If this happens, the Sacramento Kings will not win a championship in this era

Winning a championship is inherently unlikely. That's why it is so special. However, the Sacramento Kings are clearly going for that prize. After all, why would they double down on their current core by orchestrating a sign-and-trade for DeMar DeRozan?

With that said, the Kings can kiss their chances of winning an NBA title in this era goodbye if this superstar ever decides to join the ranks of one of our Western Conference rivals.

Giannis Antetokounmpo To The Dallas Mavericks

The NBA is in a unique place right now in that no NBA superstar is currently demanding a trade from their organization. The league has been pretty quiet on that front since Damian Lillard was traded to the Milwaukee Bucks.

Speaking of the Bucks, the next star to ask out of their team could be their homegrown MVP, Giannis Antetokounmpo. While no reports have surfaced yet, the Bucks have struggled to make it past the second round ever since the team won the title in 2021. On top of that, Antetokounmpo has been critical of the front office in the past. Last summer, he said he wouldn't sign an extension until he got a title commitment from the organization.

It is easy to envision a world where this season goes sideways, and Antetokounmpo, nearing the tail end of his prime (he'll be 30 in December), says that he wants to make another title push with a team that has a more legitimate chance. That brings us to this tweet that recently caught my eye.

Now, I am not sure how accurate these reports from "NBA executives" areor how feasible this collaboration would be under the league's current CBA. But man, it is scary to think about the prospect of Antetokounmpo and Doncic spamming pick-and-rolls together with Klay Thompson and Kyrie Irving there to space the floor or provide second-side creation.

If this somehow happened, I find it pretty hard to believe that the Kings can make it out of the Western Conference in this decade. They already aren't one of the most talented teams in the conference, but Dallas adding Antetokounmpo would put them really far behind in this area.

Now, you can beat teams that are more talented with you in the playoffs by being physical, having a good gameplan, and getting a little bit of luck (see the 2022-23 Miami Heat). But between the Denver Nuggets, the Oklahoma City Thunder, the rising San Antonio Spurs with their prodigious seven-footer, and the super team Mavericks (based on this trade), the talent deficit may be too difficult for the Kings to overcome.

Fingers crossed, Antetokounmpo never becomes dissatisfied with the Bucks, and this hypothetical never becomes realized. Or, if Antetokounmpo does want out, he says he wants to come to the Kings!