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If Giannis Antetokounmpo demands a trade: Ranking the favorites

ByDuncan Smith|
LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA - SEPTEMBER 04: Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks reacts during the third quarter against the Miami Heat in Game Three of the Eastern Conference Second Round during the 2020 NBA Playoffs at the Field House at the ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on September 04, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA - SEPTEMBER 04: Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks reacts during the third quarter against the Miami Heat in Game Three of the Eastern Conference Second Round during the 2020 NBA Playoffs at the Field House at the ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on September 04, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
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Giannis Antetokounmpo
Giannis Antetokounmpo (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)

5. New Orleans Pelicans

The New Orleans Pelicans are a surprising name to find on this list, but according to BetOnline, they’re in a three-way tie for third at +500. At a glance, this might not seem like the most natural fit, but it makes more sense if you look a bit deeper at their wealth of assets.

Thanks to literally winning the lottery in the 2019 NBA draft with Zion Williamson, they have a treasure trove of assets, and that’s what it’s going to take to get Giannis. The Pelicans have three of the next four Los Angeles Lakers first-round picks as well as a handful of second-round picks over the next few seasons and their own firsts, and they have Zion and Brandon Ingram.

While there are no reports to suggest this might happen, nor any reason to suspect that Giannis desires to play in New Orleans or sign an extension if he was traded there, if the Pelicans simply decided to throw everything into a deal, maybe this is enough.

Probably not.

4. Philadelphia 76ers

This one strains credulity a bit. The Sixers don’t have much in the way of positive assets, thanks to the self-immolation conducted against their war-chest over the last few years. Al Horford is a vastly negative asset, Tobias Harris doesn’t get the job done, and there’s no way that Ben Simmons moves the needle for the Bucks.

There’s likely no combination of Joel Embiid-plus-stuff that makes a deal work. However, the Sixers are in the betting mix at +500, right in that three-way tie.