The Milwaukee Bucks are hoping to keep Giannis Antetokounmpo long-term, and they may be eying Kawhi Leonard as the perfect co-star. Antetokounmpo being on the trade market became the top NBA story for many months until they decided to stay together beyond the trade deadline. Milwaukee wants to keep Giannis on the roster for his entire career since he’s on pace on the greatest player in franchise history.
Ashish Mathur reported on Ahn Fire Digital that Leonard is another name on their radar for this summer:
“Since the Clippers are no longer a championship contender after trading James Harden to the Cleveland Cavaliers and Ivica Zubac to the Indiana Pacers at this year’s trade deadline, many people around the NBA expect Leonard and LAC’s brass to work together on a trade this offseason.
The Bucks are under immense pressure to surround two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo with a co-star. Leonard is one of the top players in the NBA and would make Milwaukee a legitimate championship contender.”
Leonard hitting the trade market could tempt many teams, but the Bucks have the strongest pressure on them to make a move. Antetokounmpo still talks about his expectations to contend for a title, despite agreeing to stay with Milwaukee’s flawed roster at the deadline.
Will The Clippers Trade Kawhi Leonard?
Mathur raised a good point about why Leonard could request a trade from the Clippers this summer. Leonard is having a tremendous season and looks like he is one of the best ten players in the league again, but his age and health concerns are constant concerns.
Both sides could benefit from Kawhi requesting a trade in the offseason. Leonard gets a chance to contend for another NBA Championship and end his career playing high level basketball with great talent around him. The Clippers only have him under contract for one more season and could get some younger assets to rebuild around.
Relatively young building blocks Darius Garland and Bennedict Mathurin have changed the Clippers’ timeline to see Kawhi less important. Owner Steve Ballmer loves Leonard, but the team lacking their own draft picks from past trades means they need to make creative moves to add young stars.
Can The Bucks Appease Clippers In Trade?
Milwaukee currently lacks enough trade assets to easily get another star player. Leonard’s various health, age, and contract concerns would make him cheaper to get than most other top ten players in the league.
The Clippers must invest in the belief of the Bucks failing and want to acquire their future draft picks for the early 2030s. A realistic scenario does exist that Leonard gets hurt again, and Milwaukee becomes an even worse team after trading their last assets for him.
If the Bucks don’t contend for a title after such a move, Antetokounmpo will still look at moving to another team to win. The Clippers must have confidence in this plan, or Milwaukee will have to be creative with a multi-team trade offering more assets. The futures of Giannis and Kawhi will be two of the biggest stories this summer.
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