Dallas Basketball

The Facts - and Fiction - of Giannis Antetokounmpo to the Mavericks

While a Doncic-Antetokounmpo merger would be championship-worthy, it doesn't seem likely.

Keenan Womack

Dec 9, 2022; Dallas, Texas, USA; Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic (77) and Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) in action during the game between the Dallas Mavericks and the Milwaukee Bucks at the American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
Dec 9, 2022; Dallas, Texas, USA; Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic (77) and Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) in action during the game between the Dallas Mavericks and the Milwaukee Bucks at the American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images / Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
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Rumors have been swirling on Twitter/X about a possible Giannis Antetokounmpo signing in Dallas if the Milwaukee Bucks were to struggle to get to another championship this year, but they are just rumors for a reason, as there are several obstacles in the way to prevent such a signing from happening.

For one thing, Antetokounmpo isn't an unrestricted free agent until 2027, and it would require the star to request a trade in order for him to leave Milwaukee, where he won a championship in 2021. The franchise also added Damian Lillard last offseason, giving Antetokounmpo an elite running mate.

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The simple numbers don't add up, either. When looking at cap space, having two players on contracts like Luka Doncic's and Antetokounmpo's would severely restrict the franchise's ability to supplement the roster with additional pieces. As good as the pair would be, there have been many instances of failed super teams due to the fact that they lack elite role players.

Given that Kyrie Irving will be a free agent in the 2025 class, it is more realistic to think that if he departs, the contract could work, but even then, Antetokounmpo is set to make $54 million, then $58 million, then $62 million in the next three years. As much as the Mavericks are paying Irving, his contract doesn't touch those numbers, as his deal is in the $40 million range this season. Plus, they may re-sign Irving anyway.

As fun as it is to imagine the possibility of a Luka Doncic-Giannis Antetokounmpo pick-and-roll and the havoc the two would wreak in transition, the actual facts of the case don't point to this being a realistic fantasy. It's in fact much more likely that Antetokounmpo re-signs once again with the team that drafted him for a confluence of reasons, not the least of which is that the Bucks will be able to offer him more money than any other team will.

Any trade is also unlikely, as the Mavericks do not have what would be needed to acquire a player of Antetokounmpo's stature; frankly, they do not have a ton of draft capital, and even if they did, it would be a difficult sell for the Bucks to trade their most important player in franchise history.

The NBA will probably have to keep dreaming about Giannis Antetokounmpo landing anywhere other than the team that drafted him in Milwaukee.

READ MORE: Klay Thompson Believes Mavericks 'Can Do Something Special'

Stick with MavericksGameday for more coverage of the Dallas Mavericks throughout the NBA offseason. 

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Keenan Womack
KEENAN WOMACK

Keenan Womack is a sportswriter native to Dallas, Texas, who has spent the last 12 years in Austin, the home of his alma mater, the University of Texas. Keenan has covered sports for SB Nation, Bleacher Report, Rivals/Orangebloods, a host of his own sites and now, Fan Nation. Focusing on basketball, Keenan was on the beat for the Longhorns hoops team for the last two-and-a-half years before moving on to pursue other opportunities. He is married and lives with his wife close to the Moody Center, so they can continue to catch games together.

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