Teams Are Still Expected to Go All-Out on Giannis Trade This Summer

Much of the first half of the NBA season was about Giannis Antetokounmpo. As the Milwaukee Bucks struggled to win games, everyone started to wonder whether Giannis was going to ask for a trade. After that, the Giannis trade rumors really picked up. 

For weeks, we heard about potential Giannis trade destinations. Were the Golden State Warriors going to trade everything for a chance at pairing him with Stephen Curry? Could the Miami Heat muster up enough assets to get the Bucks interested? Everyone was guessing where Giannis would land next. 

Then the Bucks decided to hold onto him. They still haven’t extended him, but for now, he is still on the team. That doesn’t mean that this summer the trade rumors won’t start up again. 

Chris Mannix reported that he expects a “bidding bonanza” for Giannis once the season ends. 

"The teams that lined up for him before the February trade deadline—Golden State, Miami, Minnesota—will still be there, as could contenders like the Los Angeles Lakers, Houston and New York. Two teams can create a bidding war. A half dozen? That’s a bidding bonanza, one that could set Milwaukee up nicely for a post-Antetokounmpo future."

If Giannis asks out, or if he doesn’t sign an extension with the Bucks this offseason, there will be tons of offers flooding in. And the Bucks would be smart to start a bidding war. Giannis doesn’t seem committed to staying in Milwaukee, and if they want to maximize his value, they want teams trying to one-up each other for the best offer.