NBA insider Jake Fischer recently provided an update on the Giannis Antetokounmpo sweepstakes, and it's not what Portland Trail Blazers fans were hoping to hear. According to Fischer, most teams around the league view it as a "believe it when they see it" situation regarding Giannis being traded.
"For now, talking to those around the league, the assessment, and the expectation is that they are going to believe it when they see it that someone that has valued being the franchise face, the central linchpin of the Bucks franchise, is going to want to play somewhere else," he reported.
That's bad news for the Blazers, who are well-positioned to capitalize on the Bucks' downfall.
Giannis update is a major blow to Blazers' best trade chip
Portland has Milwaukee's 2029 unprotected first-round draft pick and swap rights in 2028 and 2030, thanks to the Damian Lillard trade. If Giannis' loyalty does win out and he stays in Milwaukee, those picks diminish in value. Even an extremely flawed and aging roster like the Bucks will remain in the playoff conversation as long as Giannis is on the team, especially in the weak Eastern Conference.
This latest update not only worsens the Blazers' outlook but also complicates their offseason plans. It was unrealistic for Portland to land Giannis, but they were in a prime position to cash in on a blockbuster multi-team trade where they play the facilitator role. For instance, they could have landed a key player from a team like the San Antonio Spurs, Houston Rockets, or wherever else the Greek Freak ultimately wound up.
That's still an option and could gain more momentum as the offseason plays out. Shams Charania's prediction that this could be the craziest offseason ever also gives us some sense of optimism that Giannis could ultimately be dealt. A trade request makes sense when looking at the state of their roster, especially considering Damian Lillard's brutal Achilles injury and Brook Lopez's impending free agency.
The Blazers should hope that's still the case, as a Giannis trade is the best-case scenario for them.
Portland's unique situation as a rebuilding team with playoff aspirations also gives them flexibility regarding what to do with those picks. They could either decide to hold onto them and add key pieces to their young core in the draft or flip them into a star to help them get back into playoff relevancy. Either way, it's a win as long as it's the right fit.
The Blazers won't have that same luxury if Giannis remains in Milwaukee. Those picks aren't as valuable in any trade package, and they even run the risk of the swaps not conveying in 2028 and 2030 should they keep them.
But things change quickly in the NBA, especially amid offseason chaos. Let's hope the next Giannis update will be more in Portland's favor.