Should the Nets still keep tabs on Bucks' Giannis Antetokounmpo?

USA Today

4 hours ago

The Brooklyn Nets have made it clear since last offseason that they are trying to rebuild the franchise through the draft, as evidenced by their five picks in the first round of the 2025 NBA Draft. Brooklyn would presumably like to improve on its 26-56 record from the 2024-25 season so there is a possibility that general manager Sean Marks could keep his options open.
While Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo is more likely to remain in Milwaukee than he is to request a trade this offseason, there is some reporting that could give other teams reason to continue monitoring Antetokounmpo's status. "Sources tell me there's still nothing set in stone about whether Giannis Antetokounmpo will stay in Milwaukee or whether he will be leaving," ESPN's Shams Charania reported on Monday.
The Bucks have made various moves to surround Antetokounmpo with the best team possible given the circumstances, but Charania's report could indicate that the "Greek Freak" isn't quite sold as of yet. With that being said, there is still a possibility that Antetokounmpo is dealt before the beginning of the 2025-26 campaign so let's take a look at what the Nets could do to potentially bring him to Brooklyn (h/t B/R's Grant Hughes):
The Mock Trade
Nets Receive: Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Bucks Receive: forward Michael Porter Jr., 2027 first-round pick (top-1 protected), 2027 first-round pick (via NYK), 2029 first-round pick (top-1 protected), 2029 first-round pick (via HOU), 2031 first-round pick (top-1 protected).
Reason For/Against The Nets Doing This Trade
Over the past couple of years, it has been made clear through a myriad of reports that the Nets are fond of Antetokounmpo and seemed to prefer trading for him as opposed to other players considered to be less than untouchable. Brian Lewis of the New York Post reported during the 2024-25 season that Brooklyn was still interested in Antetokounmpo so the latest reporting could potentially reinvigorate that interest.
The argument for trading for Antetokounmpo is simple: the Nets would be getting one of the best players in the league and is still just 30 years old. Antetokounmpo would be far and away Brooklyn's best player heading into next season if this trade went through and he would still have players like Nic Claxton, Cam Thomas (assuming he re-signs), and Egor Demin to share the floor with.
The argument for passing on trading for Antetokounmpo is also understandable given that the Nets would be giving up their own first-round picks in 2027, 2029, and 2031 as long as those picks aren't first overall. It's hard to see a team like the Bucks do this trade with any kind of protections on the picks especially since Antetokounmpo is still in MVP-level form and you wouldn't give up Antetokounmpo while not being able to draft the best available players over the next few seasons.
Verdict
While the idea of acquiring Antetokounmpo is understandably enticing to any team in the NBA, the Nets have to think about the long game during this rebuild. Getting Antetokounmpo would ensure that Brooklyn is going all in on a team that would presumably compete for a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference, but is probably not good enough to compete for a championship.
While Thomas, Claxton, and Demin are still young, Antetokounmpo is most likely towards the end of his prime, assuming that he doesn't age as well as Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James. Even if Antetokounmpo ages gracefully, he has three years left on his contract with the third year being a player option. So, the Nets would presumably have two years to convince Antetokounmpo to not only want a trade, but to sign another contract that would take him through the end of his career.
Marks has already gone all in once during his tenure as GM and Kevin Durant, James Harden, and Kyrie Irving did not work out for a variety of reasons, some outside of anyone's control. Marks said at the end of the season that the Nets will keep their minds open as they progress through the offseason, but ending the rebuild for Antetokounmpo may not be the move. Brooklyn would most likely not do this trade, at least not how the mock trade suggests.