The San Antonio Spurs will be one of the top destinations for Giannis Antetokounmpo if he were to leave Milwaukee, something many believed would happen this summer. ESPN NBA insider Shams Charania reported at the start of the offseason that Giannis was “open-minded” to leaving the Bucks, but there hasn’t been any real traction on a trade.
His words and actions indicate he isn’t going anywhere for the time being. Antetokounmpo helped recruit Myles Turner to Milwaukee in free agency, a move that required the Bucks to waive-and-stretch the remainder of Damian Lillard’s deal. Why would Giannis do that if he were planning on leaving?
The East is wide open this season, giving the superstar another reason to stay in Milwaukee, but that doesn’t mean he won’t change his mind. When the inevitable outcome of Giannis realizing that he won’t win another title with the Bucks comes, the Spurs will be ready.
Spurs are waiting for Giannis to realize what everyone else knows
San Antonio is the most exciting young team in the Western Conference. Having Victor Wembanyama is a big enough draw to lure other stars in, but the organization’s culture certainly helps, too.
The Spurs have the combination of draft assets and young players to convince the Bucks to send Giannis to San Antonio. Surely Milwaukee would be extra motivated to get a deal done with a team that’s not in the East.
The biggest question that remains unanswered is when, and whether, Giannis will request a trade. If it happens before the deadline, what will the Spurs look like at that point? Will they be in a position to make a playoff run? Will they be willing to break up their young core to acquire Giannis? Only time will tell.
What is almost for certain is that Milwaukee won’t be the team that it needs to be to keep Giannis around. Sure, the Bucks could finish with a top-six record in the East, securing a playoff berth, but it could result in another first-round exit.
Milwaukee put a Band-Aid on its situation by landing Turner, but that won’t be enough to move the needle. The Bucks acted out of desperation to appease Giannis, so while that is understandable, it’s a decision that could age poorly.
Time is ticking on Giannis’ future in Milwaukee — or actually, it’s been ticking. The end is near. The Giannis Antetokounmpo trade sweepstakes could reopen before the deadline, or maybe next offseason. His situation is one that many opposing teams, including San Antonio, are watching closely.