The Athletic recently revealed the results of its annual Anonymous NBA Player Poll. They surveyed 161 players across the Association this year. That represents approximately one-third of the league's talent pool.
Among the topics The Athletic wanted to pick the brains of the NBA's labor force about was where Giannis Antetokounmpo will play next season.
Of the 151 players who weighed in, 45.7 percent of them expressed their belief that the two-time league MVP will remain with the Milwaukee Bucks.
While it certainly could bear out, it's a surprising sentiment. It also requires a crucial piece of context. Those who took part in this survey did so before Bucks owner Jimmy Haslam declared that they would resolve this situation before the draft on Jun. 23. Either Antetokounmpo commits to the extension he is eligible for on Oct. 1, or they will find a new NBA home for him.
Maybe that would have swayed some of the 69 participants who stated that they think he will continue his career in Milwaukee.
Where do players think Giannis will go if the Bucks trade him?
Again, maybe the overwhelming majority who voted that the 10-time All-Star will continue to suit up for the only NBA franchise he's ever known are proven correct. However, it's more likely than ever that the two sides are in for a divorce, even if it's amicable.
Milwaukee has the tenth overall pick in a draft where that selection could go toward a promising prospect like Mikel Brown Jr., Nate Ament, or Yaxel Lendeborg. Still, the Bucks may not have a strong enough pool of assets to build a title contender around Antetokounmpo next season.
It seems like the organization would disregard that to retain the face of their franchise. That's understandable. However, the other half of this partnership may not feel the same way. The nine-time All-NBA selection turns 32 in December. He has dealt with injuries and is running out of opportunities to be a driving force on a championship team. Squandering another year after Milwaukee didn't even make the play-in tournament may be unpalatable.
If the Bucks trade Antetokounmpo, this survey's participants believe he will most likely end up with the Miami Heat. It's worth noting that since the 2020-21 Finals MVP can opt out of his contract after the 2026-27 campaign, he will have significant leverage in where he winds up.
The Heat have been among the most aggressive teams pursuing his services. They also have a history of successfully luring stars to South Beach. At his end-of-season press conference, Pat Riley declared he will never trade Bam Adebayo unless he gets eight picks and Victor Wembanyama. If Miami's star center isn't going anywhere, that means two things.
One, Riley's offer to Milwaukee will be very beatable. Secondly, how far does a tandem of Antetokounmpo and Adebayo lead the Heat? Perhaps they find a way to fortify the roster around those two. However, to win an NBA title, that combination will need a much better supporting cast than Miami had this year. Accomplishing that after pulling off a deal for a top-five player is an incredibly difficult feat.
After the Heat, the New York Knicks received 16.6 percent of the votes, the third-most. From there, the confidence in him joining a different franchise plummeted. The Los Angeles Lakers, who garnered just 3.3 percent of the votes, came in fourth.
The Boston Celtics did not receive a single vote from the players projecting Antetokounmpo's future. Perhaps if they had filled out this survey after the team's first-round exit, that would have changed.
However, in this author's opinion, the idea of trading Jaylen Brown for an older star with durability concerns, knowing this deal could blow up in the Celtics' faces before the next postseason arrives, seems like an ill-advised gamble.
It's a tempting opportunity, but how many years should a team, including the Bucks, expect Antetokounmpo to be a top-two player on a championship team? The answer might be three at the most. Then you have to wonder if he'll stay healthy through each of those playoff runs.
Championship windows close even faster under this more punitive collective bargaining agreement. However, opting for increased volatility and future uncertainty doesn't seem like Boston's best path forward. To a degree, it's a desperation attempt from a franchise that doesn't need to go that route.
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