Giannis Antetokounmpo is ready to move on from Milwaukee. Could he wind up in Detroit?
With Antetokounmpo reportedly seeking a trade after 12 years with the Bucks and the Bucks listening to offers, the Pistons are one of the few teams in the NBA with the assets and cap space to potentially make the deal. The two-time MVP could push them from the top team in the East to legitimate contenders for the NBA title.
What would it cost? Start with several first-round picks, add a promising young player or two, and a matching salary or two.
Would three first-round picks, Jaden Ivey, Ron Holland II and Tobias Harris get the Bucks' attention? Would that already be too much for Trajan Langdon and the Pistons to part with? And would Antetokounmpo even be interested in a move to Detroit?
The latter question is the most important one. Antetokounmpo, who's been rumored to be eyeing a bigger market, can essentially control his destination. He has one year remaining on his contract after this season with a $63 million player option for 2027-28 that he's likely to turn down. No team is going all-in to acquire him without assurances that he intends to stick around.
Antetokounmpo will be eligible for a four-year, $275 million supermax extension next season.
Other questions to consider: Would the Bucks be willing to trade one of the best players in the NBA to a conference rival? Would Landgon be willing to make such an aggressive move in year two of his tenure? Would inheriting Antetokounmpo's salary and coming extension leave the Pistons enough cap space to also extend Jalen Duren?
If the answers to those questions is yes, the idea of pairing Antetokounmpo with Cade Cunningham in a season where the East is up for grabs might be too enticing for the Pistons to pass up.
Antetokounmpo is averaging 28.8 points and 10 rebounds this season, while shooting a career-high 39.5 percent from three.