The largest fish in the rumor sea has to be discussed, right? Well, that is what we will do today in this edition of Suns Trade Verdict. The noise has gotten too loud, not only from the Bucks but also from fans clamoring for this to be the time to strike for the superstar.
So how does this even start? Well, for years, it felt like this saga had gone on, with Antetokounmpo potentially leaving, but it hasn’t been as clear as it is now. With the team failing to trade him in the offseason and making roster changes to persuade him to stay, it does not seem to be working.
Word from the Bucks is that they would like to get this deal done before the draft, and Shams Charania of ESPN has already got the ball rolling on that with his latest update.
How can we get this done, and would Phoenix be interested in something like this? Let’s explore those thoughts.
How could this get done?
For Phoenix, getting to a max player contract is going to take a lot of guys going out. With the Suns not having much draft capital either (2027 first, the least of UTA/CLE/MIN, and their own 2033, which isn’t tradable until after the draft), they’re in a pickle. Especially if the other 28 franchises around the league also have offers lined up.
This leads me to believe it would take a massive haul to get it done. The Bucks had interest in Jalen Green around the trade deadline. Could they value him as a young piece for a retool/rebuild? The Suns also have the former lottery pick Khaman Malauch and the 31st pick, Rasheer Fleming. Could they be used as young assets to compensate for the limited draft capital the Suns have?
Those are the questions the Suns have to ask when evaluating a deal for Antetokounmpo. He is owed 121M over the next two years, with a near-$63 million player option next year, he would expect. The 31-year-old is also looking for a long-term extension and would need to be committed to the team before signing one.
To get this deal done, though, the Suns would have to send either Jalen Green with Grayson Allen, Royce O’Neale, or Dillon Brooks to make the money work. Then, with the addition of two young players like Ryan Dunn, Khaman Malauch, Rasheer Fleming, or Oso Ighodaro, it could be done. The Suns would have to take back the Anteokumpo bros, too, which is the price to pay.
Which would most likely get done?
Since the Suns want to extend Dillon Brooks, I think it is unlikely they move off of him in this trade. Therefore, it leaves either the deal involving Royce or Grayson to get this one across the finish line.
In the deal with Royce, they are taking back more money, making it harder to resign the free agents that they would need to make this move worth it. The decision on this one needs to involve both Jalen Green and Grayson Allen.
Allen may not end up going back to Milwaukee, as this trade could expand, but for now, he goes back with the young talent the Suns have and all their draft capital. This would certainly push the Suns to go all-in on a Booker + Antetokounmpo duo, with supporting pieces in Gillespie, Goodwin, Brooks, and O’Neale to help as well. Even if that is the case, is it the best move?
Why does it not get done?
Suns
Given their situation, you would think maintaining this steady growth is the way for the Suns, but ownership may think otherwise. Even if he preached continuity at the end-of-year presser, we all know some change will come with Mat Ishbia at the helm. We also know he wants to capitalize on this Devin Booker window, stating he will bring a championship to the Valley. That says to me that if the right star is available and the Suns can acquire him, they will go after him, but is that Giannis?
The fit would be seamless, as he would fill the vacant power forward spot this team is searching for. Not to mention his fit alongside Booker in the pick-and-roll, with his physical presence in the paint, are all there. He would solve most of the issues this team ran into this season, and by giving up four players who barely played or were injured, you could see how this makes so much sense.
If you plug Giannis into last year’s team, where does that get them? Definitely a higher seed than seven and potentially even in an Eastern Conference finals. That is where the intrigue deeply vomes from, and I see that, but there are also some concerns.
He is 31 and has had some serious injuries as of late. Multiple calf injuries and having to be held out this season (even if he was healthy) prove there is some weirdness around it. He is not getting younger either, and even though Booker is around the same age and doing the same, I’d rather not sacrifice a 4-year window for a 2-year one.
Secondly, the extension is a big ask for this team. One that was just in cap hell and barely escaped by the skin of their teeth. They are still going to pay for the Bradley Beal stretch-and-waive until 2030, and that dead money will creep up on them. Building a roster with that dead money is already a hard obstacle, and it will only be more difficult with two max contracts on the books.
Lastly, and certainly not least, is the package the Suns have. With Giannis available, all 28 other franchises will also try to do this deal. Now, some will obviously bow out as Giannis will not want to go there, but that does not mean Milwaukee will accept a bad deal. It will have to be a happy mediuma nd Giannis has expressed wanting to stay out East as well.
This severely limits the Sun’s ability to pull off this deal if their trade package cannot compare, and they are not on his destinations list.
Many say the Suns will be on that list, but only time will tell.
Bucks
I think the Bucks, in this situation, try to milk the Suns out of everything they have. Since other teams like Boston or Cleveland have better players to offer in Jaylen Brown or Evan Mobley, it will be hard for the Suns to match some of these offers. This leaves the Bucks looking at the Suns’ package and trying to force both young players, Khaman Maluach and Rasheer Fleming.
It also depends on which path the Bucks see themselves taking in the future. Will they look to strip it down, fully rebuild, and invest in youth, or would they rather get a star to stay relevant? If they want to go with the Suns package, it becomes more appealing because it includes three players under 25 to build around, potentially.
That being said, I do not think the Bucks do this deal unless Giannis puts his foot down and says, “Trade me to Phoenix.” Even if Fleming, Maluach, and Green have the potential to be something, I do not know if it entices the Bucks enough.
Final Thoughts
Ultimately, every day, my thoughts about the situation change as we learn more. Truly, the duo would be unstoppable and prove to be one of the best, but in a star-studded Western Conference, how far is that? Is that truly Finals runs, or is it Western Conference Finals runs? That is where I think patience is key, waiting for Fleming and Malauch to be ready to really commit to winning with this squad.
As many of you saw this weekend, John also discussed this situation. Here is his article, in case you missed it, with his thoughts.
