How Giannis Antetokounmpo's recent comments could open a future for him in Dallas

For the first time since Luka Doncic's rookie season, the Dallas Mavericks missed the playoffs. This probably didn't come to surprise many Mavs fans when the team posted a 38-44 record and promptly decided to tank the last two games of the season.

After a successful offseason where the Mavericks decided to bring back Luka's partner in crime, Kyrie Irving, on a 3-year deal and trade for forward Grant Williams, many fans are hopeful for a triumphant season. Dallas also decided to bring in some young talent by drafting Dereck Lively II with the No. 12 overall pick and Olivier-Maxence Prosper with the No. 24 pick in the draft.

However, this could be a make-or-break season for the new duo in Dallas. Doncic and Irving are poised to make a late-season playoff push and prove many doubters wrong, but if they are unable to do this could it mean Irving's time in Dallas is over? If so the Mavericks could be looking for a new co-star to pair alongside Doncic in a few years.

This wouldn't be the first time the Mavericks are scoping around the league for the esteemed second star next to Doncic, in fact, during Doncic's rookie season the Mavericks made a trade with the New York Knicks for big man Kristaps Porzingis. This pairing never worked out, and within three years Porzingis was traded away.

Most recently on the "48 Minutes" podcast Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo questioned his future in Milwaukee. Could Luka and Giannis be the star duo that Dallas has been looking for all along?

Is Giannis the answer?

The Dallas Mavericks and Giannis Antetokounmpo have had some deep relations. Dating back to the 2013 draft night when the Mavericks passed to take Giannis with the No. 13 pick in that year's draft. This of course, never came to fruition, and the Mavericks would trade away their pick.

Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd would also coach Antetokounmpo early in his career, and many would regard Kidd as the one who helped jump-start Antetokounmpo's career. Kidd would lead the Bucks to the playoffs and helped Antetokounmpo take that next step in his career in his three and a half years there.

If Antetokounmpo's comments come to fruition and he is poised to leave at the end of his contract in 2025 (if he opts out), this could set up Dallas very well. The Bucks have pretty much been given a two-year time window to compete at the highest level and win a championship. If this isn't done, Giannis could pack his bags, and Dallas would be the perfect destination.

Of course, this is all speculation at this point, but Doncic's contract ends in the year 2025 (if he opts out), and if Dallas has success in the next two seasons, it would be hard for Antetokounmpo not to look the Mavericks' way.

If Antetokounmpo did join forces with Doncic in Dallas, it would likely be under Jason Kidd whom Antetokounmpo deemed a "genius". This would be a dream come true for many Mavs fans, but the Mavericks still have two seasons before any such deal could take place.

A duo of this caliber would possibly break the internet but only time will tell if we will ever see a Luka Doncic and Giannis Antetokounmpo pairing. For more updates on the Dallas Mavericks offseason as we get closer to training camp, stay plugged in.