The Milwaukee Bucks sure have been busy this offseason. While the star players are on vacation and the young talent ply their skills in the Summer League currently taking place, the Bucks are doing their utmost to bring in players to keep the tempo up and convince their star and franchise player, Giannis Antetokounmpo, to stay in Milwaukee. However, as the NBA does, the confirmation is up in the air as the jury is still debating whether Giannis Antetokounmpo will be a Milwaukee Bucks player next season. Now, SBNation proposes a possible trade that the Bucks could have made.
Kristaps Porzingis and LaMelo Ball nearly became Bucks players
Before the whirlwind of trades that have consumed the NBA this offseason, SBNation contributor Jackson Gross had a few ideas that the Bucks could have tried to bring in several top players while keeping the core of the team intact. It’s challenging to keep your finger on the pulse of the ever-changing trade environment of the NBA, but Gross did his best to propose an interesting situation for the Bucks.
Mock trades and draft picks are what keep the fans glued to their TV screens in anticipation of the next blockbuster move their favorite team might make. ESPN’s Shams Charania has made a career by keeping his ear to the ground and unearthing potential trades and deals before anybody else. Gross proposed the following three-team trade for the Bucks:
Milwaukee Bucks receive:
- Kristaps Porzingis
- Lamelo Ball
Celtics receive:
- Nikola Vučević
- Julian Phillips
- 2031 First Round Pick
Charlotte Hornets receive:
- Kyle Kuzma
- Sam Hauser
- Pat Connaughton
- Two 2025 second-round picks
- One 2026 second-round pick
The Milwaukee Bucks have been busy this offseason with several deals
The reality of the NBA often exceeds the mock drafts that any pundit can propose for their shock value. NBA teams are notoriously tight-lipped about their plans and potential trade deals. For several years, the Bucks have brought in several players to support Giannis, and they are yet to find that elusive piece to bring the plan together.
The Bucks have brought in several players and let go of a star player in a move that shocked the basketball world. The Bucks signed Miles Turner to a four-year, $107 million contract while waiving Damian Lillard’s contract while he recovers from a long-term injury. All this to try to keep Giannis happy and content on staying in Milwaukee. If they were to lose Giannis, the entire organization would need to rebuild.
Giannis Antetokounmpo’s future is still uncertain
Giannis has been the leader of the Bucks for a while now. He is still one of the most dominant players in the NBA and redefined what a NBA player is. His performances for the Bucks have been legendary, and the front office of Milwaukee is doing its utmost to keep him in a Bucks jersey. Following the whirlwind of trades this offseason, Antetokounmpo had the following to say about playing for Milwaukee next season:
“Probably. Probably, we’ll see. Probably, I love Milwaukee.”
What does next season have in store for the Milwaukee Bucks?
The Porzingis mock trade never materialized for the Bucks, as he was traded to another team. So, for the Bucks, the only factor they seem to be focused on at the moment, following the Miles Turner and Damian Lillard deals, is keeping Giannis in Milwaukee. His somewhat mysterious comments about staying in Milwaukee are somewhat concerning for the Bucks. Regardless, Milwaukee is one of the biggest teams in the NBA with a long and prosperous history. Can the rebuilt squad lead them to glory next season? Giannis and the Bucks front office will be hoping so.
