Hawks legend addresses surprising Giannis Antetokounmpo trade rumors

The Atlanta Hawks could make their biggest offseason splash in franchise history if their rumored connection to Giannis Antetokounmpo comes to fruition. The Greek Freak has popped up in countless trade talks, and the offseason hasn’t even begun.

In an exclusive interview with Esports Insider’s Kyle Odegard, Hawks legend Dominique Wilkins recently spoke about the Giannis-to-Atlanta rumors.

Hawks legend Dominique Wilkins addressed Atlanta’s connection to Antetokounmpo

“Man, that’s a blockbuster deal right there. Who wouldn’t want Giannis? I’d be lying if I said anything differently. Oh, man, it is a lot you’d have to give up to get a guy like that,” Wilkins said. “If you can land a guy like that – someone who still has a lot left in the tank, since Giannis is not an old man by any stretch of the imagination – there’s not a team in the league who wouldn’t want him.”

Wilkins, a Hall-of-Fame forward who made nine All-Star games with the Hawks, has covered Atlanta basketball since 2006. While Wilkins loves Atlanta’s supporting cast as much as any Hawks fan, he knows what kind of game-changer the team would be getting in Antetokounmpo.

Given the steadily growing parity of the NBA, a dynamic duo of Trae Young and Antetokounmpo would likely catapult the Hawks into championship contention right away. The combination of Young’s vision and Antetokounmpo’s dominant inside scoring would give Atlanta the most unguardable two-man actions in the league. They would undeniably wreck teams in the pick-and-roll.

If the Hawks were to pair Antetokounmpo with Young, Atlanta’s franchise point guard would serve as a No. 2 option for the first time in his career. Wilkins offered some insight into how Young would operate as a second option.

“He doesn’t have to be (the No. 1 option) if you have the right mix,” Wilkins said. As a great point guard, you’re going to always have the ball and the ability to take over games when you need to. He’s shown that time and time again. He has the ability to do that. You need that other superstar, and they’ve got superstars-in-the-making, but sometimes it takes a little time. But Trae has the ability to do whatever he wants on the floor.”

Young’s evolution into a team-first playmaker just saw him average his fewest number of shot attempts in his last four seasons. The reigning assist champ dropped 11.6 dimes per game and took 18.1 shots per game.

ESPN insider Shams Charania recently said that this NBA offseason may be the ‘craziest ever,’ and the Hawks could play a huge role in that sentiment. Only time will tell if Atlanta can win the Giannis Antetokounmpo sweepstakes.

If Antetokounmpo does request a trade, reports have largely suggested he would prefer an Eastern Conference destination. Atlanta would need to send a blockbuster package to the Bucks in order to acquire the 2021 NBA Finals MVP, and they have the necessary assets to do so.

On a May 21 episode of his podcast for The Ringer, Bill Simmons discussed possible Hawks packages for Antetokounmpo with fellow NBA analyst Zach Lowe. Lowe claimed that the Hawks would likely have to give up both Jalen Johnson and Zaccharie Risacher in a deal for Antetokounmpo. Simmons’ mock trade included Johnson, Risacher, Dominick Barlow, and multiple first-round picks for Antetokounmpo.