Popular superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo will be on the trade block this summer, and the Charlotte Hornets were named as a dark horse team to acquire him. Rumors indicate that over a dozen teams will express interest in at least discussing trades with the Milwaukee Bucks to land such a great player. Charlotte was not mentioned much throughout the season of various reports, but they had a tremendous second half to make the play-in.
Bleacher Report listed a realistic trade package for why Milwaukee would benefit from trading Giannis to the Hornets:
“Charlotte Hornets Receive: Giannis Antetokounmpo
Milwaukee Bucks Receive: Miles Bridges, Brandon Miller, Josh Green, the No. 14 pick and a 2032 first-round pick
For the Milwaukee Bucks, there will almost certainly be other teams willing to part with more draft assets than this deal has them receiving, but it would be tough to find a better prospect than Miller.”
The Bucks would be able to get their next franchise player by adding young rising star Brandon Miller. Last season showed that Miller is getting closer to All-Star status and is a major part of why Charlotte started winning. Milwaukee would have to be content with getting fewer draft picks and gaining better players now.
Why The Bucks Would Embrace This Trade
The trade package of Miller, Miles Bridges, and Josh Green gives them three relatively young names to rebuild around. Milwaukee lacks most of their upcoming draft picks due to previous trades done to continue appeasing Antetokounmpo during the years of title contention.
One could argue that these three players would instantly be the most important on the roster since the Bucks badly lack talent behind Giannis. This move allows Milwaukee to try to win since tanking does nothing to help them in the seasons where they lack their own draft pick.
Two draft picks is also not a terrible haul for when you are getting three promising talents. Bridges is consistent, Miller provides superstar potential, and Green is a talented young player. All three names and two picks would give Charlotte a fair chance to save their future. A trade for more picks may be ideal, but it’s also fully relying on another franchise falling apart with Antetokounmpo on the roster.
Why The Hornets Would Love This Trade
Charlotte had a tremendous end to the season, but they didn’t even make the playoffs to feel accomplished about this. The play-in saw them falling one game short against the Orlando Magic to just miss the postseason altogether.
Giannis or another superstar would give them a great chance to truly contend in the Eastern Conference. A trade package of Miller and Bridges as the main pieces still leaves the Hornets with LaMelo Ball and Kon Knueppel as two young stars.
The trio of Knueppel, Ball, and Knueppel would present a threat against any other big three in the East. This postseason has shown that the East is wide open right now, and it may be the perfect time for Charlotte to take a swing. Giannis would instantly be the greatest all-time player to join the Hornets franchise.
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