NBA Draft Lottery May Reshape Giannis Antetokounmpo Trade Landscape

The 2025 NBA draft lottery game was bound to improve the league on Monday night. Whichever group won the No. 1 total choice would make the right to pick Duke forward Cooper Flagg, among the most accomplished freshmen in college basketball history.

The Dallas Mavericks, who went into the lottery game with just a 1.8% possibility of winning the No. 1 choice, defied the chances and made the greatest dive in lottery game history, according to ESPN Research study. The San Antonio Spurs, who had the eighth-best chances of winning the No. 1 choice, leapt to No. 2, while the Philadelphia 76ers, who had the fifth-best chances, landed at No. 3.

The Mavericks figure to take Flagg and not recall. They can combine him with Kyrie Irving and Anthony Davis to boost their win-now window with that duo, however he likewise provides a brand-new long-lasting face of the franchise to construct around after their questionable choice to turn Luka Dončić for Davis ahead of the February trade due date. On the other hand, the Spurs now may be the NBA’s greatest wild card heading into the offseason.

On the early morning of the lottery game, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported that “for the very first time in his profession,” Milwaukee Bucks star forward Giannis Antetokounmpo “is unbiased about checking out whether his finest long-lasting fit is staying in Milwaukee or playing in other places.” Charania included that the two-time MVP “has actually not made any company choices on his Dollars future,” although he kept in mind that Antetokounmpo’s representatives and the Bucks “are anticipated to take a seat throughout the offseason to go over the future.”

The timing of that report most likely was not coincidental. Now that the lottery game order is set, groups can approach the Bucks about Antetokounmpo in earnest. Offered how the lottery game played out, the Spurs may have the within track on a trade if the Bucks choose to move him this offseason.

The Giannis Trade Landscape

When Damian Lillard folded to the flooring with a torn Achilles tendon in Video game 4 of the Bucks’ first-round loss to the Indiana Pacers, it may have been the last nail in the casket of Antetokounmpo’s period in Milwaukee. He has actually consistently made it clear over the last few years that he’s open to leaving the Bucks as soon as his title window closes with them.

” As long as we play and we approach the video game each and every single day the proper way and all of us sacrifice for a typical objective, I can see myself being with the Milwaukee Bucks for the rest of my profession,” he stated on the 48 Minutes podcast in 2023. However the minute I seem like individuals are not as devoted as I am to get that golden thing in the back, I am not.”

The Dollars may not get anything out of Lillard, who’s set to make north of $50 million next season, till 2026-27. Brook Lopez, Bobby Portis, Pat Connaughton and Kevin Porter Jr. can all be complimentary representatives this offseason. The Bucks likewise do not have control over their own first-round choice till 2031, which lowers their reward to pursue a picks-and-prospects-heavy bundle if they do choose to trade Antetokounmpo and restore.

Thankfully, a handful of groups throughout the league have the possessions to keep them afloat, beginning with the Spurs.

The Spurs were on the fringes of the play-in mix this season before they close down star huge guy Victor Wembanyama due to deep vein apoplexy coming out of the All-Star break. In Wemby’s lack, 2024 No. 4 total choice Stephon Castle benefited from his broadened function and end up winning the Novice of the Year award. Castle completed his novice project balancing 14.7 points, 4.1 helps and 3.7 rebounds per video game, albeit while shooting just 42.8% total and 28.5% from deep.

According to ESPN’s Jeremy Woo, San Antonio “has styles” on getting Wembanyama to the playoffs next season, “which indicates it will check out all opportunities to enhance its lineup in the short-term and be associated with the free-agent and trade market for recognized skill.” The Spurs might create a bundle including a mix of the No. 2 total choice in this year’s draft, Castle, Devin Vassell, Keldon Johnson, Harrison Barnes and several future first-round choices, consisting of a completely unguarded 2027 first-rounder from the Atlanta Hawks.

The Spurs aren’t the only group that can create a knock-your-socks-off deal for Antetokounmpo, however. The Houston Firecrackers, who got the No. 10 choice in this year’s lottery game (through the Phoenix Suns), are likewise bristling with young, high-upside potential customers and future draft choices, consisting of a completely unguarded 2027 first-rounder from the Phoenix Suns.

Kelly Iko and Sam Amick of The Athletic reported Monday that “the concept of the ‘Greek Freak’ putting on a Firecrackers jersey is viewed as the most appealing within the company” compared to other possible trade targets (consisting of Suns forward Kevin Durant) this offseason. ESPN’s Tim MacMahon just recently reported that second-year wing Amen Thompson is “thought about untouchable,” however the Firecrackers might use any of Alperen Şengün, Jalen Green, Jabari Smith Jr., Tari Eason, Reed Sheppard and Camera Whitmore together with future draft capital.

After this year, the Firecrackers have complete control of all of their first-round choices progressing. They likewise have a completely unguarded 2027 first-round choice from the Suns, a 2027 first-round swap with the Brooklyn Nets and a 2029 first-round choice from the Suns and/or Dallas Mavericks. Hypothetically, they might use Şengün, Smith, Sheppard and several first-round choices for Antetokounmpo without even batting an eye.

On the other hand, the lottery game likewise may have injured some groups’ possibilities of landing Antetokounmpo. The New Orleans Pelicans, who went into the night with the fourth-best chances of landing the No. 1 choice, moved all the method to No. 7. The Oklahoma City Thunder, who would have gotten the Sixers’ first-round choice had it slipped beyond the leading 6, were left empty-handed.

The Pelicans have control over the Bucks’ first-round choices in 2026 and 2027, so the Dollars may wish to loop them into an Antetokounmpo trade even if they do not send him there. Had the Pelicans leapt up in the lottery game, they might have provided this year’s choice, the Bucks’ next 2 choices back and Zion Williamson. The No. 7 choice must still have worth, however not almost as much as the rights to Flagg or Harper would have.

The Thunder might be the only group in the Giannis mix that’s still alive in the playoffs. They may choose to stand pat depending upon how they fare throughout the rest of their postseason run, however they likewise have the inmost property swimming pool in the NBA. Had they landed a mid-lottery choice in this year’s draft thanks to the Sixers, that would have just sweetened their prospective bundle for Antetokounmpo. A deal constructed around that choice and among Jalen Williams or Chet Holmgren would have been hard for any other group to top.

The Dollars must still be in line for a record-setting haul if they choose to trade Antetokounmpo this offseason. He has 2 surefire years left on his agreement, and he’s ended up in the leading 7 of MVP ballot for 9 straight seasons. The two-time MVP, one-time Defensive Gamer of the Year and one-time champ is on the incorrect side of 30, however he’s fresh off his 3rd straight year with a minimum of 30 points, 11 rebounds and 5 helps per video game.

After seeing how the lottery game played out, the Bucks now have a much firmer grasp on the prospective landscape for Antetokounmpo if they do choose to trade him this offseason. If the Spurs want to hang the choice that ought to end up being Harper, that may make them the early preferred to land the Greek Freak.

Unless otherwise kept in mind, all statistics through NBA.com, PBPStats, Cleaning Up the Glass or Basketball Recommendation All wage info through Spotrac and salary-cap info through RealGM All chances through FanDuel Sportsbook

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