VJ Edgecombe is the untouchable ‘cornerstone’ in Giannis’ trade talks
When the news was published that The Milwaukee Bucks received calls for Giannis Antetokounmpo before 2026 NBA trade deadlinefans openly wondered if it was Philadelphia 76ers could make a move on the former MVP using VJ Edgecombe as a central part of the work.
While some, like ESPN’s Bobby Marks, believe in a deal a center around Edgecombe could be very attractive to the Bucksaccording to PHLI’s Kyle Neubeck , that’s unlikely to happen, as Daryl Morey and company see Baylor’s third overall pick as fundamental player which should be a “Seeker for life”.
“If you think Giannis is on the trade block and there’s not going to be a conversation between the Sixers and the Bucks at some point between now and Thursday’s trade deadline, I don’t think you’ve been paying much attention. I think they’re interested,” Noubeck said during an appearance on the Kevin O’Connor Show.
“Whenever a player like Giannis is on the market, Daryl Morey is the guy who wants the stars. He cares about the stars. But I believe when you get to the level that he did on VJ, what VJ does is be productive and actively lead the game. Every night, his role changes. One night, he has to score 20 goals. He’s a staple in Philly and I’d be amazed if he goes anywhere in the short to medium term.
Considering, as O’Connor noted, trading for a proven player like Antetokounmpo, who has a list of accolades a mile long, is hard to pass up because there’s no guarantee Edgecombe will ever become an All-NBA player, let alone an MVP. And yet, after watching Edgecombe make incredible plays on both ends of the floor for the 76ers, why would Philadelphia want another team to roll the dice on him? If the Bucks are eager to land Edgecombe, it’s because he’s already really good and has the potential to be the best player in a trade a few years down the line when Antetokounmpo is past his prime.
2026-02-03 03:13:00
