Giannis Trade Talk Heats Up - But Don’t Expect Spurs, Rockets, or Thunder to Join the Chase
The Giannis Antetokounmpo rumor mill is starting to spin again, even though the Milwaukee Bucks haven’t made their two-time MVP available. Still, around the league, there’s a growing sense that it’s not so much a question of if the Bucks eventually listen to offers - but when. And when that time comes, you can bet there will be no shortage of suitors lining up with trade packages they believe can land one of the league’s most dominant forces.
But here’s the twist: not every team with the assets to make a real run at Giannis is actually planning to get in the mix.
According to NBA insider Marc Stein, three teams that could theoretically put together a compelling offer - the San Antonio Spurs, Houston Rockets, and Oklahoma City Thunder - are expected to stay on the sidelines, even if the Bucks open the door to trade talks during the season.
“All three of those teams, as you can imagine, like what they have going,” Stein noted.
And that checks out.
Let’s start with Oklahoma City. On paper, the Thunder have the draft capital, young talent, and financial flexibility to make a blockbuster deal happen. But according to Clutch Points' Brett Siegel, the idea of OKC chasing Giannis is more fantasy than reality - think NBA 2K-level roster building.
“The Thunder aren’t going to be in those kinds of conversations,” Siegel said. “Any speculation of the Thunder trading for Giannis Antetokounmpo is just one of those 2K scenarios of the giants of the NBA getting better.
It’s not going to happen. Sam Presti has a clear timeline of how their finances are going to work.”
Translation: Presti and the Thunder front office aren’t looking to blow up their carefully constructed rebuild for a win-now move - even for a player of Giannis’ caliber. They’re playing the long game, and so far, it’s working.
San Antonio’s approach is similar. The Spurs have one of the most exciting young cores in the league, headlined by Victor Wembanyama, who’s already showing signs of being a generational talent. With Wemby as the centerpiece, the Spurs are building for sustained success, and mortgaging that future for a superstar trade doesn’t seem to be part of the plan.
Given how competitive the Spurs have looked this season, there’s no urgency to make a splash. They’re developing organically, and with Wembanyama leading the way, the ceiling is sky-high. A Giannis trade might accelerate the timeline, but it would also mean parting with key pieces of that promising foundation.
Then there’s Houston. The Rockets are in a unique spot - they’ve stockpiled assets and have a solid mix of youth and veteran leadership.
On paper, they could put together a strong offer. But the cost would be steep.
Trading for Giannis would almost certainly require giving up multiple core players, which would gut their depth and potentially disrupt the chemistry they’ve been building.
Any team seriously pursuing Giannis knows the price tag will be massive. You don’t land a two-time MVP without making real sacrifices. And for teams like the Rockets, Spurs, and Thunder - all of whom are trending in the right direction - the risk might simply outweigh the reward.
So while the Giannis sweepstakes could become the next major storyline if Milwaukee decides to test the waters, don’t expect every asset-rich team to throw their hat in the ring. Some front offices are staying patient, trusting their process, and betting on the futures they’re building - even if that means passing on a generational talent like Antetokounmpo.