Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo is easily the hottest name on the trade market, and the OKC Thunder are viewed as a team with enough assets to realistically execute such a blockbuster.
Though they haven't been rumored to be one of the clubs with the strongest interest in the big man, they are one of the teams the rest of the league would be terrified of should Giannis fall into their lap.
Regardless of where he winds up landing this trade season, Bill Simmons believes that prospective buyers must be wary, as he issued a warning concerning the two-time MVP on his podcast earlier this week.
"I'd be really nervous to (trade for Giannis.) To me, with Giannis, if they were like, 'Hey, no, he's going be back in late March, you should trade for him.' It's like somebody offering you the nicest car ever. And it's like it was just in the shop for the seventh time, but it's going to be great," Simmons said.
Simmons' comments highlight a fact that no one seems to be talking about -- Giannis has been no stranger to the injury report since entering the league, including his latest health-related ailment that has him sitting out for at least the next four to six weeks.
Combine these "trips to the shop" with the fact that he is currently playing in his 13th year in the league, and the team that ends up acquiring the superstar will be bringing a lot of miles onto their locker room.
Thunder simply don't need to add more risk for the reward
Not only is Giannis not expected to be back until at least a month and a half after the deadline, but the Thunder would be unloading hordes of assets for a reward they wouldn't even see until close to the end of the regular season.
At that point, OKC would be banking on the hope that Giannis returns to his All-Star form in time for the postseason.
And even if this were to happen, the Thunder would have to learn an entirely new brand of basketball on the fly, as bringing on such a star would require offensive adjustments from everyone on the roster, including current reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
With teams taking their competitiveness up a notch every time they face the defending champs, taking multiple games to find a new offensive identity is not a luxury they can afford.
Taking such a gamble is simply not a risk a first-place team needs to make, especially not one with an entire roster full of championship players.
OKC likely will have to sit and hope Giannis goes somewhere that doesn't pose a significant threat to their title hopes.
Teams like the Timberwolves, Pistons, and Nuggets could become public enemy number one if they pull off such a trade without unloading too much of their cores.
As of now, only time will tell where Giannis lands and what shape he will be in.