After months of smoke, it looks like the fire is finally here: Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks are officially exploring trade options, and the clock is ticking with the February 5 trade deadline fast approaching.
The Bucks and Giannis working together on a potential deal is seismic news in itself - we’re talking about a two-time MVP, a Finals MVP, and one of the most dominant two-way forces the league has seen in decades. Naturally, the NBA world is buzzing. But if you're a Philadelphia 76ers fan hoping to see the Greek Freak in a Sixers jersey, it’s probably time to pump the brakes.
Philly hasn't been seriously linked to Giannis, and by all accounts, the Sixers aren’t on his list of preferred destinations. That alone makes a potential deal unlikely.
But even if the door cracked open, the Sixers would be wise to walk away - not because Giannis isn’t worth the price, but because the cost would almost certainly include rookie sensation VJ Edgecombe. And that’s a line Philadelphia simply shouldn’t cross.
Let’s be clear: Daryl Morey has never been shy about swinging big. If there’s a superstar on the market, you can bet he’s at least kicking the tires.
That’s just how he operates. But there’s a difference between going all-in and mortgaging your future.
And Edgecombe, with the way he’s played so far, looks like the kind of talent you build around - not the kind you give up.
Edgecombe has been electric. He’s shown flashes of elite two-way potential, the kind of player who could be a franchise cornerstone for the next decade.
Combine that with Tyrese Maxey’s continued rise, and the Sixers suddenly have a young core that could define their next era. That’s not something you throw away lightly, even for a player of Giannis’ caliber.
And here’s the thing - the Sixers aren’t exactly in rebuilding mode. They’ve still got Joel Embiid.
They’ve still got Paul George. That’s a core capable of competing right now.
Add in Maxey’s breakout and Edgecombe’s upside, and you’re looking at a team with both a high floor and a promising ceiling.
Trading for Giannis would undoubtedly raise the team’s immediate title odds. But if the cost is Edgecombe, the long-term risk outweighs the short-term reward. You don’t trade what could be your next franchise player for a few years of contention - not when you’re already in the mix.
Unless Milwaukee is somehow willing to talk without Edgecombe on the table - and let’s be honest, they won’t be - the Sixers need to sit this one out. Sometimes the smartest move is the one you don’t make.