For Giannis Antetokounmpo, the 2021 championship conquest meant everything at the time. However, what made it sweeter was to have Khris Middleton right by his side. A man he considers a brother, Antetokounmpo looked at him as they both embraced the moment. Now, three years removed, the desperation for a championship with Damian Lillard pumps the Greek Freak’s heart. But what if it comes at the cost of the teammate he has played the most with?

According to Bet Online, the Bucks currently hold the highest odds of landing CJ McCollum, arguably the closest NBA player to Lillard. That is of course contingent on whether the Pelicans part ways and due to his contract, the only way to do so is offloading Middleton. It would be a bittersweet exchange if it were to happen.

Giannis Antetokounmpo would be swallowing the bitter pill. However, one man who is itching to see the Portland tandem re-unite is McCollum’s brother. While he is unsure of the report, he did express the nostalgia that would accompany McCollum if he did land in Wisconsin.

“Idk if this true or not but everything is unpredictable in the league. My brother is happy in New Orleans and has become a staple in the community…. BUT if this did happen, this right here would be something special to watch, they chemistry A1” he wrote in his tweet.

While their time in Portland didn’t have a championship, Damian Lillard and McCollum kept them in the playoff height regularly in their eight and a half years together. In terms of chemistry, it’s a no-brainer. Lillard is well accustomed to sharing the floor with the Pelicans guard and vice versa. Furthermore, with Middleton just off an injury, McCollum could be termed as a more reliable option in terms of scoring.

But as good as it looks, Bucks fans want no part in it.

Bucks fans aren’t willing to sacrifice Khris Middleton for Damian Lillard-McCollum reunion

Middleton’s name has become synonymous with Milwaukee. From playing in the G-League to scoring 40 in a comeback win against the Suns in the NBA Finals, he is a true veteran for the Bucks. Hence, as appealing as CJ McCollum is as a player, the fans aren’t willing to say goodbye to a franchise hero.

“Wouldn’t mind it at all if khris didn’t have to be the one traded. Much prefer the chemistry with Giannis than the one with Dame” a fan mentioned. While not fully fit yet, when healthy Middleton and Antetokounmpo create a superb dynamic, one that has proven plenty to win the Bucks a championship in 2021.

Aside from logic, the factor of loyalty was also taken into consideration by fans. Middleton has spent 12 years with the Milwaukee Bucks, more than even Giannis Antetokounmpo. Hence, the Bucks fanbase can’t fathom parting ways. “Sorry bud we’re not trading Khris” one fan bluntly wrote.

And it’s easy to understand the strong sentiments. Middleton grew from a G-League forward to a three-time All-Star as part of the Bucks franchise. Not only that but he was integral in their title conquest and still remains a moving voice in the locker room who can still produce with enough reps under him.

Some fans also sought to look at whether a trade as such could be better for the Milwaukee Bucks. Offensively, they have one of the most prolific tandems in the league. Their problems lies in getting stops. That’s why fans feel – “Didn’t work in Portland when they younger and it won’t work now when they’re older. They won’t be able to defend anyone’s backcourt if we’re being real”.

Currently, the Bucks have been on a hot streak winning eight of their last ten along with an NBA Cup victory. Still, defensively, there is a need to be more active. The team ranks 12th in points allowed per game. It’s a huge improvement from the start of the season. But McCollum wouldn’t necessarily add the defensive activity that Middleton can with his long levers.

Another big question to ask? How can the Milwaukee Bucks get the trade done? In that vein, one fan wrote “So they expect to be able to trade for CJ Mccullom using Bobby Portis?” in reaction to the report. And it is a move that will require a lot of brain-scratching.

Because the Bucks are a second apron team, they can’t aggregate salaries to trade fo CJ McCollum. The Pelicans guard, who earns nearly 2 million more than Middleton ($31 million)can’t be directly traded. However, if a third team is factored in, maybe the Bucks can find a loophole. As it seems though, Milwaukee very much likes Khris Middleton and so do the fans.