Par Joël Pütz | Journaliste sportif
If Giannis Antetokounmpo were to leave Milwaukee this summer, it wouldn’t happen without a monumental trade. Fadeaway World has seen things on a grand scale, with a scenario involving four franchises and nearly fifteen players.
A page seems about to turn for the Bucks. The 2021 NBA champions have been unable to advance past the first round of the playoffs as of lately, despite the acquisition of Damian Lillard and a still-powerful Giannis Antetokounmpo. The former will even miss the upcoming season due to a ruptured Achilles tendon…
All of this suggests that the Greek Freak is unlikely to stay in Wisconsin beyond this coming summer. After 12 seasons with the franchise, the time has come for Giannis to say goodbye as the league’s 29 other teams battle to acquire him. One of them is even reportedly ready to make a “tsunami” offer.
The crazy trade imagined to send Giannis to the Raptors
At the same time, it’s hard to imagine Milwaukee giving up the best player in its history without being handsomely compensated in return. As rumors of Giannis being traded to the Raptors grow more and more persistent, Fadeaway World has devised a crazy trade:
- The Toronto Raptors receive: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Jalen Smith and Jevon Carter
- The Milwaukee Bucks receive: RJ Barrett, Gradey Dick, Chris Boucher, Ja’Kobe Walter, Gabe Vincent, the Raptors’ No. 9 pick in the 2025 draft, a first-round pick swap from the Raptors in 2026, 2028 and 2030, a second-round pick from the Lakers in 2026, three first-round picks from the Raptors in 2027, 2029 and 2031 and a first-round pick from the Raptors in 2032 (Top 5 protected)
- The Los Angeles Lakers receive: Jakob Poeltl and Lonzo Ball
- The Chicago Bulls receive: Dalton Knecht, Jarred Vanderbilt, Shake Milton, AJ Lawson, a $10 million trade exception for Lonzo Ball, a $9 million trade exception for Jalen Smith, and a $1.5 million trade exception for Jevon Carter
The Bucks are heading towards a rebuild, so acquiring as many players and especially draft picks would be a good idea. Players like Boucher, or even Dick, could quickly become extremely valuable lieutenants around Lillard, once he’s back on his feet. We can also note the return of Lonzo Ball to the Lakers, while the latter would finally get a new center.