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The Greek Freakout is having a respite right now. He still hasn’t officially asked for a trade and still expresses his love for Cream City. Most of Milwaukee’s attention as an organization is about filling their roster with players Giannis Antetokounmpo would want to play with going forward, the newly acquired Cam Thomas being their most prominent acquisition so far. Since the deadline, they’re 6-2.
Pundits have repeatedly suggested the New York Knicks, the Miami Heat, Los Angeles Lakers, even the San Antonio Spurs would have the inside track on the 31-year-old, two-time MVP and NBA champion if he signals a change of mind. But Jake Fischer who had the Bucks interest in Thomas early on thinks that maybe the Nets should be added to that list. In writing this week for The Steinline, Fischer had this to say about Brooklyn’s possible interest.
As Marc Stein wrote here Feb. 4, significant summer salary cap space is expected to make the Lakers a viable suitor in the Giannis Sweepstakes. I also continue to hear rival teams musing aloud about Brooklyn’s potential emergence as a credible destination given the Nets’ considerable cache of draft capital to package with, say, Michael Porter Jr. … or with a trade construction that keeps MPJ in place to play alongside Antetokounmpo. It remains to be seen,
Fischer also writes that he thinks that Antetokounmpo will ultimately depart the Bucks for a contender and the Nets are hardly, at least at this point, anywhere close to contention. After all, there’s a distinct possibility they could wind up with the worst record in the league. At this point, they’re only two games back of that distinction.
Beyond the fact that Antetokounmpo’s recent interview with ESPN’s Malika Andrews featured multiple comments that would appear to keep the door ajar for an eventual exit from Brewtown, I’ve kept in regular contact with four sources close to the situation who have all maintained that a move to a true title contender is the most likely endgame for the 31-year-old.
And that’s why I think the trade is going to happen this summer.
Fischer notes that just before the trade deadline, half his sources on the issue suggested that the Bucks were not ready to move, the other half believe “it will finally happen during the looming offseason.”
For the moment, putting aside 1) who Sean Marks & co. might have to offer for Giannis or 2) how many teams Marks would have to recruit for a bigger deal or 3) how much Joe Tsai might have to pay out when it comes time for an extension — think a quarter billion dollars, what Fischer writes is interesting in how the league perceives the Nets will operate this summer.
Multiple NBA writers including Fischer and Stein reported prior to the February 5 deadline that the Nets were not so much interested in trading for more draft assets — they have 32, the most in the league, including 10 tradeable firsts — or taking on contracts that would impinge on the near $50 million in cap space they could put together this summer. Instead, to one degree or another, they believe that the Nets are going to make moves to get them back on the road to contention, going from rebuild to build. Some suggested they plan on using whoever they get in the lottery as a lure … along with Jordi Fernandez and the city of New York.
Beyond Giannis, there’s also been talk about the Nets taking a look at Peyton Watson, the 6’8” Denver Nuggets forward who is having a breakout year and will be a restricted free agent. The 23-year-old is close to Michael Porter Jr. and the Nuggets have some cap issues. Signing him seems a long shot. But a sign-and-trade … using some of those assets? Makes more sense.
Beyond Fischer’s and others’ reporting on what the Nets might do, MPJ’s recent comments also pointed to a not-so-distant future where the Nets change direction. As a member of an NBA champion and annual contender in Denver, he was asked this week about the losing he’s endured this season.
“This is a new situation that I’ve been in, but no basketball game is meaningless. It’s all part of the journey,” Porter told reporters. “This team, we’re not just looking at this year, we’re looking at the overall scheme and goals for the next one, two, three, four, five years.
“All these games matter for us in terms of growth, continuity and chemistry. Sometimes it’s hard to focus on that, but we’ve got to come in and work every day and realize it’s a bigger picture. At the end of the day, we’re playing basketball, a game we all love to play.”
‘WE?“ ”US?“ Porter sure sounds like he wants to be a part of it, believes he will be.
Of course, predicting the NBA future requires a very good crystal ball. A lot of what happens may not be visible now. For example, if the Cavs exit the playoffs early, will native New Yorker Donovan Mitchell want to stick around The Land? He was a rumored target of the Nets two years back. If the Knicks exit early, how will that effect their long term thinking? The Nets still own three unprotected first rounders in 2027, 2029 and 2031 as well as first round swap in 2028. Those picks would become quite valuable earlier than expected. We could be talking Herschel Walker trade territory if that happens.
Then there’s luck. Good and bad.
Bottom line is that despite how quiet the Nets have been, there’s ample evidence even among other NBA teams executives that Brooklyn will not be tanking this time next year, not be as interested in the draft.
If you’re looking for something close to finite, the Nets trade for Hunter Tyson might give you one, albeit small. The Nets traded Tyson, who they quickly cut, and someone else’s late second rounder in 2026 for a Nuggets second in 2032. With all that youth draft capital, they chose to pass on a pick that might wind up as a two-way next summer and instead added one at a time when they might need some roster replenishment. (They now have three picks — a lottery pick in the first and two high seconds — in 2026 and six picks — two firsts and four seconds — in 2032.)
So, at this time next year, they may not be contending for a title, or they might with Giannis, but their direction will likely be quite clear. As always, stay tuned.
- NBA rumors: Rival teams still viewing Nets as Giannis Antetokounmpo trade suitor – Erik Slater – Clutch Points
- Nets’ Michael Porter Jr. reveals what critics don’t understand about his brutal 18.2% 3-point slump – Erik Slater – Clutch Points