Giannis to OKC

[Slim Charless]

So I wanna do this with no Chet or SGA...

I'm thinking:

OKC-

Jalen Williams (good one)
Cason Wallace
Ousmane Dieng
Nikola Topic
4 FRPs
4SRPs
Cap filler

Is enough, but curious to hear opinions.....?

[Colbinii]

So what are the high-end assets here aside from Jalen Williams?

Wallace and Dieng are nice but they project as role players rather than true franchise building blocks. Topic was selected in the late lottery in a historically weak and disappointing draft class.

The 2025 LAC 1st has a lot less appeal with how they are playing out of the gate.

Giannis is still in his prime, is still a Top 3 player in the NBA and is locked-in long-term.

I don't think Milwaukee would consider an offer that didn't include Chet/Jalen.

In fact, I think the only offer Milwaukee would consider involves both Chet/Jalen as the headline, as that should be the starting price for an MVP in his prime--two prospects who are very talented but neither project to be MVP caliber themselves.

I know OKC fans will say they won't trade Chet and Jalen for Giannis, and that's probably true, but Milwaukee is the team holding the cards here, not OKC.

[HornetJail]

this is probably a bad day to bring it up since he just outplayed Wemby last night so the hype train is flying towards the speed of sound, but I center the package around Chet instead of Jalen. You wind up having to send fewer picks, and probably have the better fit in the long run.

[wemby]

this is probably a bad day to bring it up since he just outplayed Wemby last night so the hype train is flying towards the speed of sound, but I center the package around Chet instead of Jalen. You wind up having to send fewer picks, and probably have the better fit in the long run.

Chet outplayed Wemby how? One played in a well oiled machine, the other in an embarrasing collection of players thrown onto the court that at times included 4 non shooters. You cannot disregard that... Wesley, Castle, Sochan, Zach Collins together??? huh? Best shooter on the Spurs side was Champagnie. Honestly this Spurs roster minus Vassell is borderline unplayable in today's game. Plus if you watched the game Wemby ate Chet up every time on defense, Chet was simply denied or too scared and had to pass the ball. We know Wemby was bad, but Chet's production last night (19 points, 5 rebounds, 5 turnovers, 2 assists, 2 blocks 2 steals and many individual losses to Wemby) isn't anywhere near worthy of the hype he's getting. Really shows that a lot of fans don't really pay attention to the game and simply repeat someone else's narrative based on a seconds long highlight.

[LarsV8]

Sengun
Sheppard
Whitmore
4 FRP (Suns / Mavs) all unprotected.

[Slim Charless]

this is probably a bad day to bring it up since he just outplayed Wemby last night so the hype train is flying towards the speed of sound, but I center the package around Chet instead of Jalen. You wind up having to send fewer picks, and probably have the better fit in the long run.

If I'm the Thunder, I'd rather give up picks since i have so many. The players I'm gonna need for the title run. Obviously they'll need to give a blue chip guy, hence Jalen Williams.

Then I'd TRY to bridge the gap with a ton of picks. I mean they have like 30 over these next 5 years I think lol.

[wemby]

Sengun
Sheppard
Whitmore
4 FRP (Suns / Mavs) all unprotected.

I'd rather take this offer if I'm the Bucks. Rockets probably have the best package.

[shrink]

If you’re asking for a Top 3 player in the game, you’re going to need to offer one premiere asset. OKC has a lot of picks and players, but you get diminishing returns for each one when you have to stack them so high, because you can’t play them all. Don’t fill up on bread at the buffet! Moreover, Giannis is Milwaukee’s superstar - if you trade him, you need to give the fans back someone they can hope for, and continue to want to buy tickets.

I agree that a deal needs to start with Chet Holmgren. If it didn’t, other teams would steal Giannis away by offering a young player with higher star upside.

[Clav]

Cap filler is too ambiguous for this deal. OKC has a lot of lower value contracts and players not on extensions yet. The biggest $s they can pull are Joe / Wiggins n' Hartenstein to get to Giannis' max.

Needs clarity

[Slim Charless]

If you’re asking for a Top 3 player in the game, you’re going to need to offer one premiere asset. OKC has a lot of picks and players, but you get diminishing returns for each one when you have to stack them so high, because you can’t play them all. Don’t fill up on bread at the buffet! Moreover, Giannis is Milwaukee’s superstar - if you trade him, you need to give the fans back someone they can hope for, and continue to want to buy tickets.

I agree that a deal needs to start with Chet Holmgren. If it didn’t, other teams would steal Giannis away by offering a young player with higher star upside.

I agree, in general but OKC can offer like an insane amount of picks. That, plus the good Jalen Williams and 2 premium prospects like Topic and Cason Wallace isn't a bad start.

I guess if other teams are offering super stars then it's different. But I kinda figured that Milwaukee would be tanking once they trade him. Dame will obviously be on the move too, and possibly Mids.

[giberish]

If you’re asking for a Top 3 player in the game, you’re going to need to offer one premiere asset. OKC has a lot of picks and players, but you get diminishing returns for each one when you have to stack them so high, because you can’t play them all. Don’t fill up on bread at the buffet! Moreover, Giannis is Milwaukee’s superstar - if you trade him, you need to give the fans back someone they can hope for, and continue to want to buy tickets.

I agree that a deal needs to start with Chet Holmgren. If it didn’t, other teams would steal Giannis away by offering a young player with higher star upside.

Williams is a pretty high value guy. I'm not sure any teams are giving up a better young player (obviously the gratuitous extra picks are also needed). Most teams don't have a young guy that valuable, much less the extra picks in play. (at most they'd have one guy better but that would be the guy they're hoping to pair with Giannis).

As noted the salary matching is a problem. It would probably get a bit easier next summer - which is the absolute soonest a deal would happen anyway.

[Chi town]

Sengun
Sheppard
Whitmore
4 FRP (Suns / Mavs) all unprotected.

Yep. I think the Rockets are the team to watch. If I’m the Rockets I’d keep Reed and his shooting and give up Amen and one less 1st.

[Andre Roberstan]

If you’re asking for a Top 3 player in the game, you’re going to need to offer one premiere asset. OKC has a lot of picks and players, but you get diminishing returns for each one when you have to stack them so high, because you can’t play them all. Don’t fill up on bread at the buffet! Moreover, Giannis is Milwaukee’s superstar - if you trade him, you need to give the fans back someone they can hope for, and continue to want to buy tickets.

I agree that a deal needs to start with Chet Holmgren. If it didn’t, other teams would steal Giannis away by offering a young player with higher star upside.

Williams is a pretty high value guy. I'm not sure any teams are giving up a better young player (obviously the gratuitous extra picks are also needed). Most teams don't have a young guy that valuable, much less the extra picks in play. (at most they'd have one guy better but that would be the guy they're hoping to pair with Giannis).

As noted the salary matching is a problem. It would probably get a bit easier next summer - which is the absolute soonest a deal would happen anyway.

Agreed here.

Starting at the deadline Dort/Wiggins/Joe salary matches Giannis; add rookies and picks as needed for value.

I mean, for the next several years, the answer to "does OKC have the assets for a star player" is an unequivocal yes. We're just arguing about details at this point. If Thunder were to do a package, I'd rather center around JDub than Chet just from a positional standpoint, but the Bucks would probably ask for both Jalen and Chet. I don't think it takes both to get it done; Milwaukee holds the cards, but the alternative is OKC stands pat, and they have no reason to be urgent. They still don't know how high the ceiling can go with Chet/JDub.

I also don't think any other team is offering a rookie scale player better than JDub. But IDK.

[Slim Charless]

Sengun
Sheppard
Whitmore
4 FRP (Suns / Mavs) all unprotected.

Yep. I think the Rockets are the team to watch. If I’m the Rockets I’d keep Reed and his shooting and give up Amen and one less 1st.

The OKC deal in question beats that. Picks overkill and the added players are much better.

[Slim Charless]

If you’re asking for a Top 3 player in the game, you’re going to need to offer one premiere asset. OKC has a lot of picks and players, but you get diminishing returns for each one when you have to stack them so high, because you can’t play them all. Don’t fill up on bread at the buffet! Moreover, Giannis is Milwaukee’s superstar - if you trade him, you need to give the fans back someone they can hope for, and continue to want to buy tickets.

I agree that a deal needs to start with Chet Holmgren. If it didn’t, other teams would steal Giannis away by offering a young player with higher star upside.

Williams is a pretty high value guy. I'm not sure any teams are giving up a better young player (obviously the gratuitous extra picks are also needed). Most teams don't have a young guy that valuable, much less the extra picks in play. (at most they'd have one guy better but that would be the guy they're hoping to pair with Giannis).

As noted the salary matching is a problem. It would probably get a bit easier next summer - which is the absolute soonest a deal would happen anyway.

Agreed here.

Starting at the deadline Dort/Wiggins/Joe salary matches Giannis; add rookies and picks as needed for value.

I mean, for the next several years, the answer to "does OKC have the assets for a star player" is an unequivocal yes. We're just arguing about details at this point. If Thunder were to do a package, I'd rather center around JDub than Chet just from a positional standpoint, but the Bucks would probably ask for both Jalen and Chet. I don't think it takes both to get it done; Milwaukee holds the cards, but the alternative is OKC stands pat, and they have no reason to be urgent. They still don't know how high the ceiling can go with Chet/JDub.

I also don't think any other team is offering a rookie scale player better than JDub. But IDK.

Yup. The whole reason you'd want Giannis, is to pair him with Chet. 1 of the best front courts in recent NBA history and potentially 1 of the best ever. Give up JDub and whatever picks are needed to bridge the gap. Also, Topic/Dieng/Cason aren't nothing, those are valued players for a rebuilding team.

Of course the Bucks would want to move Dame as well so if they did this, they'd want the youngest guys possible IMO.

[daoneandonly]

Chet has to be included. Heck it will probably take both Chet & Jalen

[Kiss of Death]

OKC picks are not good ones. They would have to include Chet and I don’t think that would even be enough.

[shrink]

I think we internet fans value “tons of future picks” more than actual GM’s. Most GMs aren’t guaranteed to keep his job for the next five years for the picks to happen, and the young players to become stars, then losing a player of Giannis caliber is tough for your job security.

[MessiahUjiri]

I agree that Milwaukee gives it an honest go with the Giannis - Lillard duo this season, so this has to be an offseason trade.

Giannis is the *MVP of the league this year*. Yeah, this has to start with Chet+.


If you want to build something with these teams, I assume MIL also sends over Bobby Portis so that OKC has a vet C.


Something like this:

Chet + Cason + Dort + Joe + Wiggins + 3 good 1sts
for
Giannis + Portis + TPrince


That will be an extremely tempting offer for Milwaukee…it should force a conversation between their GM and ownership.


Meanwhile for OKC:

Shai / ?
Caruso / ?
JWill / TPrince /
Giannis / Kenrich / JWill
Hartenstein / Portis

That starting 5 is probably the scariest lineup in the league.

[Chi town]

Sengun
Sheppard
Whitmore
4 FRP (Suns / Mavs) all unprotected.

Yep. I think the Rockets are the team to watch. If I’m the Rockets I’d keep Reed and his shooting and give up Amen and one less 1st.

The OKC deal in question beats that. Picks overkill and the added players are much better.

I don’t think Presti will give up JDub or Chet. Nor should he.

Rockets and OKC are the only teams that have the players and the picks. Spurs just have the picks.

Bucks look cooked. I think he gets traded this season. Think Bucks will get ahead of it and get picks in this draft and tank for Flagg.