Mock Trade: Thunder Lands Bucks' Superstar

The Oklahoma City Thunder has built the team through years of solid drafting and patience. Now, they've got an elite arsenal of draft picks mixed with plenty of young talent that's ready to be developed over the years.

However, the Milwaukee Bucks are at the opposite of the spectrum. They're a small market team that has had to build like the Thunder -- through the draft and trades. They've done so well, as it resulted in a championship win over the Phoenix Suns in 2021.

Since the championship, they've struggled with injuries and upsets. With an aging core outside of Giannis Antetokounmpo, the Bucks are going to run into a crossroads as a team in the building aspect. They've got negative trade assets and the only real way out is to load up on assets and build through the draft once again.

Antetokounmpo has also made his goals clear. He wants a championship-caliber team in Milwaukee and a team hungry for nothing but a championship. That may not be viable due to the fact of an aging core.

A team that's up-and-coming that will soon be in the search for a championship? The Thunder. This, along with the arsenal of draft picks leaves the two as a perfect trade partnership.

While it's unlikely the Thunder would make a trade this substantial while at this stage of the team's rebuild, here's a proposed trade from the NBA Analysis Network:

Milwaukee Bucks Receive: F Davis Bertans, G/F Luguentz Dort, G/F Victor Oladpio, G/F Josh Giddey, 2024 First-Round Pick (Top 4 Protected – HOU via OKC), 2025 First-Round Pick (OKC), 2026 First-Round Pick (LAC via OKC), 2027 First-Round Pick (OKC), 2028 First-Round Pick (Swap – OKC), 2029 First-Round Pick (Swap – OKC)

Oklahoma City Thunder Receives: F/C GIannis Antetokounmpo

Thunder fans would look at this package as too much given up. It's a lot, but it's what would be needed to get a player like Antetokounmpo anymore. A young, high-upside player and has plenty of picks for a franchise-changing superstar.

Again, it's highly unlikely the Thunder -- at this stage -- would even consider a trade this substantial.

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