NBA executives thinks OKC in best position to land Giannis Antetokounmpo

The OKC Thunder are going through this rebuild at the speed of light, and the fan base has not had this much excitement for a season since the 2017-18 season that featured Russell Westbrook, Paul George, and Carmelo Anthony. Last season, the Oklahoma City Thunder made a massive leap in win totals from 24 to 40, with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander ascending into superstardom. With a perceived rift between Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Bucks, NBA front offices have a path for Sam Presti to pull off another heist.

Throughout the summer, NBA fans nationally and locally have pleaded with Presti about making an “All-in move” with his treasure trove of draft picks, young players, and a team that seems poised to contend for the long haul. Instead, the OKC Thunder have remained patient, not jumping at the likes of Bradley Beal, Damian Lillard, or James Harden. Giannis Antetokounmpo is showing why patience is vital.

NBA Front Office executive says the OKC Thunder are best positioned to make a run at Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo.

The OKC Thunder might not trade for a bonafide superstar; in order to keep over the hump, they might just need to stand pat and improve their complimentary pieces to this core. However, no matter where you land on that spectrum, the key is not to make that deal too early; ask the Minnesota Timberwolves. As the world turns, you never know what NBA star is lurking in the disgruntled water.

With the news of a potential divorce between Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Bucks franchise he won a championship breaking, Sean Deveney of Heavy Sports was told by a Front Office Expert that Antetokounmpo might prefer a smaller market still, despite this request, just one that is contending. Then, the conversation narrowed in on who that small market surprise could be.

“No one would be in a better position to go after him than OKC,” the executive told Deveney. “Not to say they would, but they’d have to be a starting point. They have the young talent, they have, I think it is nine (first-round) picks in the next three years. If Milwaukee decides, OK, we’ve got to move on here, that is the first team you call. There aren’t many guys who are going to make the Thunder think about a big move, packaging the assets. But Giannis [Antetokounmpo] is one if he’d want to go there.”

Pairing Shai Gilgeous-Alexander with Giannis Antetokounmpo is mouth-watering for OKC Thunder fans, especially if Sam Presti can pull this move off while keeping at least one or two other core four members together.

Balancing who to sacrifice and how many picks to give up would be the difficult part of the equation for Presti, who has often gotten the better end of these deals.

Adding Giannis Antetokounmpo would make the OKC Thunder an instant title contender. This is why you wait on the all-in move for as long as possible, to pounce at the perfect time. There will only be a few better options that could become available than Antetokounmpo. Do not deplete the assets too soon.