-time NBA MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo on their team. Every offseason, national sports analysts attempt to predict what team the Greek Freak will leave Milwaukee for, whether it be via trade or in free agency. This kind of discourse, obviously, requires that they ignore the fact that Giannis just signed another extension to remain in the league’s smallest market.
But that is the problem, isn’t it? Giannis is one of the NBA’s biggest stars and he is playing in their smallest market. This is a cardinal sin in the eyes of many who prefer watching the league’s most popular players in the uniforms of the Los Angeles Lakers, Boston Celtics, Miami Heat, or New York Knicks.
Or is it something else? After all, Giannis won a NBA Championship in 2021 and that summer, the talking heads on ESPN, FOX, and other networks were still predicting Giannis would leave Milwaukee. Meanwhile, Denver is a city with barely 100,000 more people than Milwaukee, and Nikola Jokic is never named in blockbuster trade rumors.
Why is that?
Proposed Trade Has the Milwaukee Bucks Sending Giannis Antetokounmpo to the Denver Nuggets to Team Up with Nikola Jokic
That is, of course, Jokic is not mentioned in trade talks unless it involves bringing in another star to pair with him. In a recent article on Fadeaway World, each team’s best trade offer for Giannis was revealed. The Nuggets, according to the author, would be able to snag the two-time MVP away from Milwaukee without giving up their own MVP:
“Trade Offer For Giannis Antetokounmpo: Michael Porter Jr, Aaron Gordon, 2024 First-Round Pick, 2026 First-Round Pick, 2024 Second-Round Pick
“The Denver Nuggets are proposing a blockbuster trade to acquire Giannis Antetokounmpo. The core of this offer sees promising forwards Michael Porter Jr. and Aaron Gordon heading to Milwaukee, alongside a package of future draft picks. To facilitate the trade, the Bucks could include a player like Pat Connaughton, ensuring the deal meets the necessary requirements. For Denver, the prospect of pairing Antetokounmpo with reigning MVP Nikola Jokic is nothing short of tantalizing.
“With Jamal Murray completing the trio, the Nuggets would boast arguably the most formidable frontcourt in NBA history, capable of dominating both ends of the floor. Picture the seamless blend of Antetokounmpo’s athleticism, Nikola’s unparalleled playmaking, and Murray’s scoring prowess, creating a triumvirate destined for championship success.”
Obviously, this trade will never happen. Sure, it looks good on paper… for Denver. But very little about this would benefit Milwaukee other than the three draft picks. And even then, it would go against everything the Bucks did last summer to win now.
The Milwaukee Bucks Will Not Trade Giannis Antetokounmpo
For all of the talk about how Giannis “might” want to leave, or “he could” change his mind, nothing that he nor the team has done would indicate that it is even a remote possibility. The trade for Damian Lillard last offseason may have been made too late for the two stars to form chemistry this past season, but it indicated to everyone that Milwaukee is serious about winning another championship, and soon.
An offseason working with Lillard and a coaching staff that it surrounded by question marks and controversy will help as well.
As mentioned, Giannis signed another extension with the Bucks just last year. His comments after Milwaukee’s first round exit were not about figuring out what he wants to do or where he wants to be next year. They centered around how he can help make this Bucks team better and take them to the next level.
Jokic’s Nuggets were knocked out in the second round of this year’s playoffs. Why isn’t there any trade talk about him leaving Denver?
One really has to wonder what the national media has against Milwaukee and the Bucks organization.
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