The Memphis Grizzlies are a team that no one wants to see get involved in the Giannis Antetokounmpo sweepstakes. Capable of constructing an offer that few could even begin to compete with, Memphis can build a star-studded big three, maintain enough depth to compete, and offer the Milwaukee Bucks assets that most simply don't have.
In many respects, the Grizzlies are the team that can offer the Bucks the best opportunity to enter a post-Antetokounmpo era with confidence in what it has to build with.
The counter arguments will likely revolve around three valid choices: The Houston Rockets, Oklahoma City Thunder, and Toronto Raptors. Each of those three teams can offer a combination of proven players, first-round draft picks, and up-and-coming players with clear potential.
The Grizzlies, however, have a characteristic that the other three teams simply don't: A need to do something to salvage a once promising era.
It may not be what Grizzlies fans want to hear, but desperation is what puts the team over the top in potential Antetokounmpo negotiations. They can generally match the Raptors, Rockets, and Thunder in personnel and draft compensation, but it's the willingness to go all-in that creates their edge.
Memphis shouldn't necessarily give up anything Milwaukee asks for, but it has a unique opportunity to build a dominant star trio overnight.
Grizzlies can build Big 3, help Bucks kickstart rebuild overnight
The justification for Memphis going all-in on Antetokounmpo is simple. Not only would it be adding an NBA champion, Finals MVP, two-time regular season MVP, and Defensive Player of the Year in their prime, but they'd be constructing a championship-caliber leading cast.
With Antetokounmpo, Jaren Jackson Jr., and Ja Morant, the Grizzlies could realistically compete for a championship as soon as the 2025-26 season.
Antetokounmpo and Jackson are both former Defensive Player of the Year award winners whose strengths would perfectly complement one another. While Antetokounmpo is a floating defender who dominates the boards and attacks off the bounce on offense, Jackson is a top-tier rim protector and one of the best floor-spacing bigs in the NBA.
Together, they could anchor what would have all of the potential to be one of the best defensive teams in the NBA while simultaneously jelling quickly on offense.
Morant is the wildcard, as no one seems to know what to expect of him during a challenging 2025-26 season. He's still an All-NBA talent, however, who isn't afraid of taking the big shots and has made those around him better when healthy.
With the top-tier talent to contend and a depth chart that would continue to be of a high caliber, the Grizzlies could become championship contenders and explore trading Morant further down the line if need be.
Grizzlies' potential offer for Giannis Antetokounmpo could be immense
Memphis has at least one first-round draft pick in every class through 2032, including two in 2030. With this in mind, the draft capital they have to offer may fall short of the Oklahoma City line, but certainly offers enough of a reason for Milwaukee to consider their proposal.
From there, it's a matter of deciding which of their endless supply of promising young players should be included or kept out of potential negotiations.
Memphis has a deep pool of young talent for Milwaukee to pick from. The list includes Santi Aldama, Cedric Coward, Zach Edey, Scotty Pippen Jr., Cam Spencer, and Jaylen Wells. While many teams can offer intriguing young talent, Memphis' group of options is different.
Rather than simply offering untapped potential as a return, the Grizzlies' cast of young contributors generally consists of 25-and-under players who are already productive and play winning basketball.
Perhaps there isn't a star for Milwaukee to pick out, but a combination of the players listed could instantly improve their future. With Ryan Rollins already in place and Myles Turner likely to have trade value if the Bucks go that route, the organization could realistically reload on young talent and draft picks quickly enough to make the 2026 offseason meaningful.
Other teams will be able to compete, of course, but the Grizzlies are uniquely positioned to offer proven young players with upside to explore and the type of draft compensation Milwaukee needs.