Windhorst Doubts Bucks Could Command Mega Draft Haul for Antetokounmpo
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ESPN analyst Brian Windhorst believes the market for massive draft-pick packages has cooled, even for superstars such as Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Speaking on the April 2 episode of The Hoop Collective, Windhorst said front offices are hesitant to surrender “four first-round picks for anybody,” citing the NBA’s new second-apron rules and a growing reluctance to build expensive, inflexible rosters.
“There ain’t going to be any five first-round pick trades,” Windhorst stated. “That’s just not going to happen.” He pointed to Boston’s recent cap-driven makeover as an example of what executives are trying to avoid.
Windhorst added that his outlook applies primarily to stars in their 30s carrying maximum-salary contracts. Antetokounmpo, a two-time MVP who turns 31 this weekend, fits that description. Still, the reporter acknowledged that “all it takes is one aggressive team” to upend the trend.
Despite the caution, blockbuster deals have not vanished entirely. Less than six months ago, the Orlando Magic sent four first-round picks—three of them unprotected—to acquire Desmond Bane, a player who has yet to make an All-Star team.
Whether that recent precedent would translate to an Antetokounmpo trade remains uncertain, but Windhorst’s conversations with decision-makers suggest clubs are currently approaching draft capital with greater restraint.
Source: Hoops Wire
