With their astonishing collection of future draft picks and promising young prospects, the Oklahoma City Thunder seemingly have the ability to construct the best trade package for disgruntled Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Of course, considering they are already the defending champions, boast the best record in the league at 24-2, and are the odds-on favorites to take home the 2026 Larry O'Brien Trophy, they don't necessarily need to add him to their arsenal to be the most dangerous team in the association.
According to NBA insider Marc Stein, the recent word around the league is that Sam Presti and company feel this way as well.
Thunder are not expected to make a run at Giannis Antetokounmpo trade
In a recent intel drop, Stein revealed that there's a "growing belief" that the Thunder aren't interested in joining the league-wide chase for an Antetokounmpo blockbuster this season should the Bucks officially put him on the trade block.
This should come as little surprise to anyone familiar with Oklahoma City's front office, as GM Sam Presti has proven throughout his tenure to be averse to making splashy, in-season transactions, specifically going on record last year, noting that they "always bring with them a lot of risk."
The truth of the matter is, the Thunder are more than equipped to run things back as NBA Champions this season and over the course of the next several to come, thanks to their already stellar assortment of star power in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams, and Chet Holmgren, enviably deep talent pool, and their truly elite coaching staff.
Considering it would not only cost the franchise a boatload of picks and a ton of players who make up their current top-seeded rotation, but also have their already second-apron pushing payroll commit to a whopping $175 million with his newly activated three-year max deal, though it may sound odd, the cons of bringing on Giannis mid-season seem to outweigh the pros significantly.
Per Stein's report, it appears Presti shares in this sentiment.
Interestingly enough, joining them on the anti-Giannis trade train are the Houston Rockets and arguably the most feared landing spot for his services outside of OKC, the San Antonio Spurs.
So while the vast majority of the NBA is keeping close tabs on the Greek Freak's fizzling relationship with the Bucks, the Thunder are one of three teams that seem content with bowing out of the sweepstakes well before they've even officially gotten started.