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Is trading for Giannis Antetokounmpo the right move for Oklahoma City? | The Kevin O'Connor Show

Kevin O'Connor and DNVR's Adam Mares discuss online scuttlebutt that the Oklahoma City Thunder should target a trade for Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo, following Milwaukee's stagnant 2-8 start to the season. Obviously trading for a star of Giannis' caliber sounds incredible on paper, but Kevin & Adam pour a little cold water on why the idea may not be the best stylistic fit for Giannis or the Thunder.

Hear the full conversation on “The Kevin O’Connor Show” and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or wherever you listen.

Video Transcript

There was some stuff bubbling up on social media that the Thunder should trade for Giannis or at least try to trade for Giannis or that the Bucks should try to trade Giannis to the Thunder.

I'm not totally sold on that being the best decision for OKC.

Um You know, I've, I've thought about this back and forth, like if the situation were to come up, it's hard to say no to trade for Giannis.

But assuming you'd have to give up, you know, a Jalen Williams and a bunch of picks and an Isaiah Heartens ST salary.

There, there might be some diminishing returns with Giannis on OKC and stylistically you think about the way OKC plays is, is Giannis really the guy that you want to go all in for with the picks that you have if you're OKC or is it, are you looking elsewhere here?

Would you trade for Yannis?

The opportunity is there?

You're on the phone with the Bucks.

They want eight first round draft picks.

Jalen Williams.

Isaiah Hartenstein.

Are you doing that?

I don't know if I love Chet and like Giannis, that's, I don't know if that'd be the way I would, I would pair this.

So if that was the deal, I'm not so certain, what I will say is that what really stands out when you play the Oklahoma City?

Thunder is how many athletes they have?

They have a lot, they have length but they have speed, they have strength.

And if you somehow added Giannis to the mix of the head, I think it might be overwhelming that I already thought they might be overwhelming athletically with Lou Dort and Cason Wallace and all the different people they can put on ball.

Shea obviously requires an athlete to guard him.

So you have to have a guy occupied there and then Chet as an athlete and all over, if you added Giannis to the any, even if you lost to Jalen Williams and you added Giannis to the mix, I'd be like, what team athletically just matches up.

Somebody on the court is going to be at a massive athletic disadvantage at some position that they can punish you for.

So I probably would take it.

And then the worst thing is you get Giannis and it doesn't work out, guess who's gonna fetch you.

Another great player, Giannis like you put him back on the market.

Teams would be like, oh, he's available again.

It'll work in our system.

It's true.

I mean, I mean, you could easily flip him if, if necessary, but we'll see, we'll see with Oklahoma City.

I, I think what we're going to see them do is buy their time play this small ball edition until Hardens gets back.

I mean, what they did against the, against Harden tonight was really impressive.

It like one possession.

It's Caruso, the next position is Jayen Williams and then it's J Dub and then it's the SG A and then it's Thor.

Yes, exactly.

They have so many great athletic defensive guards and, and then against Zuba, like, I know Zat scored a bit later in the game, but it, I don't think it looked like he had ever dealt with hands that quick, getting swarmed by smaller guys, double team guys in the passing lanes causing a turnover, first possession of the, of the game, really impressive game plan by Oklahoma City tonight.

And that's one thing I'll say about them dag Nal, one of the most adaptable, one of the best coaches in the NBA.

And if there's anybody that you can trust to help improve this team or figure out this mix without Chet for a while, I think it's gonna be bag all.