Could the Spurs land Giannis Antetokounmpo? A blockbuster trade proposal ignites fearsome potential partnership with Victor Wembanyama.
Perhaps the biggest news of the NBA season so far was just dropped by ESPN, and it pertains to the upcoming trade deadline.
Per a report by Shams Charania, the Milwaukee Bucks are going to be listening to trade offers for Giannis Antetokounmpo in the next week or so before the February 5th deadline.
There have been many rumors that go all the way back to last season, saying Giannis was not as happy as he once was in Milwaukee. But after the team's slow start this season, he could be putting on a different jersey for the first time in just over a week.
And the San Antonio Spurs are one of the teams who could be in the running to trade for the nine-time All-Star.
In a recent article by Bleacher Report's Andy Bailey, he puts together a handful of trade packages for the Greek Freak. For the Spurs, he thinks they could trade Devin Vassell, Keldon Johnson, Dylan Harper, and two first-round picks for Giannis and his brother, Thanasis.
"Plenty of previous reporting has suggested they're not in on this pursuit, but pairing Giannis with Victor Wembanyama would make for an absurd combination of length, defensive versatility and inside-out scoring," Bailey writes. "Doing so wouldn't be cheap, though. Milwaukee would almost certainly insist on at least one of Stephon Castle and Dylan Harper."
The Spurs are currently in second place in the Western Conference, but the weak point in their lineup is definitely at the power forward position. Harrison Barnes is currently the starter, and he is showing more and more that he is 33 years old.
And while Giannis is 31, he is a totally different caliber of player than Barnes is.
Despite Milwaukee's slow start that has led them to 12th place in the Eastern Conference, the Greek Freak is still playing like his usual self. He is averaging 28 points, 10 rebounds, and just under six assists per game, but it has not led to wins.
And Antetokounmpo has been growing frustrated as a result.
With all of that being said, it would take quite the haul to grab the two-time MVP. The Spurs have previously said that they wouldn't trade Dylan Harper or Stephon Castle, but the team has to determine what they value more.
Do they value their young core that could help build their future alongside Victor Wembanyama, or do they want to make a blockbuster move for a star to contend for a championship right now?
If the answer to that question is the latter, trading for the Greek Freak could be something for the team to at least consider.