The Denver Nuggets aren't part of the Giannis Antetokounmpo sweepstakes, but that doesn't mean they don't have a horse in the race (that one was for Jokić). Keeping him out of the West entirely is the hope, and the latest report from Marc Stein and Jake Fischer of The Stein Line reiterated that is what will likely happen (subscription required):
Sources close to the process consistently say that they believe that Miami is at the top of Antetokounmpo's current wish list but likewise continue to whisper that the idea of landing in Boston is still in his thoughts somewhere.
As if that isn't enough, they wrote that the belief is still that Antetokounmpo is "determined" to stay in the East.
Nuggets shouldn't have to worry about Giannis in the West
Portland is a team that has expressed interest in an Antetokounmpo trade, and could put together the most enticing package. The Trail Blazers control the Bucks' first-round picks from 2028-2030 because of the Damian Lillard trade, and, as Stein and Fischer wrote, Milwaukee wants to "reacquire some measure" of those picks back.
If Antetokounmpo, who has a $62.8 million player option for 2027-28, doesn't want to be in Portland long term, that could derail a deal entirely. He wants to compete for another championship, and staying in the East will mean he doesn't have to face teams like the Nuggets, Spurs, Thunder, Timberwolves, and Lakers to get there.
Of course, it also benefits Denver. Nikola Jokić has one title, like Giannis, and the Nuggets should approach the offseason with the intention of helping him get another. There are enough hurdles they'd need to make it over to get there, including one that stands seven-foot-four, and they don't need to deal with another in Antetokounmpo.
The Bucks want a trade to happen before the draft, which is just two weeks away, and if one does, it feels like it will be to the Heat, unless the Celtics want to get crazy and part with Jaylen Brown. Either outcome would work just fine for the Nuggets.
Now, if the Trail Blazers decided they want to make an aggressive push for Giannis without caring whether he truly wants to be there, that could be a problem for Denver. The same goes for the Thunder, which would be a dream trade partner for the Bucks, but they're good enough as is without Antetokounmpo.
Let's hope that neither one of those scenarios, nor any other involving a team in the West, becomes reality over the next couple of weeks.
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