Last week, the trade rumors on Giannis Antetokounmpo were reopened to teams with eligible packages. The Milwaukee Bucks' megastar will cost an arm and a leg, and from the LA Clippers, Ivica Zubac will be an essential piece that the front office would prefer not to trade.
Until it is make-or-break, where if Zubac is not in the deal, the Bucks will not listen to a word the Clippers have to say, Lawrence Frank will go as far as finding third and fourth teams to move other stars around in order to land Antetokounmpo.
Zubac's numbers, age, and two-way presence are important, of course, but his legacy stands above all. He is a Clipper legend, and he is creeping up on the sixth spot in franchise history in games played, currently held by Blake Griffin at 504.
Thus, it is for Antetokounmpo; the trade logic is valid, but extensive pain would be felt if Zubac ends up on the other side, one day competing against the Clippers.
Business is business, and the Clippers will have to include Zubac to have a chance at Antetokounmpo
For the Milwaukee Bucks, Ivica Zubac would get the face-of-the-franchise, superstar treatment. Their mission would switch at the speed of light to finding a true point guard capable of bringing out the best in Zubac.
He has that number one option potential, which is why Milwaukee may be head over heels for Zubac, making it mandatory that he be included in any trade package for Giannis Antetokounmpo. There will essentially be no loophole for the LA Clippers to get the best of both worlds.
The other half of the proposal, the Bucks' front office will take into account in a trade with the Clippers, is that they could take the rest of LA's future away, and keep it in their hands to build around.
The Clippers still have some draft picks, an attention-grabbing talent in Kobe Sanders, and someone that desperately needs an opportunity in Cam Christie, which are the final three remaining portions of what lies ahead in LA.
Yet, Zubac in Antetokounmpo trade talks that actually lead somewhere would force tears to be shed. They will surely not be happy to see him clean out his locker room, but for Antetokounmpo, anyone in LA is available, as he is a former NBA champion, MVP, defensive player of the year, and one of the best players in the world.