Should Brooklyn Nets-Giannis Antetokounmpo be traded?

Here we go again.

Before trading Mikal Bridges to the New York Knicks, the Brooklyn Nets were considering using their future to bring in another star to the franchise. Donovan Mitchell was a top target, but after the Cleveland Cavaliers guard agreed to a three-year, $150.3 million contract, Brooklyn turned its attention to a full rebuild.

Developing his own talent is a top priority for rookie head coach Jordi Fernandez, but few players in the league are worthy of a completely new look at the future. Giannis Antetokounmpo is one of them.

According to Bill Reiter of CBS Sports, the Milwaukee Bucks star could soon leave the organization he has been a part of for more than a decade. If he chooses this route, the Nets are on his short list of desired destinations.

“I heard the teams are Miami and New York—the Nets, not the Knicks,” the Eastern Conference executive said in a CBS Sports report.

Brooklyn got burned by the infamous James Harden trade in 2021, a deal that forced general manager Sean Marks to reacquire one of the Nets’ picks sent to the Houston Rockets for the then-disgruntled guard. The pairing didn’t work out, and the rest is history.

While he certainly has the assets needed to acquire a player of Antetokounmpo’s caliber, is it really worth it? Granted, it had only been five games, but Brooklyn’s early performances were not indicative of the team’s recovery. The Nets have been competitive in every contest, potentially indicating that things are moving faster than expected.

It seems almost impossible to gauge Antetokounmpo’s value because the idea that he could be available is insane in itself. If Marks feels the risk outweighs the reward, the former NBA Finals MVP could soon find himself suiting up at Barclays Center.

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