NBA Trade Rumor: Giannis To OKC In Blockbuster Deal

It's only one game, but it was quite the statement game that Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs made in Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals (aka the "real" NBA Finals this season). Wemby posted 41 points and 24 rebounds in the Spurs' 122-115 double-OT win.

His counterpart at the 'five' for OKC, Chet Holmgren, recorded just eight points and eight rebounds.

Already, pundits are debating what the Thunder should do if they fall short against the Spurs and don't make the Finals. And Stephen A. Smith, for one, has proposed a wild blockbuster trade that he feels OKC should consider if that comes to pass.

Stephen A. Smith says OKC should trade Chet Holmgren for Giannis if they lose to the Spurs 👀

Chet is set to earn $41 million next season… (@FirstTake) pic.twitter.com/acfiCW9FlS
— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) May 19, 2026

Stephen A. suggests that with 13 first-round picks between now and 2032, the Thunder can afford to trade a couple of them, a young, promising player, and... Chet Holmgren, in return for Giannis Antetokounmpo.

Stephen A. Smith trade proposal:

OKC Thunder receive:

Giannis Antetokounmpo

Milwaukee Bucks receive:

Chet Holmgren
Ajay Mitchell OR Cason Wallace OR Isaiah Joe
2 first-round picks
2 second-round picks

"If anybody can afford to let go of two players that are in the rotation, it is Oklahoma City," said Stephen A. "If San Antonio beats you, and Chet Holmgren is getting thoroughly outplayed while that's happening, if I want to compete with San Antonio in the future, do I not have to upgrade?"

The Thunder would be getting a banged-up Giannis, however, who played just 36 games this season, and is seven years older than Holmgren. There is at least one report that his knees are "really, really bad," making this a high-risk, high-reward trade.

But of course, Holmgren has had two of his four seasons curtailed significantly by injury himself, and he's just 24. And Giannis has that championship pedigree.

It's clearly a win-now move for OKC, who, if they want to taste the success of an NBA championship again, just might have to make a splashy move such as this.

It's going to be a wild trade season this summer in the NBA. And we'll be all over it.