The Portland Trail Blazers have reportedly emerged as interested in trading for Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo. A potential deal to Portland would reunite the two-time NBA MVP with his former teammate, Damian Lillard.
According to NBA insider Marc Stein on Saturday, the Trail Blazers, which have a $4.25 billion valuation per Forbes, have expressed interest in Antetokounmpo. In addition, Portland has acknowledged that the nine-time All-Star might not sign an extension with the team.
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“The Stein Line has learned that Portland has also expressed its own interest to the Bucks that it would like to acquire Antetokounmpo,” Stein wrote. “Even as the Blazers realistically understand that it would be an extreme longshot to convince Giannis to sign a contract extension that keeps him in the Pacific Northwest.”
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Should a trade for Antetokounmpo fall through, Stein speculated that Portland could still be included as a third or fourth team:
“The far more likely scenario remains Portland participating in such a deal as a facilitator to snag an impact veteran (or two) as part of a multi-team trade structure. … The Blazers continue to be regarded as a plausible facilitator if an Antetokounmpo deal reaches the finish line in the next five days.”
Portland also currently has Jrue Holiday on the roster. Holiday played for three seasons with Antetokounmpo and was a key cog to the Bucks’ 2021 championship run. Stein said that both Holiday and Lillard have “maintained closeness” with the Bucks superstar from their time in Milwaukee.
In a possible trade for Giannis Antetokounmpo, the Trail Blazers could offer potential All-Star Deni Avdija and several draft picks. They could also add young players like Shaedon Sharpe, Toumani Camara and Donovan Clingan.
Marc Stein says the Warriors would unlikely include Jimmy Butler in a potential Giannis Antetokounmpo trade
NBA insider Marc Stein said a potential Giannis Antetokounmpo trade with the Golden State Warriors would not include six-time All-Star Jimmy Butler. In the same article on The Stein Line on Saturday, Stein said league sources have indicated that the Warriors prefer to keep Butler.
“We’ve heard further strong indications that the Warriors’ pursuit of Antetokounmpo is unlikely to involve Jimmy Butler’s contract after Butler sustained a season-ending knee tear on Jan. 19,” Stein wrote. “It has long been assumed that a credible Golden State offer would have to include (Draymond) Green or Butler for salary-matching purposes.”
Giannis Antetokounmpo and Butler both earn exactly $54.1 million, which makes salary-matching uncomplicated in a potential deal. However, with Stein’s report, Golden State would likely need to include longtime Warriors star Draymond Green in a trade with Milwaukee.
Edited by Kim Daniel Rubinos