At this point next year, Giannis Antetokounmpo could no longer be a part of the Milwaukee Bucks. In fact, his move away from the same team that drafted him as the No. 15 overall pick back in 2013 could come sooner.
In his latest trade proposal, James Piercey of NBA Analysis Network imagines a scenario wherein the former back-to-back MVP ends up with one of the Bucks‘ Eastern Conference rivals. As far as blockbuster trades go, this one has got to be up there with the best of them.
Milwaukee Bucks Trade Giannis Antetokounmpo to Toronto Raptors
In Piercey’s hypothetical trade proposal, he believes the Toronto Raptors could emerge as a strong suitor for Giannis Antetokounmpo. The Raptors, however, will need to give up an undeniably massive haul to land the former Defensive Player of the Year:
Milwaukee Receives: G/F Gary Trent Jr., G Dennis Schroder, F/C Chris Boucher, F Scottie Barnes, 2026 First-Round Pick (TOR), 2028 First-Round Pick (TOR), 2030 First-Round Pick (TOR)
Toronto Receives: F/C Giannis Antetokounmpo
Dennis Schroder is the reigning FIBA World Cup MVP, while Gary Trent is a decent young player as well. Chris Boucher could be a key addition to Milwaukee’s frontcourt, while the three first-round picks pretty much secure Milwaukee’s future in their post-Giannis era.
However, the big prize for the Bucks here has got to be Scottie Barnes. Piercey explains why:
“It’s headlined by Scottie Barnes. The Bucks may be acquiring their franchise player immediately after losing their last one here. That’s a rare opportunity. Barnes could be a similarly dominant two-way wing to Antetokounmpo in just a few years. Meanwhile, Trent Jr. is a solid young player to add to a rebuilding club as well,” Piercey wrote.
The Bucks lose their superstar in this deal, but Scottie Barnes could step immediately in as the team’s new star. In fact, he could be good enough to lead this new-look Milwaukee side to a deep playoff run as early as this season. At 22, this young man has the potential to be the organization’s cornerstone for the next decade.
Raptors Become Instant Championship Contenders
While there’s no denying that Toronto will also lose a whole lot in this deal, Giannis should be worth his weight in gold. Assuming that they are still able to hold on to the likes of Pascal Siakam and OG Anunoby, the Raptors immediately become title contenders in the East with Antetokounmpo at the helm. At this point in his career, Giannis still has a handful of prime years ahead of him, making Toronto a legitimate threat to the title year after year.
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