The earthquake from the removal of the Milwaukee Bucks at the hands of the Indiana Pacers is felt in the form of a potential Giannis Anteto compo, but what if they landed James Harden 2.0 on the contract?
This is a fascinating question proposed by NBA analyst Chris Mannicks to the Milwaukee Bucks.
The focus shifted firmly into a critical offseason where the Bucks barely placed gloves on Pacer in a 4-1 elimination.
Giannis Antetokounmpo wants a roster that includes the title around him, and Damian Lillard’s injury makes that path even more cruel.
The Bucks also have the option to blow it all away and reset it by trading Antetokounmpo, and netting James Harden 2.0 in the process may help ease the blow.
Antetokounmpo put his efforts on Herculean in the 4-1 series defeat and put their one championship of his time with the Bucks at the center of everything.
Therefore, for the Bucks to bounce this way with the hands of the resurrected Pacer side, they leave management in the face of unpleasant questions.
The main thing is potentially trading Antetocompo, as his ability to improve the roster around him is so intense that he has Lillard’s injury.
NBA analyst Chris Mannicks urged the Bucks to launch a bid war between two young and exciting teams for the services of Antetokounmpo.
Mannix said: “It’s a long way to go to that series, but if you bow in two rounds for the second year in a row. Shygilgauss Alexander is young, so they may start to get a little desperate, but he’s not that young.
“Lu Dort is young, but he’s not that young. They’re not a bunch of 21-year-olds with long, long runways. They’re a team with his Prime stars and leave the right MVP season. They’re a team that can make big offers.
“And if I’m Milwaukee and I can choose a Jalen Green (on the rocket) offer and a bunch of draft picks, I can pick all the draft picks that Oklahoma City has to offer.
“I think he’s that talented. If you have the opportunity to pick two teams in your star bidding war to get the rebuilding package of the other teams your star has got, I think it’s cheating to not actively go there and do that.”
Mannix’s virtual trade scenario summarises the fact that the Oklahoma City Thunder effectively has the fate of the NBA on its finger.
They are in an enviable position to have a real superstar with a championship ceiling, in addition to a horde of draft picks.
Executive of the Year winner Sam Presty does an incredible job, so the Thunder can see if their current roster is enough to go all the way, or if it’s enough to pivot for the stars and improve it even further.
That’s where Jalen Williams comes in. He showed a flash of Superstardom, but may need his own team to unlock another level of his game.
Given that Shy Gilgauss Alexander and Chet Holmgren are out of hand, Jalen Williams is the Thunder’s best trade asset to attach to their picks.
If the Bucks are thinking of pressing the reset button on the current roster, it’s easy to invite lightning to the table, and Williams “Harden 2.0” is at the heart of these discussions.