The Milwaukee Bucks are in one of the most difficult situations in the NBA right now. On one hand, they have one of the best players in the world in Giannis Antetokounmpo, a two-time league MVP and Finals MVP. On the other hand, the roster constructed around him is not good enough to be considered a Conference Finals contender, let alone an NBA Finals contender.
To make matters worse, the New Orleans Pelicans and Portland Trailblazers have control of their draft picks thanks to previous trades for Jrue Holiday and Damian Lillard. It wouldn’t even make sense for them to tank, considering they wouldn’t be improving their draft position. If Antetokounmpo were to request a trade, like he’s been rumored to do all Summer, it would leave the Bucks in a precarious situation.
However, a recent trade proposal from Sports Illustrated offers Milwaukee an alternative solution, allowing them to move Antetokounmpo for assets while maintaining their competitiveness.
The Trade Idea
SI proposed a deal with the New York Knicks that nets the Bucks an All-Star starter, a young player to develop, and future draft picks.
New York Knicks Receive:
Giannis Antetokounmpo
Milwaukee Bucks Receive:
Karl-Anthony Towns, Tyler Kolek, 2 future first-round draft picks
While Karl-Anthony Towns isn’t the all-world player the Greek Freak is, he is still what most would consider a superstar. Towns is coming off a season where he averaged 24.4 points and almost 13 rebounds per game, making the All-NBA third team for the third time in his career. While he has never shown the ability to be the alpha on a playoff team, Milwaukee would be a great first test for him.
Towns would be able to play power forward for the Bucks, considering Milwaukee just shelled out a large contract for former Indiana Pacers center Myles Turner. While this team wouldn’t be considered a championship contender by anyone, there’s still enough firepower to be tabbed as a playoff threat.
If Milwaukee wants to find a way to stay competitive while also undergoing a soft rebuild, this trade would make a whole lot of sense for both sides.
