Cap Watch: Which Team Can Really Land Giannis?

Welcome to Buckets and Riches — where NBA stars don’t just shoot threes, they stack Gs. From tunnel fits worth mortgages to endorsement empires and crypto hiccups, we break down how basketball’s elite earn it, flex it, and sometimes… brick it. 🏀💸

The latest edition of our newsletter covers:

• Giannis Antetokounmpo’s contract

• Teams that can realistically get Giannis

• Cooper Flagg’s rookie contract

• Rookies spending their first paycheck

💸Money Moves

Giannis Antetokounmpo Contract and Trade Scenarios

Giannis Antetokounmpo will be wielding a lot of power this offseason. The Bucks superstar and two-time MVP is said to be open to the idea of leaving Milwaukee for the first time in his career, though no formal trade request has been made. Will the Greek Freak continue to give people a reason to Fear the Deer, or will he look for greener pastures?

Giannis is under contract for another two years at about $54 million and $58 million, respectively, plus he has a player option for the 2027-28 season valued at almost $63 million. He is set to become the 5th highest paid player in the league next year, behind only Steph Curry, Nikola Jokic, Joel Embiid and Kevin Durant. These Three Years Will See Off the Supermax Extension Giannis Signed in 2023.

Because of the way the NBA salary cap is structured, any team attempting to trade for Giannis will need to send significant salaries back to match. For example, the Bucks can’t receive six draft picks and no players. That limits the number of realistic potential suitors, even though every team in the league would love to snag Giannis.

Trading Giannis would signal that the Bucks are in line for a true rebuild, which is something head coach Doc Rivers has never been interested in before. That means a coaching change may also be in the offing, and it would leave Damian Lillard, who is set to miss all or most of next season with an Achilles tear, in limbo. Lillard is under contract next year and has a player option of his own in 2026-27.

Many NBA superstars have been able to dictate their destinations. With his stature as one of the top players in the game, Giannis will likely have the same authority if he decides to force a trade. Having that player option could come in handy, as he could threaten to opt out after two years if he is sent somewhere against his wishes.

💸 Moneyball Moments

In 2016, the NBA salary cap jumped by a record $24 million in one offseason — thanks to the league’s new $24 billion TV deal. That spike led to some of the wildest contracts ever, including Timofey Mozgov signing a $64 million deal with the Lakers... after averaging just 6 points per game.

💰Big Paydays

Cooper Flagg and Rookie Contracts

Flagg would be the second No. 1 pick for the city of Dallas this summer. Last month, the Dallas Wings selected Paige Bueckers as the No. 1 pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft. Paige signed a 4-year, $348,198 deal and will earn $78,831 this season.

Flagg is also projected to land one of the most lucrative rookie contracts in NBA history. Thanks to the rising salary cap, this year’s No. 1 pick is expected to sign a 4-year, $62.7 million deal, averaging $15.6 million annually, with a starting salary of up to $13.8 million.

That figure could push Dallas into luxury tax territory and force tough roster decisions. But GM Nico Harrison likely won’t risk passing up on Flagg — and disappointing Mavs fans for the second time this year.

For perspective:

• Last year’s top pick, Zaccharie Risacher, signed a 4-year, $57.02 million deal with Atlanta.

• Risacher’s deal was a 3.3% raise over Victor Wembanyama’s $55.17 million contract.

• Flagg’s projected deal represents a 9.96% bump over Risacher’s.

💰 Fun Fact: Flagg’s deal may be the biggest rookie payday in recent memory — but not of all time. That title still belongs to Glenn Robinson, who inked a 10-year, $68 million deal with the Bucks in 1994, back before rookie contracts were capped.

🏀 You Bought What!

NBA Rookies’ Costliest Splurges

Spending much of your life on the court, hoping to get into the NBA, isn’t for the faint of heart. Many attempt, few stay true, and fewer still make it. The fruit of all those laborious hours spent honing your skill is undeniably a spot in the league, but the paycheck is certainly a close second. And what does a 19- or 20-year-old do when they get their big checks? They spend it. Some, way more than others. 

Shaquille O’Neal

Shaq, just like his size, went big for his first purchase. He spent $150,000 on a Mercedes-Benz after getting paid $1 million from an endorsement deal. Once he reached home with his brand new ride, his father wanted one too. So Shaq went back to the dealership and got a Mercedes for his father and another one for his mother. The entire cost of three brand new Mercedes? $500,000.

Tyler Herro

Herro, like Shaq, went for a Mercedes. His 4-year, $17 million contract ensured he had enough money in his bank account to buy a brand-new, $200,000 AMG S 63 that was decked out with tinted windows and black rims. However, even before splurging on his car, he bought a $5,000 Gucci bag for his mom. 

Trae Young 

There is clearly a pattern here. Trae Young also gifted himself a luxury ride after inking his $15 million rookie deal. But instead of Mercedes, Young chose an Audi R8. The sleek matte-black car likely cost him over $200,000.

🏀 Shot Clock Back: NBA Stat of the Year

The very first game in NBA history (then BAA) was played on November 1, 1946, between the New York Knicks and Toronto Huskies.
A ticket cost just $0.75, and the Knicks won 68–66, tipping off what would become a billion-dollar league.

📚Also Worth Reading

• Karl Malone’s $18 Million Deal to Play With Shaquille O’Neal Was Ended by Dirty Agent

• Michael Jordan Helped Charles Barkley to gain $50 Million

• Charles Barkley Reveals how much MJ Would be Making in Today’s NBA