Giannis Antetokounmpo Is Main Name NBA Sources Bring Up As Potential Spurs Trade Target

According to Sam Vecenie of The Athletic, Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo is the main name NBA sources bring up as a potential San Antonio Spurs trade target. 

Shams Charania of ESPN reported on Monday that Antetokounmpo is open-minded about leaving the Bucks for the first time in his career. 

The Spurs, led by All-Stars Victor Wembanyama and De’Aaron Fox, have the second overall pick in this year’s draft. 

“Most of the sources I talk to around the league think the most likely outcome is that the Spurs do just that: Stand pat and pick at No. 2,” Vecenie wrote. “Another option should be on the table, though — if it presents itself. It should come as no surprise that the main name league sources bring up as a potential Spurs trade target is Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo. With Giannis’ wrecking-ball interior game and Wembanyama’s silky smooth perimeter chops both as a shooter and ballhandler, the two are seen as a natural pairing that could lead to immediate success.”

Antetokounmpo is a two-time MVP, a one-time Finals MVP, a one-time Defensive Player of the Year and a nine-time All-Star. He has spent his entire career with the Bucks.

The 30-year-old Antetokounmpo has career averages of 23.9 points, 9.9 rebounds, 5.0 assists, 1.1 steals and 1.2 blocks. He guided the Bucks to the 2021 championship against the Phoenix Suns. 

Antetokounmpo does not have a no-trade clause in his contract. He averaged 30.4 points, 11.9 rebounds, 6.5 assists, 0.9 steals and 1.2 blocks for the Bucks this season in 67 games. 

Milwaukee has won just one postseason series since winning the 2021 championship. 

“If the Spurs paired Giannis and Wemby, they would be the favorite to win the title next year,” said one Eastern Conference executive, who was granted anonymity in exchange for his candor. “They’d have two guys who might be top-five players in the league next year on the same team. Plus, they fit. They’d have a dominant defense that no one would be able to score against inside, and they’d have the ability to play five-out in an even more devastating way than the Bucks did with Brook Lopez if they surrounded Giannis and Wemby with the right wings.”