As the February 5 trade deadline approached, NBA fans eagerly anticipated movement on the Giannis Antetokounmpo front. No such trade happened, and now, a new report possibly sheds light on why the Bucks weren’t able to move the Greek Freak.
According to insider Eric Pincus, Antetokounmpo has a preference for his running mate on the court. “Some suggest Antetokounmpo doesn't want to play with a ball-dominant lead guard, preferring to be the primary engine driving his team's offense,” Pincus wrote on Tuesday.
Pincus added that two of Antetokounmpo’s most renowned teammates set a precedent for the type of offense he wants to run. “Some claim that Antetokounmpo misses playing with players like Jrue Holiday and Khris Middleton, who were partners in the 2021 championship run,” he explained. “Holiday and Middleton were comfortable playing without the ball around Antetokounmpo.”
While Antetokounmpo doesn’t necessarily want to “get the band back together” by re-teaming with Holiday and Middleton, there are several other high-quality players in the league who don’t need an abundance of touches to work effectively as Antetokounmpo’s No. 2 and No. 3. Conversely, there are shot-makers out there who are as ball-dominant as they come.
Could this explain why Antetokounmpo didn’t land with a team like the Minnesota Timberwolves? This Western Conference playoff contender is a perfect example of a team pinning its hopes on a me-first type of main man. Antetokounmpo and Anthony Edwards would be a fearsome duo on paper, but the potential for squabbles over handling the ball is undeniably high.
Using this logic, teams like the Los Angeles Lakers and (perhaps to a lesser extent) the New York Knicks can also be ruled out, as All-Star guards like Luka Dončić and Jalen Brunson need the ball in their hands to be at their most effective.
Assuming this report is true, where can Antetokounmpo find a great fit if he wants to spearhead the offense with plenty of ball touches? It’s possible that the Bucks (not to mention a sizable number of potential trade partners) haven’t been able to figure this out for months, hence the delay in a blockbuster Antetokounmpo trade. Still, the possibilities in the offseason remain endless.
