Shams Charania's report that Giannis Antetokounmpo is open to leaving the Milwaukee Bucks this summer has everyone talking about where the "Greek Freak" might go.
ESPN's Stephen A. Smith said that Giannis going to the San Antonio Spurs would have the most significant impact because he would be pairing with 7'3" Victor Wembanyama and form a fearsome frontcourt combination that would make scoring in the paint almost impossible for opponents. However, SAS putting the Oklahoma City Thunder next on the list might be even scarier.
"OKC would be number two on the list because of the assets that they have," explained SAS. "You keep Shai, you keep one of the Jalen Williams, preferably the off guard. And you put Giannis with those brothers? Man, I like Chet Holmgren a lot. I'd give up him and Hartenstein for Giannis. This is what we're talking about here."
The Thunder have the best draft capital to throw at the Bucks in a potential Giannis trade. OKC owns picks No.15 and 25 in this year's draft. After that, they have 13 more first-round picks incoming, plus three swap rights until 2028. Aside from that, the Thunder also have 17 second-round picks at their disposal.
But aside from the draft picks, the Thunder also have the deepest roster in the league this season, and as Smith says, even if the Bucks want some of them along with draft capital, it would not be too hard for them to part with some of them.
Chet Holmgren is arguably the second-most valuable asset in OKC's collection, however, with a chance to get a 30-year old Giannis who is still very much in his athletic prime, you can't blame SAS for even adding Isaiah Hartenstein to the package, even if that means the Thunder would be losing their top two bigs.
Last year, Hall of Famer Paul Pierce also suggested that the Thunder give up the No.2 overall pick of the 2022 NBA Draft to acquire the Bucks' two-time MVP. "The Truth" said OKC already has a team that can win a championship, but adding Antetokounmpo gives them a proven scorer who can take pressure off Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
"I need Giannis right now, cuz we built to get it all right now with this young boy Shai, who's an MVP-caliber player who can win MVP this year," said Pierce. "You're going to have so much pressure taken off Shai with Giannis, cuz he can carry the offensive load. He can give you 30, 40. If you saying Chet and draft picks for Giannis, I gonna really sit down."
The Thunder are currently locked in a 2-2 tie with the Denver Nuggets in the second round of the Western Conference playoffs. Right now, OKC is the Las Vegas oddsmakers' favorite to win the Larry O'Brien trophy this year. The possibility of them adding a Giannis in a trade is scary hours for the league.
