The Milwaukee Bucks are 8-9 on the season and can get back to .500 if they defeat the Miami Heat on Tuesday night. While their current record may appear disappointing, one must actually consider it impressive given the fact that they were 1-6 a couple of weeks ago after losing six games in a row.
The losing streak was, indeed, bad. Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard both played well throughout the drought, but key role players like Brook Lopez, Gary Trent Jr., and Delon Wright did not. In fact, Trent ended up losing his starting spot and Wright was relegated to third-string point guard in favor of Ryan Rollins.
But as things tend to do in the NBA, the Bucks deviated to their norm, which in this case was a positive thing. Now winners of four consecutive games, the vibes are immaculate in Milwaukee as Giannis leads the NBA in scoring (32.4 points per game) and Lillard has three consecutive points/assists double-doubles.
But one NBA analyst does not think it is enough.
NBA Analyst Says Giannis Antetokounmpo Will Demand a Trade Away from the Milwaukee Bucks
With one month of the 2024-25 NBA season over, Bleacher Report‘s NBA staff made a list of 12 bold predictions that they think will happen yet this year. The very first one on the list was that Giannis, the two-time NBA MVP, will demand a trade away from the Bucks:
“How long will Giannis Antetokoumpo stay satisfied with the Milwaukee Bucks’ mediocre roster? After locking in an extension, look for the former NBA Most Valuable Player to push for a trade before the deadline.
“The Bucks have not improved since winning the title in 2021. Damian Lillard is a more exciting basketball player than Jrue Holiday, but the Boston Celtics just won the championship with Holiday at the point. Milwaukee hasn’t drafted well in recent years, and the aging players around Antetokounmpo haven’t been properly replenished. Payroll is out of control, and the team falsely registers as a contender based on the names Antetokoumpo and Lillard.
“With minimal draft compensation, young players and overall assets to improve via trade, Antetokoumpo chooses to play the villain and force his way out. The Bucks, rightfully recognizing it’s time, comply. While the Houston Rockets may currently protest they’re not interested (H/T Kelly Iko of The Athletic), this kind of offer might make sense for all parties when the time comes in February.”
With the way that this prediction is worded, one would not think that Milwaukee has won four games in a row and seven of its last nine. Rather, one would assume that the Bucks are having a season similar to that of the Philadelphia 76ers, who are 3-13.
Why are there no Joel Embiid trade rumors?
The answer, of course, is that the national media hates that a small market like Milwaukee has one of the NBA’s brightest stars on its roster.
Giannis Antetokounmpo Will Not Demand a Trade Away from the Milwaukee Bucks
It really is frustrating for Bucks fans to see the best player in franchise history constantly in the center of trade rumors, especially since he has not said or done anything to indicate that he would want out.
Instead, the Greek Freak has always maintained his loyalty to the franchise that drafted him and helped him improve his life and the lives of his family.
Just last year, in the summer of 2023, Giannis addressed not signing a contract extension by saying, “I said that it did not make sense to sign the contract right now because money’s not important — a lot of money is important. So I’m going to sign it next year.
“But, no, at the end of the day, again, it doesn’t make sense. It does not make sense for me to sign it right now. I’ve got to always look at what’s best for me and my family, for my situation.
“But at the end of the day, I want to be a Milwaukee Buck for the rest of my career, as long as we are winning. It’s as simple as that.”
When the Bucks traded Jrue Holiday for Lillard, many thought that the team trading one of his good friends would be enough to push him out the door.
But then he went ahead and actually signed the contract extension!
Admittedly, Giannis also said that he wants no part of a rebuild. He stated that he wants to win another title and that just one in Milwaukee is not good enough for him.
But rather than chasing a ring elsewhere, his goal is bring another one home to his city.
Giannis has also been around the NBA long enough to know that teams go through slumps, and that this year’s bad slump happened to be right away.
But they seem to have righted the ship and are right in the thick of the playoff picture in the Eastern Conference.
There is no chance that Giannis would demand a trade now.
For More Great Wisconsin Sports Content
Follow me on Twitter at @theotherRobin19 and follow us @WiSportsHeroics for more great content. To read more of our articles and keep up to date on the latest in Wisconsin sports, click here!
