Hot Take: If Giannis is not traded at the deadline, in the offseason. the Bucks trade Giannis to the Knicks for KAT and 2 FRPs or to the Lakers for 3 FRPs from a team that has Giannis and Luka. These are the deals I expect the Bucks get when Giannis won't extend and says Knicks are the only team he will extend with. I would have traded a lot for Giannis in this past offseason. I think the Bucks have burnt through a lot of value this season. At this point, Giannis can practically smell his Madison Square Garden Locker. I get I am am a weird NBA fan. I just don't understand the speculation that the Bucks might still get Fort Knox for Giannis. The Suns, even with their good season, look like a dying franchise. Every day that Giannis isn't traded, the closer it is for Giannis for Kat and 2 FRPs.
This is stupid. Sengun is playing hurt and looking the worst he has all year. This isn't Atlanta with Trae or Memphis with Ja. Sengun is a much better player than this, and last year's playoffs proved that he's going to be one of the players to show out when it counts. We're holding onto our young core, and from 2-6yrs from now our starting line-up will consist of Sengun, Jabari, Tari, Amen, and Reed.
As with a lot of things, a Sengun for Giannis trade would've worked a lot better last year when the Rockets had salary fillers to work with. This year a Sengun for Giannis trade would gut the team's depth and this is already a team with 4 players averaging some of the most minutes in the NBA. So even if you are of the opinion that this is a good deal, unless FVV will waive his NTC, the Rockets may not have enough players after the trade to field a worthwhile bench. I think people underestimate just how detrimental FVV's contract+injury has been for this team. He is hamstringing 99% of the rumored moves out there. Any realistic trade for Giannis that doesn't involve FVV is going to force the Rockets to play Gianni/Jabari/KD/Amen/Reed like 40mpg because the bench would be too awful.
LMAO Sengoofies are the biggest bums on the planet if Sengun got traded, them fcking off to go infest his next team and fanboi over him would be a major win
Houston Rockets Deal difficulty: 7/10. Another Houston blockbuster would require picks and likely a young cornerstone. After a first-round loss to Golden State in last season's playoffs, Houston used many of its trade assets to acquire Kevin Durant. (So far, so good.) But the Rockets still have a valuable 2027 swap with Brooklyn and an unprotected first-round pick from Phoenix in that same draft. While the draft picks are enticing, the Bucks would almost certainly circle Amen Thompson as a player they can build around in the wake of losing Antetokounmpo. Apron status: $1.25 million below first apron (hard capped) Draft assets: 2027 first-round swap rights with Brooklyn 2027 first-round pick (via Phoenix) 2029 first-round picks (two most favorable between own, Dallas and Phoenix) Contracts: Restrictions: Fred VanVleet ($25 million, player option 2026, one year bird), Jabari Smith Jr. ($12.4 million, UFA 2030, poison pill), Aaron Holiday ($2.3 million, UFA 2026, one year bird), Jae'Sean Tate ($2.3 million, UFA 2026, one year bird) Free agents: Tari Eason ($5.7 million, RFA 2026), Jeff Green ($2.3 million, UFA 2026), Josh Okogie ($2.3 million, UFA 2026) Rookie scale: Reed Sheppard ($10.6 million, RFA 2028), Amen Thompson ($9.7 million, RFA 2027) Notable: Kevin Durant ($54.7 million, player option 2027), Alperen Sengun ($33.9 million, player option 2029) Steven Adams ($14.1 million, UFA 2028), Dorian Finney-Smith ($12.7 million, UFA 2029) and Clint Capela ($6.7 million, UFA 2028) Notable trade exceptions: $12.5 million NBA trade deadline: What should the Bucks do with Giannis? - ESPN
While Giannis is clearly the better player, I have a nasty feeling he’s going to tear an Achilles at some point in the not too distant future. Not wishing that on him but he’s having way too many calf issues the past few seasons.
