The chances of the Nuggets being involved in an inevitable Giannis Antetokounmpo trade are slim to none. But that doesn’t mean the trade won’t have massive ramifications for Denver. Three teams that appear to be poised to strike as soon as the Bucks start fielding calls are three of the Nuggets’ chief rivals in the current West: the Thunder, Spurs, and Rockets.
As crazy as it may seem, those teams have as good of trade package as anyone. OKC has a mountain of draft picks saved up. They could overwhelm Milwaukee with picks and throw in a handful of solid young players while keeping SGA, Jalen Williams, and Chet Holmgren. It’s not crazy to think the defending champs, who are off to a 22-1 start, could bring in Giannis to pair with the reigning MVP.
The Spurs are in the same boat, oozing with young talent while also being loaded with picks. There’s a chance they could keep Victor Wembanyama, Stephon Castle, and Dylan Harper Jr. while putting together a competitive package full of young players and picks.
And the Rockets have an equally appealing combination of young talent and draft assets. They could bring Giannis to Houston, putting him alongside the likes of Kevin Durant, Alperen Sengun, Amen Thompson, and whoever else is left after the trade.
Giannis trade could close Jokic’s window sooner than expected
The scary thing is that those teams are all on Denver’s level already. Adding Giannis could push them into another tier that the Nuggets simply can’t reach. They took big swings to get the roster they’ve got now, and the Kroenkes aren’t going to pay through their teeth to keep adding stars to the roster.
They’re going to have to make due with what they’ve got, which seems reasonable enough, but still challenging. The challenge, as it stands, is a big one, but adding Giannis to one of these teams could make things seem nearly impossible.
For example, if the Rockets or Spurs added Giannis without giving up any of their top three players, those teams would immediately vault to a tier above the Nuggets. That means Denver would be chasing two superteams in their own conference, in the Thunder and whichever team gets the Greek Freak.
That’s not even factoring in that the team out of the Rockets and Spurs that doesn’t get Giannis will still be very good. Plus, you’ve got the Lakers, Timberwolves, and others already nipping at your heels. It’s already going to be an uphill battle to win another title or two during the Jokic era, but if Giannis gets detail to the West, that window could get even tighter in a hurry.