Atlanta - Milwaukee - Portland

[Village Idiot]

This deal is predicated on the following asumptions:

- Atlanta seems like a good fit for Giannis and with them having the Bucks picks the next two drafts.

- If the Bucks trade Giannis they will want to enter into a deep rebuild and Portland having control over their picks from 28 - 30 is a clear limitation.

- I am assuming that the Bucks would not want Trae Young as the centerpiece of a trade

note that this trade miraculously works in the Spotrac trade machine despite the poison pill status on both Johnson and Camara.

Atlanta trades:

Jalen Johnson
Kristaps Porzingis
2026 1st - more favorable of MIL or NOP
2027 1st - least favorable of MIL or NOP

Atlanta receives:

Giannis
Robert Williams III

The Hawks get an all-NBA player in his prime who fits the remaining roster perfectly. This team becomes an instant contender.

Portland trades:

Toumani Camara
Matisse Thybulle
Robert Williams III
2028 pick swap with Milwaukee cancelled
2029 1st from Portland - least favorable of Boston, Milwaukee and Portland
2030 pick swap with Milwaukee cancelled

Portland receives:

Jalen Johnson

Portland trades an all-NBA defender for a more well-rounded player in Jalen Johnson who gives the Blazer a 2nd emerging all-star to pair with Deni Avdija as triple threat forwards who are also plus defenders.

Milwaukee trades:

Giannis

Milwaukee receives:

Toumani Camara
Kristaps Porzingis - ending contract
Matisse Thybulle - ending contract
2026 1st - more favorable of MIL or NOP
2027 1st - least favorable of MIL or NOP
2028 pick swap rights to Portland cancelled
2029 1st from Portland - least favorable of Boston, Milwaukee and Portland
2030 pick swap rights to Portland cancelled

The Bucks get full control over all their picks going forward and can do a thorough rebuild. They also get one of the best defenders in the NBA in Toumani Camara who is on a very reasonable contract. Porzingis has an ending contract and could probably be flipped for further assets. Note that the Bucks need cut two players. Conviently, with nepotism no longer a factor, the two obviously candidates are Giannis' brothers.

[JayMKE]

Bucks would cut out Portland easily, returning pick swaps isn't worth more than Johnson.

[Village Idiot]

Bucks would cut out Portland easily, returning pick swaps isn't worth more than Johnson.

I imagine Portland would be ok with that too. Toumani Camara is a player they love and the resulting Bucks teams would still be suffiently bad that Portland could be competitive while still receiving the Bucks lottery picks in 28, 29 and 30.

[Threezus]

I'll pass easily im not giving up JJ who is locked up on a good contract and very young in a trade. If im trading for Giannis it's to pair with JJ not swapping them out.

[One_and_Done]

This fails because Giannis isn't going to agree to play for Atlanta. That's a pretty essential requirement given his leverage.

[Village Idiot]

This fails because Giannis isn't going to agree to play for Atlanta. That's a pretty essential requirement given his leverage.

You've repeated this ad naseum without, to my knowledge, providing a shread of evidence or having made a compelling argument.

[One_and_Done]

This fails because Giannis isn't going to agree to play for Atlanta. That's a pretty essential requirement given his leverage.

You've repeated this ad naseum without, to my knowledge, providing a shread of evidence or having made a compelling argument.

Nobody can provide rock solid evidence, because Giannis is hardly going to do an interview saying "Portland/Atlanta is a backwater city, and I won't play there", but common sense makes it pretty clear he won't go there for the reasons I've explained, just like no other star has.

What possible reason is there to think he'd want to go there?

[jayjaysee]

Atlanta is actually a really beautiful city.. a major market with an international airport.. shrugs.

But Portland gets cut out here.

Two drafts is enough to build a young core once you factor in Jalen Johnson..

I just think Atlanta is going to try and keep Jalen. Their offer should be the Mil picks.. Risacher, Asa and/or future picks.. and then Trae. Trae to Mil or Trae to a third team for another asset. I think given the value of that 2026 first, Jalen isn’t actually needed.. And I’d rather pair Jalen/Giannis than Giannis/Trae when you factor in Jalen’s cheap contract making it possible to avoid the tax and contend..

[One_and_Done]

Atlanta is actually a really beautiful city.. a major market with an international airport.. shrugs.

But Portland gets cut out here.

Two drafts is enough to build a young core once you factor in Jalen Johnson..

I just think Atlanta is going to try and keep Jalen. Their offer should be the Mil picks.. Risacher, Asa and/or future picks.. and then Trae. Trae to Mil or Trae to a third team for another asset. I think given the value of that 2026 first, Jalen isn’t actually needed.. And I’d rather pair Jalen/Giannis than Giannis/Trae when you factor in Jalen’s cheap contract making it possible to avoid the tax and contend..

All this talk of their great airport is giving Futurama vibes
https://youtu.be/N5xVCpxYoVQ?si=T2CbC9bM385SKkLQ

I just don't sse them as a star destination.

[bkohler]

I personally think Giannis has very little real leverage and at the end of the day he’ll go wherever sends the best package.

[Village Idiot]

This fails because Giannis isn't going to agree to play for Atlanta. That's a pretty essential requirement given his leverage.

You've repeated this ad naseum without, to my knowledge, providing a shread of evidence or having made a compelling argument.

Nobody can provide rock solid evidence, because Giannis is hardly going to do an interview saying "Portland/Atlanta is a backwater city, and I won't play there", but common sense makes it pretty clear he won't go there for the reasons I've explained, just like no other star has.

What possible reason is there to think he'd want to go there?

exactly. No one can say what Giannis is thinking or what the trade might be. Therefore saying that any trade proposal is moot do to your subjective opinion about how another person might perceive the attractiveness is adding nothing to the discussion, unless you want to actually state something about the merits of a proposal from the perspective of each team.

[jayjaysee]

Atlanta is actually a really beautiful city.. a major market with an international airport.. shrugs.

But Portland gets cut out here.

Two drafts is enough to build a young core once you factor in Jalen Johnson..

I just think Atlanta is going to try and keep Jalen. Their offer should be the Mil picks.. Risacher, Asa and/or future picks.. and then Trae. Trae to Mil or Trae to a third team for another asset. I think given the value of that 2026 first, Jalen isn’t actually needed.. And I’d rather pair Jalen/Giannis than Giannis/Trae when you factor in Jalen’s cheap contract making it possible to avoid the tax and contend..

All this talk of their great airport is giving Futurama vibes
https://youtu.be/N5xVCpxYoVQ?si=T2CbC9bM385SKkLQ

I just don't sse them as a star destination.

All I said was it was a major international airport. It is a beautiful city though and a big metro area. Used to go for work a lot

Not typically on stars list, but they are better positioned for one than they have been in a long time? They have a “top 30” (he’s playing better than that this year though?) player locked up on a bargain contract through Giannis’ hopeful extension/prime. As well as Dyson/NAW/OO locked up on cheap contracts.. The trade package could be competitive without any of them and Atlanta would become favorites to come out of the East this season.

If it costs Jalen and the Milwaukee picks, and you’re left maxing Trae or losing him to Brooklyn… I think you’re still firmly a contender through Gianni’s’ years.. I just like it a lot less for Atlanta obviously.

[mlloyd10]

This fails because Giannis isn't going to agree to play for Atlanta. That's a pretty essential requirement given his leverage.

Can you say something else besides this? You have no clue what you are talking about. Its tolling at this point

[atlantabbq99]

Other teams trying to get Jalen Johnson...

[MrIrrelevant]

Other teams trying to get Jalen Johnson...

The funniest part is that in July, somebody said Bucks should try to get Jalen Johnson, Dyson, Pelicans 2026 pick, and then a 2027 pick for Giannis. The infamous Bucks fans said "a million times no" lol. Holding onto a star for too long just never ever ages well.

[mlloyd10]

Other teams trying to get Jalen Johnson...

The funniest part is that in July, somebody said Bucks should try to get Jalen Johnson, Dyson, Pelicans 2026 pick, and then a 2027 pick for Giannis. The infamous Bucks fans said "a million times no" lol. Holding onto a star for too long just never ever ages well.

That's when we thought we actually had a team that could compete - On paper, everything looked good.

[jowglenn]

I just don't think Atlanta is going to trade Jalen Johnson for Giannis. The fact is, they can provide top value with the picks they have. They don't even need to include Trae Young. Risacher, Porzingis, Kennard, 2026 NOP/MIL 1st, 2027 NOP/MIL 1st. That's a recent #1 pick + 2 very strong future 1sts. They can even throw in a few more other 1sts if need be.

I don't think there's a better deal out there that allows the Bucks to restart, replenish the draft warchest. Maybe OKC can put together a better pick package? But who else?

[JRoy]

OKC could put together a package to beat all but what is the incentive?

They didn’t need GA last year and are even better this year. They are the clear favorites to win it all.

[MrIrrelevant]

The Hawks get an all-NBA player in his prime who fits the remaining roster perfectly. This team becomes an instant contender.

This trade was fun and might have some pieces that get it done. Just a note that nobody from the 2013 NBA Draft is in their prime; the farthest back draft with a guy in his prime is arguably 2017 with Jayson Tatum. Maybe 2016 with Jaylen Brown? The drafts with guys in their primes are 2018-2020.

[One_and_Done]

I personally think Giannis has very little real leverage and at the end of the day he’ll go wherever sends the best package.

That is a pretty wild take, and basically disregards everythimg we know about superstar trades when the player is a soon to be free agent.