It's widely believed that Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo prefers to remain in the Eastern Conference should he get traded this summer, with the Bucks hoping to decide on the superstar's future prior to the June 23 NBA Draft.
However, Marc Stein recently brought up a surprising exception in the Western Conference: the Dallas Mavericks.
The NBA insider reported on The Stein Line that the idea of pairing up with Luka Doncic certainly played a role. But even after the Mavericks shockingly parted ways with Doncic, Dallas remained an intriuging landing spot for Giannis due to his relationship with (former) head coach Jason Kidd.
Stein adds that the Mavericks shouldn't be in the Giannis sweepstakes this summer, but that has more to do with Dallas embracing a patient, rebuilding timeline around Rookie of the Year Cooper Flagg. From the Portland Trail Blazers' standpoint, the Giannis-Kidd connections are noteworthy as they continue their extensive head coaching search.
Jason Kidd could help convince Giannis Antetokounmpo to stay in Portland
Michael Scotto of HoopsHype reported that Kidd has "quietly been connected to Portland within league circles." Giannis wasn't the only one interested in playing for him, as Scotto notes Damian Lillard's desire for Portland to hire Kidd during their 2021 coaching search.
That alone could be enough for the Blazers to consider Kidd in their coaching search, though it remains to be seen if he's within Tom Dundon's price range. But if it isn't, Portland has to consider hiring Kidd as leverage to convince Giannis to stay in the Pacific Northwest.
The Blazers are interested in acquiring Giannis this summer and have arguably the best package to offer in the league, headlined by the Bucks' picks from 2028-30 acquired from the Lillard trade. Still, Portland is at a stalemate, as they rightfully won't go all-in unless Giannis commits long-term. It's an unnecessary risk for Portland to take on what could potentially be a one-year rental should he decline his player option.
A lot is working in Portland's favor when it comes to convincing Giannis to stay. The former teammate connections to Lillard and Jrue Holiday, as well as the mix of youth, veterans, and depth, allow them to surround him with complementary pieces even after the trade -- an overlooked issue that has plagued teams making all-in moves for superstars in the past.
The leverage in draft picks and Portland's connections to Milwaukee should make them a dark horse this summer, especially with Dundon potentially looking to make an immediate splash. Still, it's a lot of risk to take on, and could be the move that backfires and derails what has been an overall promising rebuild.
If landing Kidd boosts Portland's chances of convincing Giannis to stay, they absolutely need to factor that into the equation. His head coaching experience and relationship with Lillard already give him a compelling case to emerge from Portland's seemingly never-ending list of potential candidates. And if the Blazers are bold enough to trade for Giannis directly, that should be the variable to make Kidd stand out amongst the rest.
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