Should the Portland Trail Blazers go after Giannis Antetokounmpo? That's a question the franchise has to at least mull over once the offseason begins. And if it wants to get a trump card in the Giannis sweepstakes, it might want to pursue Jason Kidd first.
The Dallas Mavericks pulled off a surprising move recently, letting Kidd go after he guided the team to a Finals appearance two years ago. But after two straight seasons of missing the playoffs and a new management under president of basketball operations Masai Ujiri, the decision kind of makes sense.
Keeping the Antetokounmpo dream alive
Bringing the "Greek Freak" to Rose City would arguably be a win-win scenario for both parties. With the Blazers, Antetokounmpo would headline a roster that has another reliable shot creator in Deni Avdija and several pieces who could space the floor for him on offense. He should also be thrilled to join a squad that transformed into a defensive juggernaut late in the 2025-26 regular season.
There would be plenty of roadblocks that could make the Giannis-Blazers union a pipe dream, though. For one, the Milwaukee Bucks superstar hasn't shown any interest in playing in Portland, especially after having spent his first 13 seasons in the league with another small-market team.
Giannis also has good reason to hesitate to come over to the Western Conference, as the Oklahoma City Thunder and San Antonio Spurs are expected to reign in the conference for the next handful of years.
However, if the Blazers do end up hiring Kidd, that could be enough to urge Antetokounmpo to take a closer look at what's happening with the organization.
As many know, Kidd was Antetokounmpo's second head coach in the NBA, and he still seems fond of the retired point guard. Why wouldn't he be when J-Kidd saw his superstar potential and helped him unlock it by handing him the keys to the Bucks' offense, even while he was still at a young age?
So, if you add Kidd to the mix, when the Blazers roster already features a couple of Antetokounmpo's favorite ex-teammates, Damian Lillard and Jrue Holiday, Portland might just become a dark-horse favorite to be the two-time MVP's new home.
Another HOF PG as the head coach
Even without the Giannis Antetokounmpo factor, Kidd could be worth a look for the Blazers.
It's unclear whether Tiago Splitter has the inside track to retain his job once the 2026-27 campaign starts. If the franchise wants to move on, it can't do any wrong by tabbing Kidd as his replacement.
It would certainly be par for the course with the Blazers' move to sign Chauncey Billups, another championship-winning point guard, as head coach back in 2021. With Kidd, though, they would get someone with a track record of bringing the best out of his star player and maximizing his guards' productivity.
The 10-time All-Star could be what the doctor ordered for the Blazers. The possibility of such a swing increasing their odds of landing Antetokounmpo would just be icing on the cake.
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