Former NBA executive reveals brutal truth about potential Giannis-Jazz trade

From now until February 5, speculation will be rife about where Giannis Antetokounmpo will go. He and the Milwaukee Bucks really feel like they’re on the verge of a divorce. Could the Utah Jazz capitalize on this?

Sure, but ESPN’s Bobby Marks explained why it would be a bit difficult for them to make a deal.

“The Jazz have nine tradeable first-round picks and trade rights through 2028 with the Cavaliers. Unless Lauri Markkanen is included, Utah would have to trade at least five players to match Antetokounmpo’s salary. Fourteen players on the roster make less than $19.5 million,” Marks wrote.

The prospect of the Jazz getting Giannis has been discussed before. It’s an exciting idea, but Marks explains it clearly

First of all, the Jazz would not trade Markkanen for Antetokounmpo as it would defeat the purpose of acquiring Antetokounmpo. You don’t upgrade from Markkanen to Giannis in such a transaction. You link them together, so trading in Markkanen is out of the question.

That’s why Utah would have to cut a large portion of its roster – Jusuf Nurkic, Kyle Anderson, Georges Niang and Kevin Love would all have to leave – just to make room for him. It complicates things. The Jazz should make sure they have replacements ready, including immediately converting their players to two-way contracts.

The other problem with a Giannis-Jazz trade

Milwaukee won’t just be looking for pick and cap flexibility in a trade. They want young, developing talent, which means the Jazz will likely have to bring Keyonte George and Ace Bailey to the table to get the Bucks on the phone.

And honestly, to be anything great, you have to give up something you don’t want to give up. As exciting as George and Bailey both are, the chances of them being Giannis-level good are extremely unlikely (note: they don’t have to be if Utah wants to become title contenders down the road).

However, that is not the risk. Antetokounmpo could hit free agency in 2027. Despite becoming a bit injury-prone in recent years, he will likely end his current deal for more long-term security because he is Giannis and he is still in his prime.

Not only would that put enormous pressure on Utah to win right away (and right now they’re not really in a position to try), but an ex-jazz reporter a few months ago emphasized his belief that Antetokounmpo probably wouldn’t want to stay in Utah.

You could say he’d be worth the risk, but losing George and Bailey, two guys who could be franchise cornerstones for the Jazz for years to come, might not make it worth it. Of course, the Jazz would probably prefer not to have to play Giannis against a Western rival, but in his early 30s, he has limited time as a super-duper star.

Utah is in prime position to make a pretty long run, so there’s no need to rush into becoming a contender for possibly only a season and a half, even if it’s the Greek Freak.