What if Giannis chooses and Toronto on short list - Does this change Conversation?

[Pointgod]

I saw somewhere, there was the idea that the Sixers might offer the 3rd overall pick & PG to the Suns for KD.

I don't think KD is worth the Raps interest at this time. Giannis makes a bit more sense, as they would have a few years with him, still at superstar levels.

That’s stupidity if the Sixers did that.

It is Morey. Could be desperate, trying to correct the mess he created last offseason.

Health will correct what happened last season. And they’re better off just drafting Ace Bailey than trading for Durant who has 2-3 years left?

[Scase]

Masai wouldn't trade Barnes for KD before. He certainly won't now with KD being 2 years older, even with Barnes not taking a leap.

yeah, wont happen. KD is turning 37 too.

You make the KD deal if you can rip off PHX and make them take a package centred around RJ, IQ

But does that even make the Raps any better? They lose depth, and now Scottie and BI are taking a backseat to KD.

A Giannis deal centered around Scottie makes more sense. They keep their depth, and just replace Scottie's role with a superstar version.

Unequivocally makes us better man lol.

Giannis deal would bleed the team dry, a KD one is presumably much cheaper. The PG spot would be light, but Scottie and BI have enough talent moving the ball, and KD is no slouch either. BI and Scottie NEED the alpha to shine, they are not #1s and never have been.

Do we win a chip, nah, but at least it would be an enjoyable season over the current roster.

[JB7]

That’s stupidity if the Sixers did that.

It is Morey. Could be desperate, trying to correct the mess he created last offseason.

Health will correct what happened last season. And they’re better off just drafting Ace Bailey than trading for Durant who has 2-3 years left?

Health will correct, if you believe both Embiid and PG can return to their former selves. If not, last year's season might not be as much of an aberration.

[JB7]

yeah, wont happen. KD is turning 37 too.

You make the KD deal if you can rip off PHX and make them take a package centred around RJ, IQ

But does that even make the Raps any better? They lose depth, and now Scottie and BI are taking a backseat to KD.

A Giannis deal centered around Scottie makes more sense. They keep their depth, and just replace Scottie's role with a superstar version.

Unequivocally makes us better man lol.

Giannis deal would bleed the team dry, a KD one is presumably much cheaper. The PG spot would be light, but Scottie and BI have enough talent moving the ball, and KD is no slouch either. BI and Scottie NEED the alpha to shine, they are not #1s and never have been.

Do we win a chip, nah, but at least it would be an enjoyable season over the current roster.

Depends on what the deals entail. If the Giannis deal is primarily centered around Barnes, along with pieces like Dick and Agbaji and picks, the team is left with its full starting lineup, replacing Barnes with Giannis. For the KD deal, to match salaries, and not include Barnes or BI, means 2 of their other starters are being moved, in addition to other pieces. Plus there is the overlap in KD and BI's games, which means BI will probably be less involved and engaged. And Barnes would also touch the ball a lot less. So would it be one lost year of development for Barnes and BI? Plus KD only has one year left on his deal, and could walk.

I would pass on a KD deal at this point.

[Pointgod]

It is Morey. Could be desperate, trying to correct the mess he created last offseason.

Health will correct what happened last season. And they’re better off just drafting Ace Bailey than trading for Durant who has 2-3 years left?

Health will correct, if you believe both Embiid and PG can return to their former selves. If not, last year's season might not be as much of an aberration.

I don’t think George and Embiid have to get back to their former selves for the Sixers to correct. They just need to be a lot better than last year.

Maxey is an allstar who puts up 26,6 and 3. Quinten Grimes is overrated but is probably still solid 3 and D guy with some playmaking chops. Jared McCain was on his way to being rookie of the year before his injury. Really good young talent who can shoot, create and pass. They have their backcourt locked up if the resign Grimes and they should draft Ace who should get minutes as the back up 3/4.

They just need a back up Center and a starting 4 to jump back into the top 6 in the East if George and Embiid play at least 50 games. Long term though the Sixers need to start building around Maxey and eventually trade Embiid which is why it makes all the sense in the world to draft Ace and groom him as a running mate unless they have a trade offer that immediately opens up their title window.

[Scase]

But does that even make the Raps any better? They lose depth, and now Scottie and BI are taking a backseat to KD.

A Giannis deal centered around Scottie makes more sense. They keep their depth, and just replace Scottie's role with a superstar version.

Unequivocally makes us better man lol.

Giannis deal would bleed the team dry, a KD one is presumably much cheaper. The PG spot would be light, but Scottie and BI have enough talent moving the ball, and KD is no slouch either. BI and Scottie NEED the alpha to shine, they are not #1s and never have been.

Do we win a chip, nah, but at least it would be an enjoyable season over the current roster.

Depends on what the deals entail. If the Giannis deal is primarily centered around Barnes, along with pieces like Dick and Agbaji and picks, the team is left with its full starting lineup, replacing Barnes with Giannis. For the KD deal, to match salaries, and not include Barnes or BI, means 2 of their other starters are being moved, in addition to other pieces. Plus there is the overlap in KD and BI's games, which means BI will probably be less involved and engaged. And Barnes would also touch the ball a lot less. So would it be one lost year of development for Barnes and BI? Plus KD only has one year left on his deal, and could walk.

I would pass on a KD deal at this point.

I'm not going to lose any sleep over moving 2 mediocre starters, one of which is on a bloated contract. At this point it is quite clear that there is little to no intent to build anything long term, so why half ass it, full ass this and see if it can amount to anything.

[WuTang_OG]

Watch on YouTube

[WuTang_OG]

Read on Twitter

Antetokounmpo himself has been very active on Twitter in terms of answering fans' questions over the past several days, but he has not formally pushed to be traded away from the only NBA team he has ever known in the wake of Milwaukee's third successive first-round exit.

Not yet.

It remains unclear, furthermore, if he ultimately will or he won't. The only certainty to emerge in the 27 days since the Bucks last played a game: Teams are quietly lining up to make trade pitches for the 30-year-old if he becomes available ... without waiting to see if they land on the widely anticipated list of preferred destinations that Antetokounmpo would be expected to furnish if he indeed reaches that point.


There are some useful fresh morsels on the subject, though, that we can pass along. Some insight, namely, on the Bucks' approach to trying to convince him to stay.

Word is that the Bucks are trying to build a good bit of their case for convincing Antetokounmpo to give them another shot to build a title team around him by loudly reminding him about the current state of the Eastern Conference.

Milwaukee has indeed been eliminated in Round 1 by Indiana in each of the past two springs ... which can't exactly be described as promising when the Pacers have a real shot to make their first trip to the NBA Finals since 2000. Yet simply staying in the East would almost certainly enhance Antetokounmpo's chances of winning the second championship he so deeply craves given the injury-related uncertainty facing contenders like Boston and Philadelphia and how much harder it clearly is just to get out of the West and into the NBA Finals. A significant aspect of the Bucks' pitch, then, is selling Antetokounmpo on the idea of a so-called gap year that enables them to retool the team while allowing him to maintain his one-team affiliation after 12 seasons in Milwaukee. The very forgiving East landscape certainly enhances the notion that it wouldn't take years (with an s) to return to contention.

The Bucks are also hoping that the presence of Doc Rivers as coach can provide some sort of boost. Antetokounmpo and Rivers are believed to have a strong working relationship, which Rivers — annoyed as he clearly was to be greeted by paparazzi outside of a Beverly Hills restaurant a few days ago — apparently tried to convey by telling TMZ: "I talk to him all the time."

[Scase]

Read on Twitter

Antetokounmpo himself has been very active on Twitter in terms of answering fans' questions over the past several days, but he has not formally pushed to be traded away from the only NBA team he has ever known in the wake of Milwaukee's third successive first-round exit.

Not yet.

It remains unclear, furthermore, if he ultimately will or he won't. The only certainty to emerge in the 27 days since the Bucks last played a game: Teams are quietly lining up to make trade pitches for the 30-year-old if he becomes available ... without waiting to see if they land on the widely anticipated list of preferred destinations that Antetokounmpo would be expected to furnish if he indeed reaches that point.


There are some useful fresh morsels on the subject, though, that we can pass along. Some insight, namely, on the Bucks' approach to trying to convince him to stay.

Word is that the Bucks are trying to build a good bit of their case for convincing Antetokounmpo to give them another shot to build a title team around him by loudly reminding him about the current state of the Eastern Conference.

Milwaukee has indeed been eliminated in Round 1 by Indiana in each of the past two springs ... which can't exactly be described as promising when the Pacers have a real shot to make their first trip to the NBA Finals since 2000. Yet simply staying in the East would almost certainly enhance Antetokounmpo's chances of winning the second championship he so deeply craves given the injury-related uncertainty facing contenders like Boston and Philadelphia and how much harder it clearly is just to get out of the West and into the NBA Finals. A significant aspect of the Bucks' pitch, then, is selling Antetokounmpo on the idea of a so-called gap year that enables them to retool the team while allowing him to maintain his one-team affiliation after 12 seasons in Milwaukee. The very forgiving East landscape certainly enhances the notion that it wouldn't take years (with an s) to return to contention.

The Bucks are also hoping that the presence of Doc Rivers as coach can provide some sort of boost. Antetokounmpo and Rivers are believed to have a strong working relationship, which Rivers — annoyed as he clearly was to be greeted by paparazzi outside of a Beverly Hills restaurant a few days ago — apparently tried to convey by telling TMZ: "I talk to him all the time."

It's such a bad argument, I don't see how it will ever convince a player to stay put. Look at Lebron, 2nd in the GOAT convo and in an even WEAKER east, he still got smashed in the finals on the Cavs.

I hate this argument for our team pushing for the playoffs, like making it in a weak conference means anything, and I hate it to try and convince a guy of Giannis' stature that it gives him a shot at a chip. The west is incredibly strong, and making it to the finals to have your throat stomped on by one of 4 teams that are WAY better than any team in the east is a horrible sell.

If you need a weak east to make it to the finals, you aren't good enough to beat the teams that made it in a MUCH stronger conference. A healthy Bucks team isn't beating NYC/CLE/IND, let alone OKC/MIN/DEN for a chip. He's better off going somewhere he has an actual chance IMO.

[Tor_Raps]

Read on Twitter

Antetokounmpo himself has been very active on Twitter in terms of answering fans' questions over the past several days, but he has not formally pushed to be traded away from the only NBA team he has ever known in the wake of Milwaukee's third successive first-round exit.

Not yet.

It remains unclear, furthermore, if he ultimately will or he won't. The only certainty to emerge in the 27 days since the Bucks last played a game: Teams are quietly lining up to make trade pitches for the 30-year-old if he becomes available ... without waiting to see if they land on the widely anticipated list of preferred destinations that Antetokounmpo would be expected to furnish if he indeed reaches that point.


There are some useful fresh morsels on the subject, though, that we can pass along. Some insight, namely, on the Bucks' approach to trying to convince him to stay.

Word is that the Bucks are trying to build a good bit of their case for convincing Antetokounmpo to give them another shot to build a title team around him by loudly reminding him about the current state of the Eastern Conference.

Milwaukee has indeed been eliminated in Round 1 by Indiana in each of the past two springs ... which can't exactly be described as promising when the Pacers have a real shot to make their first trip to the NBA Finals since 2000. Yet simply staying in the East would almost certainly enhance Antetokounmpo's chances of winning the second championship he so deeply craves given the injury-related uncertainty facing contenders like Boston and Philadelphia and how much harder it clearly is just to get out of the West and into the NBA Finals. A significant aspect of the Bucks' pitch, then, is selling Antetokounmpo on the idea of a so-called gap year that enables them to retool the team while allowing him to maintain his one-team affiliation after 12 seasons in Milwaukee. The very forgiving East landscape certainly enhances the notion that it wouldn't take years (with an s) to return to contention.

The Bucks are also hoping that the presence of Doc Rivers as coach can provide some sort of boost. Antetokounmpo and Rivers are believed to have a strong working relationship, which Rivers — annoyed as he clearly was to be greeted by paparazzi outside of a Beverly Hills restaurant a few days ago — apparently tried to convey by telling TMZ: "I talk to him all the time."

It's such a bad argument, I don't see how it will ever convince a player to stay put. Look at Lebron, 2nd in the GOAT convo and in an even WEAKER east, he still got smashed in the finals on the Cavs.

I hate this argument for our team pushing for the playoffs, like making it in a weak conference means anything, and I hate it to try and convince a guy of Giannis' stature that it gives him a shot at a chip. The west is incredibly strong, and making it to the finals to have your throat stomped on by one of 4 teams that are WAY better than any team in the east is a horrible sell.

If you need a weak east to make it to the finals, you aren't good enough to beat the teams that made it in a MUCH stronger conference. A healthy Bucks team isn't beating NYC/CLE/IND, let alone OKC/MIN/DEN for a chip. He's better off going somewhere he has an actual chance IMO.

If anything, the weaker East makes more sense for Giannis to demand a trade to another Eastern Conference team. Thank you Bucks for helping our situation lol.

[WuTang_OG]

Giannis comes out and says he wants to stay in the East.
Bucks respond and say hey ya Giannis stay in the east its much weaker!! but do it with us
They seem desperate.

[JB7]

Read on Twitter

It's such a bad argument, I don't see how it will ever convince a player to stay put. Look at Lebron, 2nd in the GOAT convo and in an even WEAKER east, he still got smashed in the finals on the Cavs.

I hate this argument for our team pushing for the playoffs, like making it in a weak conference means anything, and I hate it to try and convince a guy of Giannis' stature that it gives him a shot at a chip. The west is incredibly strong, and making it to the finals to have your throat stomped on by one of 4 teams that are WAY better than any team in the east is a horrible sell.

If you need a weak east to make it to the finals, you aren't good enough to beat the teams that made it in a MUCH stronger conference. A healthy Bucks team isn't beating NYC/CLE/IND, let alone OKC/MIN/DEN for a chip. He's better off going somewhere he has an actual chance IMO.

If anything, the weaker East makes more sense for Giannis to demand a trade to another Eastern Conference team. Thank you Bucks for helping our situation lol.

I wonder if that push also helps the Bucks, in terms of trades, if they are more interested in assets like Barnes, Franz or Mobley, over say Amen or SAS's 2nd pick. Convince Giannis that staying in the East is the best course of action, and then play these three teams off each other.

[sidsid]

It's such a bad argument, I don't see how it will ever convince a player to stay put. Look at Lebron, 2nd in the GOAT convo and in an even WEAKER east, he still got smashed in the finals on the Cavs.

I hate this argument for our team pushing for the playoffs, like making it in a weak conference means anything, and I hate it to try and convince a guy of Giannis' stature that it gives him a shot at a chip. The west is incredibly strong, and making it to the finals to have your throat stomped on by one of 4 teams that are WAY better than any team in the east is a horrible sell.

If you need a weak east to make it to the finals, you aren't good enough to beat the teams that made it in a MUCH stronger conference. A healthy Bucks team isn't beating NYC/CLE/IND, let alone OKC/MIN/DEN for a chip. He's better off going somewhere he has an actual chance IMO.

If anything, the weaker East makes more sense for Giannis to demand a trade to another Eastern Conference team. Thank you Bucks for helping our situation lol.

I wonder if that push also helps the Bucks, in terms of trades, if they are more interested in assets like Barnes, Franz or Mobley, over say Amen or SAS's 2nd pick. Convince Giannis that staying in the East is the best course of action, and then play these three teams off each other.

What this does is make it a very high chance that an already all-in team makes the play to get him knowing they're this close.

The Knicks sending KAT and Bridges over to the Bucks after seeing how they are so close. Or Indy doing the same with Siakam and youth on their end.

The Cavs would be stupid not to after a couple disappointments.

Philly would love to do something like this with Maxey, but I don't think they trust Embiid's knee anymore.

[Tor_Raps]

If anything, the weaker East makes more sense for Giannis to demand a trade to another Eastern Conference team. Thank you Bucks for helping our situation lol.

I wonder if that push also helps the Bucks, in terms of trades, if they are more interested in assets like Barnes, Franz or Mobley, over say Amen or SAS's 2nd pick. Convince Giannis that staying in the East is the best course of action, and then play these three teams off each other.

What this does is make it a very high chance that an already all-in team makes the play to get him knowing they're this close.

The Knicks sending KAT and Bridges over to the Bucks after seeing how they are so close. Or Indy doing the same with Siakam and youth on their end.

The Cavs would be stupid not to after a couple disappointments.

Philly would love to do something like this with Maxey, but I don't think they trust Embiid's knee anymore.

Allen/Garland or Towns/Bridges would be hard to beat. Unless the Bucks get their picks back from the Pelicans for the next 2 years, they have 0 reason to rebuild.

[JB7]

I wonder if that push also helps the Bucks, in terms of trades, if they are more interested in assets like Barnes, Franz or Mobley, over say Amen or SAS's 2nd pick. Convince Giannis that staying in the East is the best course of action, and then play these three teams off each other.

What this does is make it a very high chance that an already all-in team makes the play to get him knowing they're this close.

The Knicks sending KAT and Bridges over to the Bucks after seeing how they are so close. Or Indy doing the same with Siakam and youth on their end.

The Cavs would be stupid not to after a couple disappointments.

Philly would love to do something like this with Maxey, but I don't think they trust Embiid's knee anymore.

Allen/Garland or Towns/Bridges would be hard to beat. Unless the Bucks get their picks back from the Pelicans for the next 2 years, they have 0 reason to rebuild.

https://www.theringer.com/podcasts/the-bill-simmons-podcast/2025/05/21/the-invincible-okc-knicks-nirvana-and-acceptable-giannis-trades-with-zach-lowe-ariel-helwani-sean-fennessey-and-ben-thompson

Simmons podcast had a good discussion with a podcaster that follows the Bucks (01:38:53). Basically he said, which makes sense, is the Bucks need to get a signature piece back now. They don't control their draft picks so no incentive to tank, and therefore, they need to get the piece they are going to build out from here. He wasn't too high on Mobley. And didn't seem interested at all in the crap NYK would offer (Towns & Bridges). He was more high on Rockets and Spurs, and what they could offer. I found it interesting that while they circled around the idea of a Barnes type, they never actually brought up the Raps or Barnes specifically.

[ConSarnit]

I wonder if that push also helps the Bucks, in terms of trades, if they are more interested in assets like Barnes, Franz or Mobley, over say Amen or SAS's 2nd pick. Convince Giannis that staying in the East is the best course of action, and then play these three teams off each other.

What this does is make it a very high chance that an already all-in team makes the play to get him knowing they're this close.

The Knicks sending KAT and Bridges over to the Bucks after seeing how they are so close. Or Indy doing the same with Siakam and youth on their end.

The Cavs would be stupid not to after a couple disappointments.

Philly would love to do something like this with Maxey, but I don't think they trust Embiid's knee anymore.

Allen/Garland or Towns/Bridges would be hard to beat. Unless the Bucks get their picks back from the Pelicans for the next 2 years, they have 0 reason to rebuild.

I feel like if I’m the Bucks the number 1 stipulation of any trade is getting my picks back, at least for the next 2-3 years. What type of team would they be building with a Garland/Allen or Bridges/Towns core? They aren’t a free agent destination, they won’t have much draft capital and they have zero up and coming young players. How do you build a team around those guys? If I’m them I have no interest in the main pieces of the trade being the core of a 44 win team. If you try and build around either of these packages you’re just prolonging the eventual full rebuild you’ll have to undergo.

The Bucks should wait until someone comes forward with an offer that at least includes some of their picks back because anything else will just result in spinning their wheels for the next 3-4 years. The Bucks are in a bad spot to try and build a win-now team if guys like Towns or Garland are the key assets they are getting back.

[sidsid]

What this does is make it a very high chance that an already all-in team makes the play to get him knowing they're this close.

The Knicks sending KAT and Bridges over to the Bucks after seeing how they are so close. Or Indy doing the same with Siakam and youth on their end.

The Cavs would be stupid not to after a couple disappointments.

Philly would love to do something like this with Maxey, but I don't think they trust Embiid's knee anymore.

Allen/Garland or Towns/Bridges would be hard to beat. Unless the Bucks get their picks back from the Pelicans for the next 2 years, they have 0 reason to rebuild.

I feel like if I’m the Bucks the number 1 stipulation of any trade is getting my picks back, at least for the next 2-3 years. What type of team would they be building with a Garland/Allen or Bridges/Towns core? They aren’t a free agent destination, they won’t have much draft capital and they have zero up and coming young players. How do you build a team around those guys? If I’m them I have no interest in the main pieces of the trade being the core of a 44 win team. If you try and build around either of these packages you’re just prolonging the eventual full rebuild you’ll have to undergo.

The Bucks should wait until someone comes forward with an offer that at least includes some of their picks back because anything else will just result in spinning their wheels for the next 3-4 years. The Bucks are in a bad spot to try and build a win-now team if guys like Towns or Garland are the key assets they are getting back.

I wouldn't do it either if I was the Bucks (it's a small market that may just be looking to win some games though), but it's not automatic that the Pelicans give their picks back in any scenario.

It's very tempting to just hoard those things knowing how dire the Bucks situation looks.

You might just have to accept it and take the best youth/picks package thrown at you. The advantage of not caring about your pick is similar to what the Rockets had to do. Sign some vets to work with your youth and you have an excuse to win some games.

[Scase]

Read on Twitter

It's such a bad argument, I don't see how it will ever convince a player to stay put. Look at Lebron, 2nd in the GOAT convo and in an even WEAKER east, he still got smashed in the finals on the Cavs.

I hate this argument for our team pushing for the playoffs, like making it in a weak conference means anything, and I hate it to try and convince a guy of Giannis' stature that it gives him a shot at a chip. The west is incredibly strong, and making it to the finals to have your throat stomped on by one of 4 teams that are WAY better than any team in the east is a horrible sell.

If you need a weak east to make it to the finals, you aren't good enough to beat the teams that made it in a MUCH stronger conference. A healthy Bucks team isn't beating NYC/CLE/IND, let alone OKC/MIN/DEN for a chip. He's better off going somewhere he has an actual chance IMO.

If anything, the weaker East makes more sense for Giannis to demand a trade to another Eastern Conference team. Thank you Bucks for helping our situation lol.

I guess I just think about it from a competition standpoint, the teams that would have a legit chance in the east don't have the assets to trade for him without completely gutting or overturning their roster, like maybe the cavs would work, but I dont see why the Bucks would try and gift them a chip.

[JB7]

It's such a bad argument, I don't see how it will ever convince a player to stay put. Look at Lebron, 2nd in the GOAT convo and in an even WEAKER east, he still got smashed in the finals on the Cavs.

I hate this argument for our team pushing for the playoffs, like making it in a weak conference means anything, and I hate it to try and convince a guy of Giannis' stature that it gives him a shot at a chip. The west is incredibly strong, and making it to the finals to have your throat stomped on by one of 4 teams that are WAY better than any team in the east is a horrible sell.

If you need a weak east to make it to the finals, you aren't good enough to beat the teams that made it in a MUCH stronger conference. A healthy Bucks team isn't beating NYC/CLE/IND, let alone OKC/MIN/DEN for a chip. He's better off going somewhere he has an actual chance IMO.

If anything, the weaker East makes more sense for Giannis to demand a trade to another Eastern Conference team. Thank you Bucks for helping our situation lol.

I guess I just think about it from a competition standpoint, the teams that would have a legit chance in the east don't have the assets to trade for him without completely gutting or overturning their roster, like maybe the cavs would work, but I dont see why the Bucks would try and gift them a chip.

That's why, the Raps are probably the only team that could make a deal and still not gut their starting lineup, if Barnes is the main trade piece. All they are doing is swapping Barnes for Giannis. If the Raps offer Barnes, Dick, Ochai & the 9th pick, is there a team that can better that deal in the East?

Cavs would have to start with Mobley, but what else do they have to offer, that doesn't gut their team?

The Magic are probably the closest to matching what the Raps could offer, if they offer Franz, Black, Da Silva & the 16th pick.

[Tripod]

Cavs with Garland and Allen...gives the Bucks 2 All Star level guys in their prime and signed long term. People love the mystery boxes but Pels have no reason at all to give up the picks. Just wait it out.

And for the Bucks...yeah the East is weaker. So adding 2 All Star level guys could keep you as a playoff team in the short term and give you that time to "retool" on the fly. You could move Dame in a year and add a 3rd piece to fit with Garland and Allen.

For the Cavs, obviously they replace Allen with Giannis then rs-sign Ty to replace Garland.in the starting lineup