The Milwaukee Bucks have gotten off to a nightmare start in 2024.  Through their first 11 games, they sit 3-8 and seem to be lost on both sides of the ball at times.  Given that Milwaukee needed to remain competitive to keep Giannis Antetokoumpo in town, this is extremely frustrating.

Nov 12, 2024; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) during warmups prior to the game against the Toronto Raptors at Fiserv Forum. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images

However, if Milwaukee does in fact consider trading away Giannis, there would be a massive haul waiting for them.

“Their Plethora Of Assets” Bucks Land Unimaginable Haul In New Giannis Antetokounmpo Trade Proposal

Nov 13, 2024; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) dunks during the first quarter against the Detroit Pistons at Fiserv Forum. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images

By already being a top team, having youth on their side, freedom under salary aprons, and access to a ton of draft picks, the Oklahoma City Thunder can win any bidding war they enter:

By virtue of their plethora of assets – not least of which is their substantial bank of draft capital – the Thunder find themselves in a unique position among the league’s contending teams.

salary. The Thunder have good flexibility in their salary picture, with only the contracts of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander ($35,859,950) and Isaiah Hartenstein ($30,000,000) earning more than $16.5 million.
By contrast, Giannis will earn $48,787,676 in the 2024-25 season; to match that amount in trade, the Thunder will have to either wait until Hartenstein is trade-eligible (after 15th December), or package together other players such as Luguentz Dort, Isaiah Joe and Aaron Wiggins to meet the required matching salary.

Nevertheless, with all due respect to quality players such as Hartenstein and Dort, it should not be a problem to include them in a trade for Antetokounmpo.

If the Thunder decide that they are already good enough to go for it, even when their core is so young, then it will surely be harder to find a better trade target than Giannis. After all, if you cannot justify trading the excess of picks for him, what are they for?

Nov 2, 2024; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) drives against Cleveland Cavaliers forward Dean Wade (32) in the second half at Fiserv Forum. Mandatory Credit: Michael McLoone-Imagn Images

Here is a look at Giannis’ recent games:

Nov 2, 2024; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34)and Cleveland Cavaliers forward Evan Mobley (4) get tangled up in the second half at Fiserv Forum. Mandatory Credit: Michael McLoone-Imagn Images