There have been three big developments in the Eastern Conference in the past several days. First and foremost, reports came out that Giannis Antetokounmpo is open playing for another team in the future. Then, the Boston Celtics lost Jayson Tatum to a ruptured Achilles. Last, but not least, the Philadelphia 76ers got the third pick in the upcoming draft. In a strange way, all of these are connected.
Tatum’s Injury: Game-Changer for Giannis Antetokounmpo Future
When the news about Giannis’ future first broke out, two teams emerged as favorites: the Houston Rockets and the San Antonio Spurs. Truth be told, they have all the assets, including draft picks, young players, and a roster ready to compete. But Jayson Tatum’s injury might change all that. A torn Achilles means Tatum will be out for all of next season (Kevin Durant missed an entire season with a similar injury in the 2019 Finals). Without Tatum and probably some other role players due to financial reasons, the Boston Celtics no longer look like the juggernaut in the East.
There are no teams with an MVP candidate and a strong roster in the Eastern Conference. That makes the path to the Finals easier. In the West, Giannis would have to compete with the likes of Nikola Jokic, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and Luka Doncic, three perennial MVP candidates with a good team. Of course, the Rockets or Spurs with Giannis become instant contenders.
With that in mind, let’s take a look at three Eastern Conference teams that can help Giannis compete right now.
Detroit Pistons
ESPN’s Bobby Marks recently ranked the teams that can make a move for Giannis. The Pistons were one of the wildcards, the third tier.
The Pistons are a gritty team, just like Giannis wants to play on. They compete, play hard, and have an All-Star caliber point guard entering his prime on their roster. The Greek Freak and Cade Cunningham would instantly make the Pistons the favorites of the East. At the same time, they have a defensive big and players who can make shots. True, they were in the middle of the pack in terms of three-point percentage, but finding some shooters is easier than finding an All-Star caliber running mate.
They own their picks in the next seven drafts, and have second-round picks from other teams to offer. The challenge is finding young players that the Bucks can build around. Are Jayden Ivey and Ausar Thompson good enough?
Orlando Magic
The Orlando Magic were another wildcard in Bobby Marks’ article. They have been a competitive playoff team for two years. But it is clear they need one more guy who can take over the game late. With Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner, the Magic have the makings of a team that can compete. Giannis would put them over the top and make them one of the best defensive teams in the league. They are already a good defensive team, but having Giannis makes them even more dangerous.
Similar to the Pistons, the Magic have their own picks to trade, six in the next eight years. They also have some picks from Phoenix and Washington, as well as 15 second-round picks.
Yet, like Detroit, they lack a true young star who can be enticing for Milwaukee. Jalen Suggs had some flashes with Paolo and Franz out, and he is still very young. But that is about it, the remaining players are more role players like Tristan Da Silva, Goga Bitadze, and Wendell Carter Jr.
Philadelphia 76ers
We said that the Sixers getting that top-three pick can make a difference in the future of Giannis Antetokounmpo, right?
While the Sixers do not have a huge draft capital, they have a top-three pick in what is a deep draft. They also have a stud in Jared McCain, a player who showed he can carry a team at the beginning of the season. They also have two picks from the Los Angeles Clippers, a 2028 unprotected and a swap in 2029, protected 1-3.
The Last Word on Giannis: Will He Stay in the East?
When we talk about the future of Giannis Antetokounmpo, we have to mention that the most likely reason he gets traded to one of these three teams is if he lets Milwaukee know he wants to go there. Or, if teams like the Spurs or Rockets do not go all-in for the Greek Freak.
There will be teams with more assets, but after Tatum’s injury, the East is wide open. The West, not so much. If Giannis has any say in his next destination, he might be better off staying in the Eastern Conference.
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