OKC Thunder: Could Giannis Antetokounmpo be a Target in Near Future?

Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo has made it clear he's focused on playing for a team that gives him the best shot to win a title. Could the Thunder emerge as a suitor in the next few years?

Even in a league loaded with talent, there’s a case to be made that Giannis Antetokounmpo is the best player in the NBA. Just 28 years old, he’s amidst his prime and is the type of player that can carry any team to the playoffs.

Although he’s currently playing on a five-year contract with the Milwaukee Bucks that is set to expire as early as the 2024-25 season (player option in 2025-26), his future is already being discussed. As good as Milwaukee currently is, it’s an older team with key pieces in Jrue Holiday (33 years old), Khris Middleton (32) and Brook Lopez (35) that are at or near the end of their respective peaks. As such, the Bucks will have to re-work the roster eventually to ensure Antetokounmpo is satisfied and has a championship roster long-term.

With that in mind, he’s already being asked about his commitment to the team moving forward and how he views his next contract situation. 

"I'm a Milwaukee Buck, but most importantly I'm a winner...If there is a better situation for me to win the Larry O'Brien I have to take that better situation," said Antetokounmpo in a recent interview. 

While this doesn’t mean he’s not committed to the Bucks, it does bring urgency to the situation. Antetokounmpo clearly wants to play on a contender for the remainder of his career. It’s tough to put together a win-now team while also preparing for the future, which is where Milwaukee is at.

Considering those circumstances, the closer Antetokounmpo gets to the end of his contract, the more we will see a spotlight on the situation. Whether it’s via trade if he makes it clear he’s not re-signing in Milwaukee, or a free agency scenario, there’s a real chance he signs his next deal with a new team.

Considering Antetokounmpo wants to play in a city where he has the best chance of winning a title, the Oklahoma City Thunder could certainly be in the running. If he were to be available on the trade market, the price would be incredibly steep. With that in mind, no franchise is better positioned than Oklahoma City with the amount of young talent and draft capital it has. If the opportunity arises in free agency, that would become more difficult given it’s a small market, but if the Thunder are his best chance at a ring perhaps he would consider.

The way this OKC roster is being constructed, the team is a superstar away from being one of the best teams in the league. Especially if the Thunder could pair Antetokounmpo with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, two of the top 15 players in the world could make a run at a championship.

As of today, Antetokounmpo certainly isn’t available on the trade market, but if that changes or he hits free agency, that could be the move Thunder GM Sam Presti takes as his shot at to push all of his chips in. 

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