On Tuesday, Giannis Antetokounmpo saw his aspirations of becoming a two-time champion get delayed by at least one more year after the Milwaukee Bucks' elimination in the first round for the third straight season.
It looked like Milwaukee would extend the series after racing to a 30-13 lead in the first quarter in Game 4. However, the Indiana Pacers rallied for the overtime victory, with Tyrese Haliburton hitting the game-winning layup over Antetokounmpo.
Only time will tell if the "Greek Freak" has already made his last appearance in a Bucks uniform. He was non-committal when asked for his thoughts about chasing his second ring with the franchise, giving Charlotte Hornets fans a glimmer, albeit very dim, of hope that Antetokounmpo will be a part of the Hive soon.
Giannis Antetokounmpo could leave the Bucks but not for the Hornets
Of course, the two-time MVP asking for a trade to Charlotte doesn't appear realistic. The city isn't a prime destination or market for NBA stars, and the Hornets' odds of competing for the title are almost nil, and the addition of Antetokounmpo might not change their fortune by much.
There could be an under-the-radar reason for the 30-year-old superstar to include the Hornets on his list of possible trade destinations. We shouldn't discount the Charles Lee connection, as the pair spent five years together, with Lee serving as an assistant coach for the Bucks from 2018 to 2023. The prospect of taking to the court with one or two of LaMelo Ball, Brandon Miller, and Charlotte's draft pick this summer might also turn out to be intriguing.
But even if Antetokounmpo demands a trade to Queen City, who's to say that the Hornets would have a viable trade package that Milwaukee would agree to?
As Kevin O'Connor of Yahoo Sports noted, any deal for Giannis the Bucks would likely want would require a trade partner with tons of assets, specifically mentioning the Houston Rockets and San Antonio Spurs.
So, why didn't O'Connor bring up Charlotte? It's conceivably because the franchise doesn't have the required number of assets to be considered a serious threat to acquire Antetokounmpo.
Or let's get real. Even if they have a treasure chest brimming with future assets, the Hornets probably just aren't a viable destination for the future Hall of Famer. Also, they might be better off not breaking the bank (as Milwaukee would likely squeeze as many pieces as possible from them) to bring in the nine-time All-Star and just hope for LaMelo Ball to reach his ceiling soon and to land a franchise savior in the 2025 draft.