Latest eye-opening Giannis news forces Spurs to consider wild offseason swing

ESPN's Shams Charania reported that Giannis Antetokounmpo is seriously considering leaving Milwaukee. The rumors about his potential departure have been steaming since the Bucks were eliminated from the playoffs in the first round for the third year in a row. He's never expressed real interest in leaving before, but according to Charania, that's changed.

This confirms what most observers have believed as we watched the Bucks' status as a top-tier contender deteriorate over the past few years. Antetokounmpo is a relentless competitor. He's said as much. Nothing matters to him more than getting another Larry O'Brien Trophy, and if that can't happen in Milwaukee, it's easy to see why he'd leave.

Spurs are perfectly positioned to acquire Giannis

After Shams explained his report in detail on Get Up this morning, Brian Windhorst was there to fill in more pieces to the puzzle of possibility that fans are curious to see come together, and he said that there are only a few teams with the kind of assets that would entice the Bucks' front office. The San Antonio Spurs, Houston Rockets, and Brooklyn Nets.

All three teams have players and picks to package together to help Milwaukee kickstart their rebuild if they move Giannis. The problem for the Nets is that they're the Nets. Maybe it's just me, but they haven't really proved that they're a competent front office that can be trusted to put together a cohesive championship team.

That matters because the Greek Freak only has two years left on his deal, giving him more power over this situation than many realize. Nobody wants to trade their entire team and a boatload of picks for a rental. So, if he says he wants to go to the Lakers, Knicks, etc., it would make things more difficult for the Bucks front office, as he would be hamstringing them, but I don't think that's going to happen.

Giannis is on the record expressing how he doesn't care that much about big cities. Now, he also expressed a desire to see more European players in large markets after the Luka Doncic trade, but that doesn't mean he wants to go to places that struggle with competence.

The best bet for Milwaukee to get the significant package they'd be looking for while providing Giannis a real shot to keep competing for titles is to make a deal with the Spurs or Rockets. But, also... not the Rockets. Jeremy Sochan can tell you why.