What Teams Are Best Equipped To Land Giannis In A Potential Trade Request?

[GiannisAnte34]

The Luka trade has really created some delusional valuations on a top player in their prime

[MoreyWins]

Houston

I could see Houston as a fit. But would they have to give up Green or Sengun? Would a package built around Jabari Smith, Thompson, and picks be enough? Not sure about that.

Are you kidding? The Bucks would trade Giannis this summer if the Rockets offered that package. You'd be hard pressed to find a better package to jumpstart a rebuild than that. I wouldn't offer that for Giannis if I'm Houston. Amen Thompson is such a marvel that it's hard to give up on that. Talks would probably center around Sengun, realistically. Sengun, Cam or Reed, and picks.

[sp6r=underrated]

OKC has the assets

Giannis is a no question HOFer but given OKC's level of play I wouldn't want to acquire Giannis.

[web123888]

OKC obviously, even if they are capable of winning a title without Giannis.

Cleveland can’t win a title without Giannis as they don’t have a good enough #1 option.

OKC may/ may not be wise to pursue Giannis. I used to think these were no brainer decisions to acquire superstars in their prime, and sometimes they are, but with recent obvious catastrophes (Durant Nets/Suns, Kawhi Clippers), one has to at least pause for a second to think about whether it’s actually worth it.

[BruttoNostra]

OKC is NOT the team IMO, their picks aren't great and they shouldn't break a 70 wins pace core.
Rockets are the team IMO.

I don't think people who mentioned OKC talked about OKC's own picks.

2025:
They will swap for Clippers pick.
Lottery protected Miami pick (or 2026 unprotected)
1-6 protected one from 76ers (or 1-4 protection the following 2 years)

2026: (not including the above mentioned Miami and 76ers picks):
Houston and Clippers FRPs (basically, 2 best out of these and their own pick)

2027:
Denver 1-5 protected (same protection for 2 more years)
Swap with Clippers

2028:
Dallas
OKC own pick

2029-2031:
Won picks

So basically, even their own picks are more valuable that what you think, as their 2025 pick might be worth around 18-ish pick (swap with Clippers), their 2026 and 2027 worth some middle of the pack pick at worst (Clippers are oooold).
And you have some potentially lottery picks in Denver 2027, Miami 2026 (if not conveyed this year and Miami struggle next year), lottery one from Sixers this year or next year (with some luck) - those 3 picks and those from Clippers have potential to land anything between 2-5 lottery picks, I believe. It's crazy. Plus their own 2029-2031 are so far away, that even such picks might be worth a gamble. I mean, would you rather have a 20th pick in 2025 or a pick 6 years from now that have like 15% to be in lottery (health, CBA effect, whatever else), 50% to be around the same 20-ish range and 35% to be one of the last picks?

Yeah, but Denver picks are protected, Clippers pick is next year and they're still good, PHI/MIA picks aren't great PHI is just tanking, they aren't as bad as their record suggest, Heat are still good it was just a bad year with the Butler stuff.
Compare that with HOU who own the imploding Suns futre and Mavs 29 1st, it's definitely better.

Denver one is protected 1-5 only - for 2 years, so Denver should really suck like full-time rebuild and reset for 2 years - 2 and 3 years from now. Simply declining or being like this year's Toronto or Phily - and it conveys.
Clippers pick is 3 years in a row.
Philly one has 37% chances to be 7-9 this year, and if not - They still have over $100M next year for Embiid and that podcast guy, and both will be 1 year older.

All in all - Suns future FRPs (+ Nets in 27) might single handedly be the best draft asset out there for any team. But OKC's collection, although not being the most lucrative one, is more than enough as well.

However, as Bucks don't own their OWN draft picks till 2031, with 26 and 27 going to Pelicans and 28-30 to Blazers - their priority might be trying to regain some of these picks (just as Suns would like to partner with Rockets when trading KD this summer)

[Up-And-Coming]

As others have noted, the Thunder and Rockets have the assets to trade for him and are currently well positioned playoff teams.

With that said would Giannis really want to go to a more crowded West and potentially play 2nd fiddle to SGA? He just strikes me as someone at this point of his career who will force the hand of the Bucks to his preferred destination and I think he’d prefer to stay East **shrugs**

[SK21209]

Giannis is under contract through 2026-2027 and has a PO for 2027-2028. I still feel like we're a year away from this being a real conversation.

OKC and Houston are of course mentioned as the teams with the most assets, but when was the last time one of these stars actually went to the team with the most to trade? That's just not how it usually works. Teams don't trade guys this good until they absolutely have to, but when you get to that point the star is typically close enough to free agency that he has some leverage. But if we're throwing out destinations, it would be fun if Detroit got involved.

[scrabbarista]

I would not trade any Rockets for Giannis. Maybe Holiday.

[Special_Puppy]

Thunder+Cavs+Rockets.

[TravisScott55]

Rockets

[elchengue20]

Rockets are the obvious and logic destination.

Also it would be like a Hakeem 2.0, which is a very nice narrative.

[lonzo_pelota]

not to toot my own horn, but there is one team who comes to mind out west that has the assets to pair him with Luka for years to come

[MavsDirk41]

Houston

I could see Houston as a fit. But would they have to give up Green or Sengun? Would a package built around Jabari Smith, Thompson, and picks be enough? Not sure about that.

Are you kidding? The Bucks would trade Giannis this summer if the Rockets offered that package. You'd be hard pressed to find a better package to jumpstart a rebuild than that. I wouldn't offer that for Giannis if I'm Houston. Amen Thompson is such a marvel that it's hard to give up on that. Talks would probably center around Sengun, realistically. Sengun, Cam or Reed, and picks.

You would give up Sengun over Thompson?

[MavsDirk41]

not to toot my own horn, but there is one team who comes to mind out west that has the assets to pair him with Luka for years to come

And what would that be? There are several teams that could offer better trade packages than LA.

[zimpy27]

Sengun+Amen for Giannis

[HMFFL]

Will Giannis get the same hate as other stars that left their teams if he does leave? Or will people pick and choose? This is a guy who many consider is a top 3 player but has never put a team on his back and took them deep all by himself. How about he does that for a change? He was talking **** after winning his injury riddled ring about “doing it the right way” lol. Let’s see what he’s about.

I'm sorry, did I only imagine him scoring 50 points in a close out finals game?

Does that change the fact the Nets would have beat them if they were healthy? I just want to see this guy make a deep playoff run without a single all-star teammate.

You need to see Giannis prove more?.............In Milwaukee?

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[Special_Puppy]

not to toot my own horn, but there is one team who comes to mind out west that has the assets to pair him with Luka for years to come

What assets lmao

[brackdan70]

Will Giannis get the same hate as other stars that left their teams if he does leave? Or will people pick and choose? This is a guy who many consider is a top 3 player but has never put a team on his back and took them deep all by himself. How about he does that for a change? He was talking **** after winning his injury riddled ring about “doing it the right way” lol. Let’s see what he’s about.

I'm sorry, did I only imagine him scoring 50 points in a close out finals game?

Does that change the fact the Nets would have beat them if they were healthy? I just want to see this guy make a deep playoff run without a single all-star teammate.

Who has made a deep playoff run without a single all star team mate? Very few. Why is that important?
He won a championship as the clear best player on his team.

[Special_Puppy]

I'm sorry, did I only imagine him scoring 50 points in a close out finals game?

Does that change the fact the Nets would have beat them if they were healthy? I just want to see this guy make a deep playoff run without a single all-star teammate.

Who has made a deep playoff run without a single all star team mate? Very few. Why is that important?
He won a championship as the clear best player on his team.

With a supporting cast that wasn't THAT good

[Pattycakes]

Portland? They could return the Bucks pick and swaps, allowing the Bucks to tank, plus they have several young talents that could be sent, and some large expiring contracts. Everything the Bucks could want in a rebuild.

Yes but we have a timeline and Giannis ain’t it