If the Milwaukee Bucks shop superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo on the NBA trade market, expect the Dallas Mavericks to be involved. For a player of his caliber, can anyone truly be ruled untouchable?
Just over a year ago, the Dallas Mavericks traded franchise cornerstone Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers in one of the worst deals in NBA history. The Mavericks and Doncic did not have a public falling out, and the trade came as a total shock to fans.
The Milwaukee Bucks, meanwhile, are expected to trade Giannis Antetokounmpo. The Greek Freak is just as important to the Bucks as Luka was to the Mavericks, although Antetokounmpo's patience with Milwaukee is wearing thin. As trade rumors heat up, every team in the league is expected to show at least some interest.
The Mavericks are no exception. The only question? How far will they go to land Giannis?
Mavs to Include Cooper Flagg In Trade Talks?
As Doncic plays MVP-level basketball in Los Angeles and Anthony Davis falls short of the expectations laid on him this season, the only saving grace in Dallas was the arrival of top pick Cooper Flagg. Hailed as a generational player with insane two-way talents, Flagg has lived up to the hype so far.
But will he ever be as good as Giannis? Honestly, probably not, but as the youngest player in the league, he should get a chance to see just how long his runway is in Dallas.
Trading Flagg for a nearing-the-end-of-his-prime superstar like the Greek Freak would be a title-or-bust move by the Mavericks, and with a 19-28 record this season, it would be a long way to the top.
"I don't think it's just a slam dunk to say he's off-limits to any trade offer," said 105.3 The Fan's Bobby Belt, expressing at least some interest in bringing Giannis to Dallas. "I'd have Giannis level play for probably the next at least five years. That does open up a five-year window."
It's worth noting that Belt was not advocating for trading Flagg. He just thinks it's worth having a conversation. Most fans would disagree, as the Greek Freak does not have an entire career in front of him, and the Mavericks would have to match his salary, which Flag alone doesn't do.
It seems unlikely that Dallas would be willing to outbid some teams willing to go all-in for a win-now player, although if recent history tells us anything, it would be to expect the unexpected.