Giannis Antetokounmpo Is 'Plan A' For The Brooklyn Nets

The OKC Thunder didn't break a sweat in their 145-117 win over the Chicago Bulls, the franchise that picked up two shock wins over the Los Angeles Lakers recently. This was their 28th win against the East this season, losing just one game to the opposite conference all season.

OKC's 28-1 record solidifies a new NBA milestone for the best record against an opposing Conference in NBA history.

Before OKC's accomplishment, the record was a three-way tie between the 2016 Warriors, the 2007 Dallas Mavericks, and the 2000 Lakers. The only one of them to win a title the season they accomplished this feat were the Lakers, so this stat doesn't prove anything about what the team can accomplish in the Playoffs.

The Thunder's only loss to an Eastern Conference opponent came on January 8, 2025, when they lost a hard-fought battle against the East's No. 1 seed, the Cleveland Cavaliers. Outside of them, the Thunder have dispatched every team from the East that's been put in front of them.

OKC's last East opponent of the season will be the Detroit Pistons, giving them an opportunity to end the season with a 29-1 record against the East. The game will be on Tuesday, so it'll be an interesting challenge, to say the least. This record might stand for years to come, given how incredible an accomplishment it is.

Their 35-11 record against Western teams is currently the best in the Conference, although the Lakers are pretty competitive on that front with a 31-13 record themselves.

The Thunder are tied with the legendary 1996 Chicago Bulls for net rating over the season, so this might be the most obvious championship contender we've seen in years. They could still end the season with 70 wins as well, a mark that hasn't been reached since the Warriors did it in 2016.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is making his MVP case unbeatable, with the award all but sealed up in his favor. Leading OKC with 32.8 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 6.4 assists averages to such an incredible season when he's had co-stars like Chet Holmgren, Jalen Williams, and Isaiah Hartenstein miss chunks of time over the year.

OKC is currently 63-12, having already sealed up the No. 1 seed in the West with a 14-game lead. This is their season to finally ascend to the championship. Even if they don't, their young roster can only improve, and they have a massive set of future assets in their control to adjust the roster as they see fit. The Brooklyn Nets are currently in a rebuild year. And we might know what the next step of their rebuild will be. 

According to Brian Lewis of the New York Post, the Nets have a 'Plan A' to bring their team to contention status once again - land Giannis Antetokounmpo via a trade. However, they will continue tanking for another year if Giannis gets traded to another team.

"Multiple league personnel that have spoken with The Post say Giannis Antetokounmpo has been and remains Plan A for the Nets. If Antetokounmpo gets traded elsewhere this summer, that may make GM Sean Marks’ path simple, tanking for another year and building through the lottery."

"But what happens if the two-time MVP is in Milwaukee past the June draft, when Marks usually makes his biggest moves? Are potential lesser targets like Ja Morant, Domantas Sabonis, Trae Young or LaMelo Ball worth emptying the proverbial clip for if it means abandoning all hope for the Greek Freak?"

There has been some speculation about Giannis' future with the Bucks after a recent video hinted at him potentially leaving Milwaukee.

It's hard to see why the Brooklyn Nets would consider this move. No disrespect to Giannis Antetokounmpo, who is a superstar and a champion. But usually, making a trade for a big All-Star is the final move any team should make when constructing a championship team. And the Nets are far from being just one piece away from contention.

Furthermore, the Nets are likely to get a high draft pick this summer, along with a few solid players in this year's draft, thanks to their haul from the Mikal Bridges trade. It would be in their best interest to develop those assets the traditional way and hope to create a strong team that's homegrown rather than running after superstars.

If anything, the Nets have suffered every time they've gone down the superstar-chasing route. It might be time for Sean Marks to build a strong roster through the draft and free agency and evaluate them on their merit before making any big moves to retool the roster.

It's not like the Nets will ever struggle to land big-name free agents. Being in New York, one of the biggest markets in the NBA, is a big goal for a lot of players, and as such, they will consider moving to the Nets if they make a decent offer. Plus, building a strong team with draft picks gives them a lot of financial flexibility in the early years of their rebuild.

Nets fans will not be thrilled about this news. While Giannis is a superstar, he is in the tail end of his prime years, turning 31 at the end of this year. He only has a few more years of elite, high-level basketball left in him, as he is a player who relies greatly on his athletic ability and frame, which tend to grow weaker as a player ages.

Should the Nets make a move for Giannis? Or is there another superstar that they should aim for that fits better with their timeline? Sean Marks should think about these things very carefully before deciding on anything.