Following the emphatic series loss in the Eastern Conference Finals, the Cleveland Cavaliers profile as one of the most interesting teams this offseason. The Cavs are thoroughly in “win-now” mode, and they have linked to a player that fits that timeline in Giannis Antetokounmpo. While the Cavs have had interest for several months now, Antetokounmpo may not be reciprocating those feelings.
According to Senior NBA Insider Chris Haynes, Cleveland is not seen as a preferred destination for Antetokounmpo. “I haven’t heard of Cleveland as a potential team that he’d be interested in,” Haynes said via NBA on Prime. “It has to be the right team that he wants to go to, and the right fit. I just haven’t heard Cleveland.”
Part of what makes a trade for Antetokounmpo tricky, other than what would need to be given up to acquire him, is the fact that he does not have to sign an extension with his new team. His representation could say, similar to Kawhi Leonard in 2018-19, that he will accept a trade to a team but forgo an extension in favor of signing with someone else in free agency.
“One thing about Giannis, he has 1 more year left remaining on his contract for next season,” Haynes continued. “He can tell teams ‘listen, if you trade for me, you only get me for a year cause I’m opting out and going somewhere else.’ That’s going to deter teams from pursuing him.”
For a team like the Cavs, who are desperately trying to keep their faint championship window open, a swing for someone like Antetokounmpo may be too enticing to pass up, even if it means he leaves next summer. The Toronto Raptors certainly do not feel any buyer’s remorse after acquiring Leonard, who led the team to the championship in his lone season in Canada. If the threat of him leaving lessens the price (as unlikely as that may be), the Cavs will understandably be open to talking about a potential trade.