Giannis Antetokounmpo is expected to dominate the NBA offseason rumor mill, and several contenders are already positioning themselves for a potential run at the Milwaukee Bucks superstar.

Teams like the Miami Heat, Golden State Warriors, and Minnesota Timberwolves have all been linked to Antetokounmpo in recent weeks. But according to recent reporting, another heavyweight contender may quietly be preparing its own path into the conversation: the Oklahoma City Thunder.

The idea sounds almost unfair considering Oklahoma City already has reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, one of the league’s deepest young rosters, and championship aspirations for years to come.

Yet that is exactly why league insiders are paying attention to the Thunder’s next moves.

According to NBA insider Evan Sidery, Oklahoma City’s pathway toward a potential Giannis pursuit could begin with a financially significant decision involving center Isaiah Hartenstein.

Hartenstein signed a three-year, $87 million deal with Oklahoma City in 2024, but the final season of that contract is a team option worth roughly $28 million.

Declining that option would immediately give the Thunder significantly more apron flexibility heading into the summer, potentially opening the door for a blockbuster move.

From there, the conversation becomes about assets.

Sidery floated the possibility of Oklahoma City building a package around Luguentz Dort, Chet Holmgren, and premium draft compensation in order to enter serious discussions with Milwaukee.

Holmgren’s five-year rookie max extension is set to begin next season, while Dort’s contract situation also becomes important financially because Oklahoma City would need to exercise his option before including him in any potential trade framework.

Antetokounmpo, meanwhile, is entering the second season of his three-year, $175 million extension. The final year includes a player option for 2027-28, a detail that significantly impacts his trade value because any acquiring team would need confidence he plans to stay long term.

Oklahoma City also owns one of the league’s deepest collections of future draft capital, giving Sam Presti flexibility few contenders can realistically match in trade discussions.

Coincidentally, reports have also suggested that Presti is exploring ways to consolidate some of Oklahoma City’s draft assets during the upcoming draft.

The Thunder Could Also Move Up in the Draft and Use That For Giannis Antetokounmpo

Oklahoma City already has one of the youngest and deepest cores in basketball, which is exactly why many around the league believe the franchise could eventually pivot from asset collection toward superstar consolidation.

In this year’s draft alone, the Thunder control the No. 12 pick via the Los Angeles Clippers and the No. 17 selection from the Philadelphia 76ers, along with additional second-round capital.

League executives already expect Oklahoma City to explore moving up in the draft because the roster simply does not have room to comfortably develop multiple incoming rookies at once.

Packaging picks together would allow Presti to either target a higher-tier prospect or create a more attractive centerpiece for future trade negotiations.

If they packaged these picks with some of their bright young talent, they might even crack the top five.

There have even been league whispers about teams monitoring whether the Washington Wizards would entertain moving down from the No. 1 pick if the return package became overwhelming enough.

Oklahoma City possesses the kind of draft arsenal capable of entering those conversations if it chooses to become aggressive.

Even more interestingly, any premium pick Oklahoma City acquires could ultimately become part of a larger Giannis trade package rather than a selection the Thunder actually make themselves.

For Oklahoma City, adding Antetokounmpo alongside Gilgeous-Alexander would create one of the most overwhelming two-way combinations the NBA has seen in years while extending the franchise’s championship window deep into the future.

For Milwaukee, any potential deal would almost certainly center around accelerating a post-Giannis rebuild through elite young talent, draft capital, and long-term flexibility.

Whether the Thunder actually push all their chips to the middle of the table remains unclear. But the combination of draft assets, cap flexibility, and roster depth makes them one of the few contenders capable of realistically entering the Giannis conversation if they choose to do so.

Written by

Miguel Guzman

Edited by

Ved Vaze