Portland Backs Away From a Big Giannis Trade Pursuit

Less than a week before the NBA Draft, reports in the United States say Portland is no longer prepared to pay the huge price required to land Giannis Antetokounmpo from Milwaukee. That matters for Danny Avdija’s Trail Blazers, who had been tied to one of the summer’s biggest possible moves.

According to reporter Jake Fischer, Portland was willing at the trade deadline to part with as many as four future first-round picks in a deal for the Greek star, even without certainty that he would agree to a contract extension. That stance has now changed.

The report says Portland has received indications that Antetokounmpo is unlikely to commit to a long-term extension if he were traded to the Blazers. Because of that, the front office is no longer willing to go as far as it was prepared to go only a short time ago.

The practical result is that the chances of seeing Giannis in a Portland uniform have dropped sharply. For a team rebuilding around a young core, surrendering major draft capital and future assets for a player who may not stay is considered too risky. Antetokounmpo’s name may still circulate until the draft begins, but Portland is now seen as less of a leading contender, while Boston and Miami are mentioned as the main alternatives.