4 Blockbuster trades to send Giannis Antetokounmpo to his preferred destinations

The Milwaukee Bucks are 1-6, in last place in the Eastern Conference. They have lost to the Brooklyn Nets and Chicago Bulls, were destroyed by the Memphis Grizzlies, and just lost both legs of a home-and-home with the Cleveland Cavaliers. Their season is on the precipice of disaster, and the shockwaves would likely stretch far beyond just this one year.

Giannis Antetokounmpo, the face of the franchise, a two-time MVP and current Top-5 player in the league, has made it quite plain in comments over the past couple of years that while he loves playing in Milwaukee, his No. 1 goal is to compete for championships. If the Bucks cannot help him do that, he is almost certain to ask for a trade.

Who would be in the running for a Giannis trade?

NBA Insider Marc Stein recently reported on what the Giannis trade landscape looks like around the league, and he provided a "credible list" of which teams were likely to be in the running. Those four teams: the Golden State Warriors, the Miami Heat, the Brooklyn Nets and the New York Knicks.

Trading for Giannis Antetokounmpo is no easy task. A team has to put together a package of players, prospects and draft picks strong enough to entice the Bucks to move off of their franchise superstar. On top of that, the Bucks are above the second luxury tax apron, so a trade has to either offload enough salary for the Bucks to get under that apron (around $6 million) or the Bucks are limited to just sending out one player (Giannis) and taking back less salary than he makes.

Those restrictions are significant and three of the four suitors for Antetokounmpo that Stein named (with the understanding other teams could get into the discussion) face tax apron restrictions of their own. Most likely, any deal for Antetokounmpo will need to include a third team. That is not a deal-breaker, but it injects complexity into any discussion of a trade package.

Can all four of those teams put together a trade offer for Antetokounmpo that checks all of the boxes - one that is enticing for the Bucks, realistic for the team making the offer, and manages to navigate all of the salary restrictions involved? Let's step into the shoes of all four front offices and try to build just such a trade package.

We will start by taking our talents to South Beach.