Portland cools on a Giannis Antetokounmpo blockbuster

Less than a week before the NBA Draft, Portland’s chances of landing Giannis Antetokounmpo appear to have faded sharply. Israeli reports say the Trail Blazers, the team of Deni Avdija, are no longer prepared to pay the enormous price required to trade for the Milwaukee Bucks star.

According to reporter Jake Fischer, Portland was willing at the last trade deadline to give up as many as four first-round picks in a deal for the Greek forward, even without certainty that he would agree to sign an extension. That stance has now changed after the team received indications that Antetokounmpo would be unlikely to commit long term if he were moved to Portland.

The report says the Blazers’ front office is no longer willing to go as far as it once considered. The implication is that Portland’s odds of acquiring Antetokounmpo have dropped significantly, and the team is now viewed around the league as less of a serious contender in the chase.

The decision fits Portland’s broader rebuild around a young core. Team officials are said to see it as too risky to surrender a large haul of draft picks and future assets for a player who may not stay. For now, rumors could continue until the draft opens, but the current belief is that Boston and Miami are the leading candidates if Milwaukee’s two-time MVP becomes available.