The Dallas Mavericks drafted Kostas Antetokounmpo who happens to be the younger brother of Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo.
The Mavericks have done a good job of developing international players inside their system, but there might actually be more to the drafting of Kostas.
Giannis will become an unrestricted free agent after the 2020-21 season, and the Mavericks could be trying to add them to their roster. Former Cleveland Cavaliers General Manager David Griffin was on NBATV, and said it was a way of legal tampering that could help get the Greek superstar down to the Lonestar State.
“They are going to want to be a player in free agency when Giannis Antetokounmpo is available because drafting Kostas is all about legalized tampering. You are going to have his brother going home and telling Giannis all the time how amazing of organization this is. I promise you that was not an accident and I would be stunned if he would go away.”
It is still a ways away before Giannis will be a free agent, but taking a second round pick on a guy who has some upside, and could help get one of the best players in the NBA on your team is a good risk worth taking.
Kostas played one year with the Dayton Flyers and didn't actually play a ton. He averaged 5.2 points and 2.9 rebounds in 15.1 minutes per game. He is a developmental prospect but the one thing that seems to be on his side is the genes that run in his family.
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