ESPN's Shams Charania recently reported that Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo explored trade options this summer, and the New York Knicks emerged as the only team he would want to be traded to.
Given Portland's market size and its rebuilding situation, it was always going to be a pipe dream for the Trail Blazers to land Giannis. Those odds slightly increased this summer when they added two of Giannis' former teammates, Damian Lillard and Jrue Holiday, in a full-circle moment for the Blazers' roster -- but they were still extremely slim.
The one thing Portland does have in its favor compared to other teams around the league that should give them key leverage in the Giannis sweepstakes is Milwaukee's future draft capital.
Thanks to the blockbuster Lillard trade, the Blazers now have the Bucks' unprotected 2029 first-round pick as well as two first-round swaps in 2028 and 2030, which analysts such as CBS Sports' Sam Quinn consider to be some of the most valuable future draft capital in the league.
Blazers can help facilitate a Giannis-Knicks trade
For now, Giannis is set on heading into the 2025-26 season as a member of the Bucks. But, in all likelihood, he will soon find out that this roster isn't built to contend, even in the injury-plagued Eastern Conference.
The Bucks have a flawed and aging roster with minimal avenues to upgrade it. They owe Portland and New Orleans future draft assets and are financially strapped after waiving and stretching Lillard just to sign Myles Turner in free agency. It's still possible that Giannis will decide to take his talents elsewhere, and from Charania's recent report, the Knicks should be considered a frontrunner if he ultimately does.
The Blazers could play a key role as a facilitator in such a trade getting done, providing value to both the Bucks and the Knicks.
If Milwaukee were ever to move on from their franchise cornerstone, they'd likely want to embrace a full-on rebuild rather than remain competitive and risk being trapped in purgatory. However, they can't achieve that without getting some of their own picks back. Otherwise, there's no incentive for them to lose, giving them a bleak future outlook in the post-Giannis era.
Meanwhile, the Knicks have their own challenges when it comes to actually putting together an enticing enough package to acquire a top-five player in the world. They have also made all-in moves, acquiring Mikal Bridges from the Brooklyn Nets and Karl-Anthony Towns from the Minnesota Timberwolves in 2024. Charania notes that, because of these deals, New York is left with just one first-round pick, three pick swaps, and eight second-rounders to trade.
That's where Portland's picks come in.
The Blazers are a team looking to accelerate their rebuild and get back to the postseason. If the right player comes around, they should be open to making an aggresive move to help achieve that. It's hard to imagine New York parting ways with Jalen Brunson, regardless of who's on the other end of that deal. But if Portland could land one of OG Anunoby, Bridges, or Towns as a facilitator, it's certainly a role worth exploring.