The 1 and only Giannis trade thread until he decides what to do?.

[JRoy]

Good question. I am one who thinks Mobley/Garland > Giannis in value. Bucks don’t have anything to up their offer attached to Giannis. Enter Suns. Plus helps with financials due to Cavs $ situation.

Garland > Green (but good value discussion) so Cavs get back some value in Grayson.

To answer your first question, no you're not the only one who thinks the Cavs package is worth more than Giannis. I can't believe you have them adding a first.

That aside, the difference between Garland and Green is not Grayson.

That aside, the Bucks should do everything they can to keep Garland so he can set the table for Mobley.

That aside, if the Bucks were dumb enough to trade Garland, the first call should be to Portland for their picks and either Scoot and filler or Jrue back. Those Bucks picks would look very different if the Bucks had Garland, Mobley, and Turner under team control for the duration.

The Suns have no business in this trade. They're stealing all kinds of value.

None of this matters anyway as the Cavs believe Mobley is on his way to becoming a top 10 player in the NBA this season and will continue to improve from there. They won't offer him.

From what I am reading, you think Garland >> Green? And Grayson Allen doesn’t close the gap?

I don’t see any possible way Bucks can close the value gap of Mobley/Garland (by themselves). They have zero assets. Impossible scenario.

Blazers would be a nice third team. They are stacked at PG however - but maybe. I just don’t see it likely any team holding Bucks 1sts - and not getting Giannis directly - would trade picks back to Bucks. Said team rather see what a post Giannis world looks like in Milwaukee and see what becomes of those highly leveraged picks (why they valued them at time of trade after all).

For Cavs, if Giannis 100% commits, and Cavs can find perfect 3rd team to give back ++ value for Garland - they would entertain a Mobley trade. Maybe ultimately pass - but should and would entertain.

Those MIL picks/swaps have a chance to be very good.

[pipfan]

Giannis to ATL, with Bulls

Chi sends Ayo/Phillips to ATL and Port pick to Milw
Chi gets Newell

Atl sends Johnson, Risacher, Luke K, Milw/NO 2026 pick and 2029 ATL 1st (no protection) plus a 2030 unprotected pick swap to Bucks and Newell to Chi
ATL gets Giannis and Ayo/Phillips

Milw sends Giannis to ATL
Milw gets Johnson, Risacher, Luke K (expiring) plus the Milw/NO 2026 pick, 2029 ATL 1st and a 2020 Atl swap, plus the Port pick. They also save a lot of $, add two young studs and a bunch of picks. Not sure how Milw could get its hands on the 2027 pick that Atl is involved in.
Risacher/Johnson is a nice young core to start the rebuild, plus they have more cap space to play with in the future

Atl goes for a title
Young/Ayo
NAW/Ayo
Daniels/Phillips
Giannis/Okongwu
KP/Okongwu

Not sure on ATL's young pieces for depth but their top 8 looks pretty good

Chi adds a very nice young big prospect and clears space in the backcourt for Bulls

[Domejandro]

To answer your first question, no you're not the only one who thinks the Cavs package is worth more than Giannis. I can't believe you have them adding a first.

That aside, the difference between Garland and Green is not Grayson.

That aside, the Bucks should do everything they can to keep Garland so he can set the table for Mobley.

That aside, if the Bucks were dumb enough to trade Garland, the first call should be to Portland for their picks and either Scoot and filler or Jrue back. Those Bucks picks would look very different if the Bucks had Garland, Mobley, and Turner under team control for the duration.

The Suns have no business in this trade. They're stealing all kinds of value.

None of this matters anyway as the Cavs believe Mobley is on his way to becoming a top 10 player in the NBA this season and will continue to improve from there. They won't offer him.

From what I am reading, you think Garland >> Green? And Grayson Allen doesn’t close the gap?

I don’t see any possible way Bucks can close the value gap of Mobley/Garland (by themselves). They have zero assets. Impossible scenario.

Blazers would be a nice third team. They are stacked at PG however - but maybe. I just don’t see it likely any team holding Bucks 1sts - and not getting Giannis directly - would trade picks back to Bucks. Said team rather see what a post Giannis world looks like in Milwaukee and see what becomes of those highly leveraged picks (why they valued them at time of trade after all).

For Cavs, if Giannis 100% commits, and Cavs can find perfect 3rd team to give back ++ value for Garland - they would entertain a Mobley trade. Maybe ultimately pass - but should and would entertain.

Those MIL picks/swaps have a chance to be very good.

While they could be, it is generally good to limit expectations. Assuming that Milwaukee trades Giannis prior to him leaving in free-agency, they will be incentivized to maintain ways to stay semi-competitive (to the best of their ability) since they do not own their picks. Teams that do not have their own Draft capital avoid bottoming out. The value is particularly limited with swaps (which 2/3 are).

As a note with the 2028 pick swap, it is only available under two scenarios, which may not be satisfied.
1. Their obligation to Chicago (1-14 protected through 2028) is extinguished within the next two seasons,
2. or that pick falls within the lottery protections (1-14 in 2028).

Generally, the best way to leverage value out of picks is to trade them back to the team who owes them. We saw that during the 2024 off-season with the following Brooklyn/Houston trade:

BRK Received: BRK 2025 FRP Swap (Unprotected) and BRK 2026 FRP (Unprotected)
HOU Received: PHX 2025 FRP Swap* (Unprotected), PHX 2027 FRP (Unprotected), and the two best of DAL/HOU/PHX 2029 FRP (Unprotected)**

*Ability to swap their own pick OR Oklahoma City's FRP for Phoenix's FRP (same detail existed with the Brooklyn swap)
**Includes one pick directly and the potential for a swap, if Houston has the best record.

Once the above trade was completed, Brooklyn traded off Mikal Bridges ten days later. During the season, they traded off Dennis Schröder, Dorian Finney-Smith, and Shake Milton, alongside waiving Ben Simmons and Bojan Bogdanović prior to the end of the season.

While Brooklyn ended up having the worst record, it was enabled by trading their picks back. They absolutely could have floated along as a fringe play-in team even after the Mikal Bridges trade, but instead, they were incentivized to fire up the tank.


The TL;DR is that the best way to extract value from those picks, barring the pipedream hitting, is to dangle them back to the original team so they restore their ability to bottom out. Realistically, I do not think that Milwaukee is going to bottom out until the 2028 off-season (given their obligations in 2026 and 2027), but if Portland can get a solid complementary player to facilitate the development (or develop alongside) their core pieces using those picks, I think it is worth heavy consideration.

[JRoy]

From what I am reading, you think Garland >> Green? And Grayson Allen doesn’t close the gap?

I don’t see any possible way Bucks can close the value gap of Mobley/Garland (by themselves). They have zero assets. Impossible scenario.

Blazers would be a nice third team. They are stacked at PG however - but maybe. I just don’t see it likely any team holding Bucks 1sts - and not getting Giannis directly - would trade picks back to Bucks. Said team rather see what a post Giannis world looks like in Milwaukee and see what becomes of those highly leveraged picks (why they valued them at time of trade after all).

For Cavs, if Giannis 100% commits, and Cavs can find perfect 3rd team to give back ++ value for Garland - they would entertain a Mobley trade. Maybe ultimately pass - but should and would entertain.

Those MIL picks/swaps have a chance to be very good.

While they could be, it is generally good to limit expectations. Assuming that Milwaukee trades Giannis prior to him leaving in free-agency, they will be incentivized to maintain ways to stay semi-competitive (to the best of their ability) since they do not own their picks. Teams that do not have their own Draft capital avoid bottoming out. The value is particularly limited with swaps (which 2/3 are).

As a note with the 2028 pick swap, it is only available under two scenarios, which may not be satisfied.
1. Their obligation to Chicago (1-14 protected through 2028) is extinguished within the next two seasons,
2. or that pick falls within the lottery protections (1-14 in 2028).

Generally, the best way to leverage value out of picks is to trade them back to the team who owes them. We saw that during the 2024 off-season with the following Brooklyn/Houston trade:

BRK Received: BRK 2025 FRP Swap (Unprotected) and BRK 2026 FRP (Unprotected)
HOU Received: PHX 2025 FRP Swap* (Unprotected), PHX 2027 FRP (Unprotected), and the two best of DAL/HOU/PHX 2029 FRP (Unprotected)**

*Ability to swap their own pick OR Oklahoma City's FRP for Phoenix's FRP (same detail existed with the Brooklyn swap)
**Includes one pick directly and the potential for a swap, if Houston has the best record.

Once the above trade was completed, Brooklyn traded off Mikal Bridges ten days later. During the season, they traded off Dennis Schröder, Dorian Finney-Smith, and Shake Milton, alongside waiving Ben Simmons and Bojan Bogdanović prior to the end of the season.

While Brooklyn ended up having the worst record, it was enabled by trading their picks back. They absolutely could have floated along as a fringe play-in team even after the Mikal Bridges trade, but instead, they were incentivized to fire up the tank.


The TL;DR is that the best way to extract value from those picks, barring the pipedream hitting, is to dangle them back to the original team so they restore their ability to bottom out. Realistically, I do not think that Milwaukee is going to bottom out until the 2028 off-season (given their obligations in 2026 and 2027), but if Portland can get a solid complementary player to facilitate the development (or develop alongside) their core pieces using those picks, I think it is worth heavy consideration.

That makes more sense to me than making a move for GA.

[jbk1234]

Good question. I am one who thinks Mobley/Garland > Giannis in value. Bucks don’t have anything to up their offer attached to Giannis. Enter Suns. Plus helps with financials due to Cavs $ situation.

Garland > Green (but good value discussion) so Cavs get back some value in Grayson.

To answer your first question, no you're not the only one who thinks the Cavs package is worth more than Giannis. I can't believe you have them adding a first.

That aside, the difference between Garland and Green is not Grayson.

That aside, the Bucks should do everything they can to keep Garland so he can set the table for Mobley.

That aside, if the Bucks were dumb enough to trade Garland, the first call should be to Portland for their picks and either Scoot and filler or Jrue back. Those Bucks picks would look very different if the Bucks had Garland, Mobley, and Turner under team control for the duration.

The Suns have no business in this trade. They're stealing all kinds of value.

None of this matters anyway as the Cavs believe Mobley is on his way to becoming a top 10 player in the NBA this season and will continue to improve from there. They won't offer him.

From what I am reading, you think Garland >> Green? And Grayson Allen doesn’t close the gap?

I don’t see any possible way Bucks can close the value gap of Mobley/Garland (by themselves). They have zero assets. Impossible scenario.

Blazers would be a nice third team. They are stacked at PG however - but maybe. I just don’t see it likely any team holding Bucks 1sts - and not getting Giannis directly - would trade picks back to Bucks. Said team rather see what a post Giannis world looks like in Milwaukee and see what becomes of those highly leveraged picks (why they valued them at time of trade after all).

For Cavs, if Giannis 100% commits, and Cavs can find perfect 3rd team to give back ++ value for Garland - they would entertain a Mobley trade. Maybe ultimately pass - but should and would entertain.

The Cavs are not going to entertain trading Mobley. It's a fantasy board so have at it, but that's going be a very short conversation in real life.

[Wolveswin]

I think a very interesting scenario is Giannis to Pacers for Hali…

It helps if Pacers are on Giannis’ destination list, a team who almost won a chip with injured Hali. Giannis has to be thinking, “I am better than Hali, even when healthy, with me Pacers win multiple chips.”

Pacers have to be thinking the same thing. With Giannis at C, they win a chip last year and probably multiple championships moving forward. Is Giannis really going to leave the Mecca after putting ring(s) on his finger?!?

Bucks not owning their own picks/future probably don’t want an injured Hali as centerpiece of Giannis trade, enter a 3rd team.

Memphis seems like a team willing to punt a year in gauntlet that is West, plus a Hali for a move-on-from-Morant trade seems right:

To Grizzlies: Hali/Kuzma

To Pacers: Giannis/AJ Green (Bucks filler)

To Bucks: Morant/Toppin/KCP/3x Pacers 1sts/Swaps

Bucks get excitement - and stay win now - Morant brings to a fresh start in Milwaukee…while also restocking asset cupboard. Not bad outcome for franchise trading team’s superstar.

Giannis (plays PF and some SF too)
Siakam/Walker
Nesmith
Mathurian/Nembhard
Nembhard/McConnell

[One_and_Done]

I think a very interesting scenario is Giannis to Pacers for Hali…

It helps if Pacers are on Giannis’ destination list, a team who almost won a chip with injured Hali. Giannis has to be thinking, “I am better than Hali, even when healthy, with me Pacers win multiple chips.”

Pacers have to be thinking the same thing. With Giannis at C, they win a chip last year and probably multiple championships moving forward. Is Giannis really going to leave the Mecca after putting ring(s) on his finger?!?

Bucks not owning their own picks/future probably don’t want an injured Hali as centerpiece of Giannis trade, enter a 3rd team.

Memphis seems like a team willing to punt a year in gauntlet that is West, plus a Hali for a move-on-from-Morant trade seems right:

To Grizzlies: Hali/Kuzma

To Pacers: Giannis/AJ Green (Bucks filler)

To Bucks: Morant/Toppin/KCP/3x Pacers 1sts/Swaps

Bucks get excitement - and stay win now - Morant brings to a fresh start in Milwaukee…while also restocking asset cupboard. Not bad outcome for franchise trading team’s superstar.

Giannis (plays PF and some SF too)
Siakam/Walker
Nesmith
Mathurian/Nembhard
Nembhard/McConnell

Giannis isn't going to want to live in Indiana. It also seems like he hates the Pacers particularly.

[Wolveswin]

I think a very interesting scenario is Giannis to Pacers for Hali…

It helps if Pacers are on Giannis’ destination list, a team who almost won a chip with injured Hali. Giannis has to be thinking, “I am better than Hali, even when healthy, with me Pacers win multiple chips.”

Pacers have to be thinking the same thing. With Giannis at C, they win a chip last year and probably multiple championships moving forward. Is Giannis really going to leave the Mecca after putting ring(s) on his finger?!?

Bucks not owning their own picks/future probably don’t want an injured Hali as centerpiece of Giannis trade, enter a 3rd team.

Memphis seems like a team willing to punt a year in gauntlet that is West, plus a Hali for a move-on-from-Morant trade seems right:

To Grizzlies: Hali/Kuzma

To Pacers: Giannis/AJ Green (Bucks filler)

To Bucks: Morant/Toppin/KCP/3x Pacers 1sts/Swaps

Bucks get excitement - and stay win now - Morant brings to a fresh start in Milwaukee…while also restocking asset cupboard. Not bad outcome for franchise trading team’s superstar.

Giannis (plays PF and some SF too)
Siakam/Walker
Nesmith
Mathurian/Nembhard
Nembhard/McConnell

Giannis isn't going to want to live in Indiana. It also seems like he hates the Pacers particularly.

He is 31 soon. We don’t know what will be a reason he puts a team on his list or not. If winning chips is high on his list - Pacers should be on his list.

[One_and_Done]

I think a very interesting scenario is Giannis to Pacers for Hali…

It helps if Pacers are on Giannis’ destination list, a team who almost won a chip with injured Hali. Giannis has to be thinking, “I am better than Hali, even when healthy, with me Pacers win multiple chips.”

Pacers have to be thinking the same thing. With Giannis at C, they win a chip last year and probably multiple championships moving forward. Is Giannis really going to leave the Mecca after putting ring(s) on his finger?!?

Bucks not owning their own picks/future probably don’t want an injured Hali as centerpiece of Giannis trade, enter a 3rd team.

Memphis seems like a team willing to punt a year in gauntlet that is West, plus a Hali for a move-on-from-Morant trade seems right:

To Grizzlies: Hali/Kuzma

To Pacers: Giannis/AJ Green (Bucks filler)

To Bucks: Morant/Toppin/KCP/3x Pacers 1sts/Swaps

Bucks get excitement - and stay win now - Morant brings to a fresh start in Milwaukee…while also restocking asset cupboard. Not bad outcome for franchise trading team’s superstar.

Giannis (plays PF and some SF too)
Siakam/Walker
Nesmith
Mathurian/Nembhard
Nembhard/McConnell

Giannis isn't going to want to live in Indiana. It also seems like he hates the Pacers particularly.

He is 31 soon. We don’t know what will be a reason he puts a team on his list or not. If winning chips is high on his list - Pacers should be on his list.

No star has ever put Indiana on their list. At a certain point trades have to pass the reality check. Giannis just isn't going to places like Indiana or Portland, no star is.

[jayjaysee]

I think if Hali wasn’t hurt, anyone would want to go to Indy to play with him. Especially, Giannis who from that recent interview/wiretap doesn’t plan to stay in the states at all.. 5-7 more years and then back home.

But I don’t see any star looking to go to Indy until Hali is back.

[Wolveswin]

Giannis isn't going to want to live in Indiana. It also seems like he hates the Pacers particularly.

He is 31 soon. We don’t know what will be a reason he puts a team on his list or not. If winning chips is high on his list - Pacers should be on his list.

No star has ever put Indiana on their list. At a certain point trades have to pass the reality check. Giannis just isn't going to places like Indiana or Portland, no star is.

Many stars have requested trades to teams ready to win chips. And many locations that are not NY or LA. Giannis doesn’t strike me as making a list based on the club scene.

[One_and_Done]

He is 31 soon. We don’t know what will be a reason he puts a team on his list or not. If winning chips is high on his list - Pacers should be on his list.

No star has ever put Indiana on their list. At a certain point trades have to pass the reality check. Giannis just isn't going to places like Indiana or Portland, no star is.

Many stars have requested trades to teams ready to win chips. And many locations that are not NY or LA. Giannis doesn’t strike me as making a list based on the club scene.

And was Indiana ever one of those teams? Was Portland?

[One_and_Done]

I think if Hali wasn’t hurt, anyone would want to go to Indy to play with him. Especially, Giannis who from that recent interview/wiretap doesn’t plan to stay in the states at all.. 5-7 more years and then back home.

But I don’t see any star looking to go to Indy until Hali is back.

Location aside, there has been serious bad blood between those 2 teams in recent years. I can't imagine Giannis wanting to go there.

[JB2]

Brooklyn is most likely to get Giannis IMO.

They have capspace to bring in a max player in 2026 offseason and Giannis can be traded for with Claxton+rookies+FRPs.

Brooklyn is still New York

What max player is that?

[jayjaysee]

I think if Hali wasn’t hurt, anyone would want to go to Indy to play with him. Especially, Giannis who from that recent interview/wiretap doesn’t plan to stay in the states at all.. 5-7 more years and then back home.

But I don’t see any star looking to go to Indy until Hali is back.

Location aside, there has been serious bad blood between those 2 teams in recent years. I can't imagine Giannis wanting to go there.

I don’t know. A HOF coach and an MVP level guard to pair with. 3/d pieces around. Seems like one of the better (or move-in ready) situations out of suitors that could make a ballpark offer

Not looking at what an offer would actually look like or what realism there is since Hali is hurt..

[One_and_Done]

I think if Hali wasn’t hurt, anyone would want to go to Indy to play with him. Especially, Giannis who from that recent interview/wiretap doesn’t plan to stay in the states at all.. 5-7 more years and then back home.

But I don’t see any star looking to go to Indy until Hali is back.

Location aside, there has been serious bad blood between those 2 teams in recent years. I can't imagine Giannis wanting to go there.

I don’t know. A HOF coach and an MVP level guard to pair with. 3/d pieces around. Seems like one of the better (or move-in ready) situations out of suitors that could make a ballpark offer

Not looking at what an offer would actually look like or what realism there is since Hali is hurt..

Again, the 2 teams hate each other right now.

[Wolveswin]

No star has ever put Indiana on their list. At a certain point trades have to pass the reality check. Giannis just isn't going to places like Indiana or Portland, no star is.

Many stars have requested trades to teams ready to win chips. And many locations that are not NY or LA. Giannis doesn’t strike me as making a list based on the club scene.

And was Indiana ever one of those teams? Was Portland?

You have Google - use it.

[One_and_Done]

Many stars have requested trades to teams ready to win chips. And many locations that are not NY or LA. Giannis doesn’t strike me as making a list based on the club scene.

And was Indiana ever one of those teams? Was Portland?

You have Google - use it.

I already know the answer is no, which I already told you.

[parsnips33]

And was Indiana ever one of those teams? Was Portland?

You have Google - use it.

I already know the answer is no, which I already told you.

No star ever asked to go to Toronto, didn't stop them from trading for one and winning a ring

[One_and_Done]

You have Google - use it.

I already know the answer is no, which I already told you.

No star ever asked to go to Toronto, didn't stop them from trading for one and winning a ring

If the plan is to trade for him as a discontented rental, the price being paid needs to reflect that (as it did for Kawhi). Since that price will be below the bids from teams who know he'll stay, it becomes unrealistic to propose trades to places like Portland and Indiana