Chicago Bulls should look to trade for Giannis Antetokounmpo

With Jimmy Butler gone, the Chicago Bulls are in need of a superstar. Could they entice the Milwaukee Bucks enough for Giannis Antetokounmpo? A recent Woj bomb suggests that it is possible.

With the Jimmy Butler trade to the Timberwolves, the Chicago Bulls made it clear that they are no longer contenders. However, this does not mean that the Bulls will only look to build their young core through the draft. With potential young trade pieces, the Bulls could be in the market to acquire a budding star.

Earlier on Thursday, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski made some extremely interesting comments about Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo on The Ryen Russillo Show.

"“Milwaukee’s going to go through this with the Greek Freak. That day’s coming, right? Where he’s going to look and say, ‘Where is this organization? What are they doing here?’ Like, you don’t think Giannis has been watching what went on there for the last several months? Of what they allowed to go on with the front office? He’s watching it. And the clock has started. Everybody in the league is trying to figure out how they are going to get him out of there. That has started.”"

While this doesn’t mean that the Bucks are actively shopping Antetokounmpo, this is a sign that a move is not “impossible”. Many teams will certainly be interested in the young star, including the Chicago Bulls.

What’s the cost?

Acquiring Antetokounmpo will not be cheap. Under contract until 2021, the Greek Freak is a long-term fit, perfect for a rebuilding Bulls team. A package comparable to the one that the Bulls received for Jimmy Butler could be a starting point.

1. The Centerpiece

This is the issue. The centerpiece of a potential Antetokounmpo trade would likely be either Zach Lavine or Lauri Markkanen, both newly acquired. This doesn’t mean that the two are untouchable, but the Bulls will not want to trade Markkanen and/or Lavine. However, when it comes to getting a talent like Antetokounmpo, parting with them would not be an issue.

2. Draft Picks

As shown in the Jimmy Butler and Paul George trades, draft picks don’t necessarily make trades happen. However, the Bucks would likely want at least one first rounder for a player with the control that Antetokounmpo has. Two first round picks would certainly sweeten this deal a ton.

3. The Finishing Touches

To finish off the package, young players such as Denzel Valentine or Paul Zipser could interest the Bucks. Valentine has potential as a former lottery pick, while Zipser played extremely well for the Bulls down the stretch.

So, a Bulls’ proposal for Antetokounmpo would look something like this:

Bulls Acquire: Giannis Antetokounmpo 

Bucks Acquire: Lauri Markkanen, 2018 & 2019 First Round Picks (both probably unprotected) and Denzel Valentine

Next: Creating the ideal starting five for the Bulls in 2018-19

This is certainly a realistic trade. While other teams may be able to offer better packages, this example is an even trade that could benefit both teams if Antetokounmpo appears to want out of Milwaukee.

Whether Antetokounmpo gets traded or not is to be determined, but the thought of the Bulls going after one of the best young players in the NBA is certainly intriguing.