‘Best case’ Giannis leaves Bucks, Are the Spurs & Thunder are landing spots? | FIRST THINGS FIRST

‘Best case’ Giannis leaves Bucks, Are the Spurs & Thunder are landing spots? | FIRST THINGS FIRST

Live from New York, it’s the show that wants to read you a tweet. The 49ers believe QB M. Jones is still capable of being a starter. Oh, Wilds, don’t put it in the show. You don’t control this part of the show, do you? No topic bars or anything. Hey, when’s the last time you heard that? Oh, Sam Darnold. Then what happened? 14 wins and now he’s starting in Seattle. Maybe he’ll be on Nick’s most intriguing games coming up at 4:00. He’s not going to see the field. He’s behind Brock Perie. Same with Sam Darnold. It’s the Sam Darnold trajectory. Okay. So, he’ll practice wellrack and then go to another next year. Uh 4,000 yards and 14 wins. Uh Sean’s reporting this morning that Giannis is open to exploring his basketball future outside of Milwaukee. Uh here are the details. He’s got three years left on his contract which pays him around 175 million. He has a player option for 2728. So, what is your reaction to the report that Giannis is open to leaving before we talk about where he could go? I think this is oddly and kind of sadly but realistically the best thing that could happen for the Bucks. Really? Yes. Because they they’re stuck. They don’t have their draft picks basically over the next half decade. Even if one is as optimistic about Dame’s recovery as I think Dame is, it’s still next year’s gone. You know what I mean? ne next year’s wiped out and they have no path to get to championship contention during Giannis’s prime and the which means their quickest path back to one day contention is moving Giannis when he is at his value peak or close to it and I can’t imagine he was ever much more valuable maybe right after the championship but you’re still it’s still going to be a historic trade Paul, it’s not like, okay, he’s great, but we saw some cracks this No, one, I would argue he’s a better player since the championship. That he just hasn’t had the results. So, the reason I’m saying it’s best case is if he doesn’t open the door, they can’t kick it. They can’t go through it. If Giannis’s statement, if Giannis came out on the record and said, “I hope to be a Milwaukee Buck the rest of my career. I will never demand a trade.” That would be shortterm exciting and fun for the Bucks, but long-term, I don’t want to say pointless because there’s a point having them there, but you wouldn’t you you wouldn’t have this opportunity. So, it’s a sad moment and a tough moment for Bucks fans, but ultimately, I think a positive one. I actually agree with you. Um, they they don’t control their own draft pick, their first rounders for like the next five years. Um, Bobby Poris and Brook Lopez will be free agents this summer. They’ve gone through a coaching carousel. Obviously, it didn’t work out with Doc. He’s still there, but we’ll see. Do they make a change? Like Dame is out basically all of next year. They are stuck as Nick said, and so this is good for them. And there are teams, now maybe this is always the case, but there are teams that can present some nice packages. Like what they should want is a young star or two and picks and there are teams that can provide them with that. And the fans will, you know, obviously Miss Giannis, but the intelligent fans understand what Nick and I said, like we’re we’re really not going anywhere. And Giannis gave them 12 years. That’s six more than Kareem then Lou Alcender gave them. He gave them a championship. First one in 50 years or so. So look, you got what you wanted for him. And if you work together, he’ll put you in position to rebuild yourselves in the Eastern Conference. And so I I actually think it’s good for both of them. Good for Giannis because I’m if he does go ahead and say I want out. This shows to me this really shows some competitiveness that man I want to be in that top 10 of all time conversation. His numbers are ridiculous but he’s got to win championships and you know you’ve heard Bobby Portoris said he wants to win a bunch of championships. I I don’t know if it’s Poris, but somebody said he wants to and Portoris said he wants to stay in one place, but he I think he’s got to get out of there. The time is now. All right, just before we move on to the teams where he could go, is there any possible way that someone that the Bucks could do something whether it’s Dame’s contract or they they just mortgage the future even more than they already have that that Giannis can get more help or is that just No, I I don’t I don’t think that path exists. I think they are on, to use the mortgage term, they they’re already on their second mortgage and there are some leans on the property. You know what I mean? Like they they went all in smartly to get Drew and they won a championship. They then took the little bit of asset maneuverability they had left to go get Dame. They then took a last gasp like payday loan in the Chris Middleton Koozma trade honestly where it’s like ah this guy’s hurt at least this guy theoretically can give us a shot in the arm and so no like they I and by the way I don’t blame them for any of those moves. The Drew trade in the obviously worked one of a championship the same move the day it happened we all thought it made them the favorites. just didn’t play out that way. And so I I understand every step they made, but it got them here. And I think they always knew they might end up here. They just thought they’d end up here with maybe two championships, which if Giannis if Middleton doesn’t get hurt when they’re defending their Giannis doesn’t get hurt, you know, in his back in a couple years ago, maybe they do. You know what else is, and I’m not saying this to try to pile on Doc Rivers, but Adrien Griffin, their record was much better. Even though people weren’t, they obviously weren’t satisfied they fired him, but they were 30 and 13 at that point. They’ve been significantly less under Doc. And so you just I’m not going to say they would have won a championship. I don’t necessarily believe that, but it would have been interesting to see how things played out, right? So, let’s look forward and see where Giannis could go if he’s looking to recreate this championship run. Nick, which teams offer him the best chance to recapture what we’re watching right now? Okay, so listen, basically all 29 teams would love to have Giannis. So, we’re going to start with I think it’s 14 teams that theoretically if he went there, even after they traded stuff away, could contend for a championship. We can show you those teams right now. I said 14. I’m not sure. Oh, it’s 13. So, Thunder, Cavs, Celtics, Rockets, Knicks, Lakers, Nuggets, Pacers, Clippers, Timberwolves, Golden State, San Antonio, Philly. The one team that’s not on there people say should be, I might say should be is Miami. The problem in my opinion for Miami is once you to get Giannis, you have to trade Bam and a bunch of other stuff and then he’s not in a better spot than he is now. So, now Wilds, we’re going to do some process of elimination. First group to get eliminated, your favorite group. This is the that damn apron group. So that takes out Cleveland, Boston, and Minnesota. Those teams because of second apron restrictions. It there’s no there’s not a trade to be made that’s realistic that allows for that. Okay. So that group is gone. Even like an Anthony Edwards trade, Anthony doesn’t make enough money. And when you’re And you can’t if you are the second apron team, you can’t combine salaries to get one. I you hate this stuff so I didn’t explain it. Yeah. But um the the next group is the bigger group which is the flatly don’t have the assets to give up. So that’s the Lakers, the Nuggets, the Clippers, and the Warriors. Like there is the Yes, the Lakers could trade Luca for Giannis, I suppose, but that doesn’t get like that’s not for Giannis’ purposes that doesn’t put him in a drastically better position. And they’re not doing that, especially because they actually can’t trade Luca if they sign him to an extension this off seasonason. The Nuggets can’t trade. There’s no one that makes sense for that they can trade. Go ahead, Drew. Well, I I I see two teams left on there that I’m a little surprised and I know they have play the Knicks. So, I’ll get to I’ll get to them in a second. The Sixers a bit, too. Clippers don’t have the people to trade. And the Warriors, I know people love talking about the Warriors. The Warriors flatly do not have the the assets to trade. So that leaves six teams. We have to eliminate one more. And this is what we call we hate each other and Hallebertton’s daddy ruined it. Pacers are out of there. So the So that leaves us not going for Milwauke’s Durant. You’re not even going to a champion. So that leaves Oklahoma City, Houston, the Knicks, the Spurs, and the Sixers. Now, I have trades available for all these teams about what I think it would look like where those teams would still be contenders. I don’t know, Brew, how you want to take this. You seemed questioning the Knicks, but Well, I understand I if you’re talking about a Carl Anthony Towns, here’s the problem. Milwauke to me, what Milwaukee should be looking for is a young star, young, and Towns isn’t old. He’s still in his prime, but getting Carl Anthony Towns is a win now move. and in any of their other players, Hart and Anobi, whoever you might throw in, that’s about winning now. And I don’t I don’t think they’re going to be ready to win now. And then the picks, they Knicks don’t have the right. So throw up the Knicks trade first and then we can go through some of the other ones. It would be Towns and McBride. And all the Knicks can offer him as swaps, which are not that valuable, but that’s the it the I don’t want town. as good as he is. If I’m starting over, I don’t want to. Okay, so that leaves us with four left. I’m the the Sixers one. Let’s just do that because that’s one no one’s really talking about, but it’s potentially intriguing, which is Maxi, the kid who looked like he was going to win rookie of the year, McCain. I Ricky Council is just for salaries. And then Philly can include their first this year after they make it, which will be a top six pick, unless the lottery odds screw them. the Clippers first rounder in 28 and the ability to swap with the Clippers in 29. That’s depending on how bullish you know you are about the Clippers. That could be and how bullish you are on Maxi. That could be intriguing. So, and you know Daryl my like get me three stars. And then before I get to the two teams I know you’re focused on here’s the most fun one. Kevin Wilds, this one’s pretty fun. Now we got Giannis and Embiid on the same team. Giannis and Paul George. But do you want to talk about this one for a minute, Brew, before we get to the other ones? Yeah. I mean, I I really like Maxi. Um, it’s okay. I I wouldn’t I mean, it feels like Milwaukee can do better. Yes, that’s that’s the thing. It feels like Milwaukee can do better. So, here’s the simplest one there is. Send Shingun. I’m not No, I’m Hold on. Well, you you were totally fine. You wouldn’t give up Shinon. I just want to see a scenario where Shinun stays and plays with Giannis. I don’t even know if that’s what you’re doing. No, that’s not what I’m doing. And I’m not even going to Houston yet cuz I know Brew wants to focus on it. I want to go to a team that it looked like might have been down 3-1 and been called regular season frauds until a a pretty good fourth quarter. Throw up the Oklahoma City one. This one’s pretty simple. No picks. Giannische. Giannische. Why? Let’s talk about it. What do you mean? Why? Why? For who? Why? Why give up Shay? If you’re Oklahoma City, well, if they lose this round and he’s Do you know I think Giannis is better than Shay. He is, but I I I want both. I I can give them Chad Homegrren and a bunch of picks and you know, we can throw in some other stuff. Maybe even Jaylen if I have to. But I there’s I’m not giving up Shay. I I just think too Shay Chat I mean you if you want to have Giannis bring the ball up. So here’s here’s I think one of the problems for Oklahoma City. If you don’t include Shet, nobody else makes a ton. So it’s like four players you’ve got to trade. It’s because Chad doesn’t make enough yet. So it’s like Cadet plus Dort plus Caruso plus another guy. And now the And again, I also don’t know how exciting that is to Milwaukee. This if you’re in Milwaukee, you’re like, we don’t have our picks. We have league MVP. that it feels a little Anthony Davis Luca. You wouldn’t trade. I think Giannis is better. I don’t think that fits. Giannis, Cadet, Harden Stain. I I mean, they’re tall as all. Get out. They’d be an They’d be They were already the best defensive team. They have whatever. No. 15 first round picks of this. But why not just Oh, I’d give a bunch. I give up a ton of pick. I give a ton of picks and keep SGA. if I have to give up Harden Steam like and again I do I do agree with you that Giannis is better but he’s also older he’s not about to win the MVP and Shay just he’s a great fit there and I I just the if they I I understand that I just think if I were the Thunder I’d be like it’s he’s not that much older than Shay and he’s better and then there’s the two that Brew likes the most and the ones everyone’s talking about Houston, which is a pretty straightforward one. And those are that’s the best package so far other than the Shay package. And you’re saying you want to keep Shingun. I think Shinon and Giannis are a little redundant. I know. And then neither like you have them both on the court at the same time. Those Phoenix picks are great. That’s the one you If I’m Milwaukee, I want instead of Landal, I I’m I want uh Jabari Smith Jr. Oh, now you’re giving up a lot. Hey, you want to get I mean you are like Houston is right there taking everybody as far as a championship, but then you’re not going to get both of the Phoenix picks if you’re Oh, you know what I mean? Because at some point you can’t give up every you can’t give up Shingoon’s an all-star. Reed Shepard was a top five pick. Those Phoenix picks are wildly valuable. If you’re also making me give up Jabari Smith, right, I might give back one of those. I mean, if I can get Smith cuz he’s a he’s a shooter. He looked good in the last series. Shenon is inside, can’t shoot. Reed Shepard, if I’m Milwaukee, I love him cuz I I actually think he’s going to be good, but I’m downplaying him to Houston. Like, I don’t know if this kid can play and get get on the court for you. But those two with Jabari, that’s like three young starters. Yep. And then I got a bunch of picks. So, I love that. But there’s one more. I might like the other one. All right, here’s the last one. And this one, it’s kind of a poperri of picks. Keep in mind you could maybe replace some of those with depending on how the lottery balls bounce tonight where the Spurs pick ends up being. Spurs have a 26% chance of top four and 6% chance of number one overall. Right now, they’re slotted at the if the lottery stays static at the eighth pick. So, we could maybe change it. Uh it so it really depends on you know what path Milwaukee wants to take. This is the picks and Stefon Castle Bills only has one year left. That’s kind of a salary dump. And so that’s those are the those are to me your realistic possibilities. And by the way before you go all of these trades work by that work I mean salaries match and the they’re not fake made up like you put them into the trade machines and they worked. Go ahead. what I would like to see, and I I honestly would be I would love either one of those Texas teams, the Spurs or the uh Rockets. I personally would love to see him in San Antonio. I mean, can you imagine that defense with Wimi and and Giannis? Be amazing. Well, that’s kind of what I was thinking with OKC. Ridiculous. with but but neither I mean Chad is a good defender and obviously Hardenstein is playing great against Joic but I just think you lose a lot of offense with with Shay like who’s getting your shot now we know Giannis doesn’t really have a go-to shot um but it San Antonio would be phenomenal if I’m if I’m Giannis I’m like that’s a franchise that obviously is a tremendous franchise pop is still there they’ve been great with international players for Wimby Wimby could possibly and actually should win championships as a young player with Giannis and then you transition and he becomes the the number one guy like a Duncan Robinson. Yeah, kind of. And and now if I’m Milwaukee though, I like Houston’s better. Shingune is a legit star that I’m not saying he can’t even become more than a star like and how much better would he be in the East? Yeah, I mean he he he’d kill and then you’re getting Shephard and and maybe Jabari Smith and all those people. Like if I’m Milwaukee, I want Houston and I think they they’ll work with Giannis and Houston would be an immediate contender right with him. So I think that could work. That’s probably what I see happening. Okay, more news as the story develops. Right now we’re talking about Thunder Nuggets. Thunder tied the series 2-2 uh with a game four win in Denver. SGA was great in the fourth. Joic on one of the coldest streaks of his career, shooting below 40% on 15 or more shots for his third straight game. It’s the first time in his career that has happened. Your reaction, Brew? Well, we’ve never seen him struggle like this. Um, and it shows that as great as he is, size when somebody is as big as him, and I don’t think Hardenstein’s as strong as him, but you know, he’s got some strength, that bothers him because he’s not used to seeing that in today’s tall guy, right? like so you’re hardest things got you and then check can always come to help and that’s and they’re a great defensive team as it is. So um you’re just not in today’s NBA used to banging down low like that. I mean MB destroys him when they play. He goes for 40 all the time against Joic and you saw Zubot give him trouble too and I think he’s a big it’s not an excuse. I’m not making any excuses for him, but I think it’s wearing him down a little bit and he’s having to play a little faster than he’s used to playing. And that’s why his shots are short. He’s missing free throws more than he usually does. But here’s the deal. When it comes to Giannis, when it comes to LeBron, when it comes to Luca, we get on him. Steph, when they don’t deliver, if they lose this series, and I get it, Oklahoma City, even though I’ve picked Denver, looks like the better team. Yes. I mean close but they are even the game three that they lost they led most it’s close you know Denver would tie it and then OKC would go ahead like they’re they look slightly better but the games are close enough and Aaron Gordon’s playing the best ball of his life Joic is the guy for Denver that’s not playing to his normal level and so if they lose this it’s on him cuz it’s right there for them they’re the more experienced team and so they can win this if he will be who he usually is. And listen, the So, a couple of things bouncing off what you said. It’s the first time he struggled in a series since the 2020 Lakers series where they had Anthony Davis playing the role of Chad Homegrren and Dwight Howard playing the role of Isaiah Hartinstein. Now, you know what I mean? Where it’s you you could throw two. It’s what Darin Ham thought they were going to do with Ruie playing one of those roles. But it was like that you have a guy who can alter a shot then a guy who can bump him. Like that’s a hard path for anybody. It is a reminder that in my lifetime and honestly, Brew, maybe even your lifetime, there’s only two guys who went damn near a decade and never had a bad series. Jordan from 90 to 98, LeBron from 12 to 20. Every every whoever else your favorite player is, it is littered with bad series here, bad series there. And we got kind of, you know, we went straight from Jordan basically into LeBron. Shaq had like a four-year stretch of it. Duncan had a three-year stretch of it, but we’re talking about five, six, seven years. And it’s like, oh, that guy was never bad. It It’s really only not even Kareem could could say that. So, it’s not an indictment of Joic. It is a bummer for Joic because had he played better yesterday, they’re in great shape to win a championship. They’re up 3-1. I would be I will be picking them against whomever comes out of the other. Well, not whomever. That’ll be interesting because Minnesota’s had their number. Yes. But I I think Minnesota has played poorly in four straight games now and somehow they’re up 2-1, right? And the the East, we don’t know who’s coming out of it. Like they were going to be in I you you think you know who’s coming out of it, but the they were going to be and they still might. I kept I was saying Denver just wants to make it a best of five, then a best of three, then a best of one. But they had an opportunity after scoring eight points in the first quarter, being up six in the third. It’s an opportunity to seize control when Shay wasn’t good and Jaylen Williams was terrible and they couldn’t quite close. So, that’s just a bummer. It’s not an indictment on him, but it’s a bummer. Thanks for watching. Subscribe here to get more from the show and to check out clips from other shows on FS1.

Giannis Antetokounmpo said that he is open to leaving the Milwaukee Bucks. Nick Wright, Chris Broussard, and Kevin Wildes discuss where the best landing spots for Giannis are. Plus, they debate the reasons why Nikola Jokić is struggling against the Oklahoma City Thunder.

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‘Best case’ Giannis leaves Bucks, Are the Spurs & Thunder are landing spots? | FIRST THINGS FIRST

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