Jason Burgos
A new report has added a pair of surprise teams to the Giannis Antetokounmpo trade speculation: The Portland Trail Blazers and New Orleans Pelicans.
According to NBA insider Jake Fischer, the two Western Conference organizations are being talked about as “possible participants in multi-team Antetokounmpo trade frameworks,” because they both have something the Milwaukee Bucks would like to get back in a deal — their old draft picks.
“New Orleans controls Milwaukee’s draft capital for the next three summers, starting with the Bucks’ first-round pick this June, thanks to the 2020 trade acquisition of Jrue Holiday, which contributed heavily to Milwaukee’s title run in 2020-21, “Fischer wrote.
“And Portland controls Milwaukee’s top picks from 2028 through 2030 because of the Damian Lillard blockbuster trade before the 2023-24 season that led to Antetokounmpo’s second contract extension.”
The Bucks don’t have complete control of their No. 1 pick until 2031. If Antetokounmpo did ask out, the organization must get a record amount of future first-round picks. Not just because it is the going rate in trades for elite stars, but the team has none for the next half-decade.
Neither the Pelicans nor the Trail Blazers likely has the overall trade assets to make a trade for Giannis Antetokounmpo. However, they still have chips that could give them a chance to join a mega-deal and address offseason needs.
