The Portland Trail Blazers have been a team that could slide into the Giannis Antetokounmpo sweepstakes. After making the playoffs this season for the first time with this young core, they are looking to take another big step.
Antetokounmpo is the biggest player available on the trade market. When he’s healthy, he is a top-five player in the NBA. However, several teams across the league will be trying to bring him in. That means that Portland would have to have a strong offer for him.
This proposed trade from Bleacher Report would certainly qualify as a strong trade offer for Antetokounmpo.
GettyMilwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo shoots the ball. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images)
Trail Blazers Empty the Cupboard in Proposed Giannis Antetokounmpo Trade
Here is the full trade idea:
The Portland Trail Blazers receive: Giannis Antetokounmpo
The Milwaukee Bucks receive: Scoot Henderson, Shaedon Sharpe, Kris Murray, Matisse Thybulle (via sign-and-trade), 2028 first-rounder, 2029 1st rounder, 2030 reversal of prior first-round swap, 2031 protected first-rounder, $11.9 million trade exception (Antetokounmpo)
Trading four first-round picks for one player is a pretty hefty price, even for one of Antetokounmpo’s caliber. Trading four players in addition to that draft capital makes this offer even more significant. It’s an overpay for the Blazers, but that might be something they have to do.
Reports are that Antetokounmpo would prefer to play in the Eastern Conference. In order to make the Bucks still consider them as a viable option, this is the kind of offer they would have to put forth. Henderson is the prized player in this package.
Trading away both Henderson and Sharpe would acknowledge a whiff on drafting both. Neither player has completely blossomed into the archetypes the Trail Blazers thought they would. Perhaps they will in a different situation, but that situation doesn’t seem to be in Portland.
Antetokounmpo would put the Blazers on the map in the Western Conference. He would likely make them a top-four contender in the West. However, Antetokounmpo wants to fight for championships, not just seeding in the regular season.
GettyLos Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard dribbles the ball. (Photo by Melina Pizano/Getty Images)
The Blazers Might Be Better Off Pursuing a Different Trade Target
If Antetokounmpo does prefer to play in the East, Portland might be better off looking elsewhere in the trade market. Instead, they could decide to go after Kawhi Leonard. They could also decide to just make moves around the fringes instead of trying to make a big splash.
New owner Tom Dundon will have a lot to say about how things will go. He has already implemented several cost-cutting measures, so making a big trade for an expensive player might not be what the Trail Blazers do. They might just keep the current core together and hope they develop.
Damian Lillard also returns next season after missing the entire year with a torn Achilles. His addition to the starting lineup should help the team, especially from a shooting standpoint. Perhaps they view him as their big offseason acquisition.
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