Despite a glaring lack of blue-chip prospects to hand over in a trade, the Brooklyn Nets remain among Giannis Antetokounmpo’s potential suitors, according to a report from the New York Post.

“It’s almost a fait accompli that they’ll call the Bucks about their want-away superstar this summer,” writes senior reporter Brian Lewis.

The Nets’ theoretical viability as a trade partner is nothing new. Reaping the rewards of a prolonged tank, they have compiled a boatload of draft picks that could form the basis of a blockbuster trade package.

The Bucks, however, have made clear that any Giannis trade would require a blue-chip prospect as part of the return haul. Despite including four first-round picks from last year’s draft, no one on the Nets roster fits the bill. Unless that suddenly changes, Milwaukee is unlikely to consider Brooklyn seriously in the Antetokounmpo sweepstakes.

Nets’ stash of draft capital doesn’t contain what Bucks crave

None of Brooklyn’s 2025 first-rounders looks like the centerpiece of a franchise. Point guard Egor Demin has been fine. Forward Danny Wolf has done some nice things. Nolan Traore leads the team with 3.9 assists per game. 

Any one of them could serve as an intriguing supplementary trade chip, but not even all three put together would provide an enticing foundation. 

For financial reasons, any deal sending Giannis to Brooklyn would likely involve Michael Porter Jr., who enjoyed a breakout season with the Nets before being shut down with hamstring issues. As an expiring salary, he would be attractive for money-matching purposes, but not as a long-term building block for the Bucks’ future. 

In any case, the 27-year-old forward can’t properly be called a blue-chip prospect.

In exchange for Giannis, a package built around Porter and draft picks wouldn’t give the Bucks the combination of talent and potential that other suitors can offer. Throwing in one of this season’s first-round rookies wouldn’t move the needle, either.

Unlikely concession would be required in any Giannis trade with Brooklyn

The one way the Nets might be able to change the Bucks’ mind is a path they would be unlikely to pursue. Dangling a top-four pick in the 2026 draft might adequately replace Milwaukee’s desired young talent, but it would be shocking if Brooklyn considered such a thing.  

Securing high draft picks is the whole point of tanking. Somehow, Demin was the most valuable selection of the Nets’ rebuild era at eighth overall. This year, they are projected to pick no lower than seventh, with better than a 50 percent chance at a top-four pick. 

It’s difficult to imagine Brooklyn re-routing Cameron Boozer, Darryn Peterson, or AJ Dybantsa in almost any scenario. 

If anything, the Nets are more likely to be involved in a Giannis move as a facilitator. With their cap space and draft capital, they could help orchestrate a multi-team deal in exchange for extra assets or even a lesser star of their own. Combined with other maneuvers during the summer, that could be the key to kickstarting the transition to a competitive future in Brooklyn.