Who will be the next NBA star to try and force a trade?

4. Giannis Antetokounmpo

Like Harden, this one needs a caveat: Giannis Antetokounmpo is not going to ask for a trade, not now, not next summer, and not any point during the two years remaining on his contract with the Milwaukee Bucks. He’s just not that type of cat.

He may not need to though.

In a little less than one year, the recently-crowned MVP will be eligible to sign the largest contract in the history of the sport. More than anything that will have occurred this July (with the possible exception of Kawhi deciding to suit up in purple and gold), that single decision will have far greater league-altering ramifications.

If he says yes, the Bucks can rest easy. If he says no, it opens up a whole host of possibilities, almost none of which are good for Milwaukee.

On one hand, they can take their chances and hope Giannis picks them in 2021, but that would carry with it unspeakable risk.

(Say what you want about AD, but at least he took the uncertainty out of it by asking out)

On the other hand, they could open things up to bidders, a process that would make the Davis trade drama look like a light romantic comedy in comparison.

So much depends on next season, when the Bucks might open the year as underdogs to both the Sixers and Raptors (again, depending on Kawhi). They will return with almost their entire team intact, but the one name they lost – Malcolm Brogdon – was their second best player at times during the conference finals. They will feel his absence.

Whatever happens, the entire league will be watching.