The Milwaukee Bucks are in the midst of a heated series with the Indiana Pacers. Despite not having Giannis Antetokounmpo the entire series, and now being down Damian Lillard, the Bucks have forced a game six back in Indianapolis.
The Bucks are down 3-2 in the seven-game series and will need to win two more in a row to advance. Giannis has been at the center of trade rumors over the last few years and many speculated that those rumors will only intensify with an early exit from the 2024 playoffs.
However, one report is already picking up steam.
Milwaukee Bucks Get Significant Giannis Antetokounmpo Trade Update Amid Series With The Indiana Pacers
According to Jake Rogers of NBA Analysis Network:
Despite the Milwaukee Bucks still being in the hunt for the 2024 NBA playoffs, speculation is mounting about the future of Giannis Antetokounmpo.
On Brian Windhorst’s Hoop Collective podcast, ESPN’s Tim MacMahon revealed that Antetokounmpo is a hot topic among teams with substantial draft picks, eager to snag a top-tier player. Although Giannis recently signed an extension in October, keeping him with the Bucks for two additional seasons, rumors of his potential departure persist.
While there’s no concrete evidence that Antetokounmpo is contemplating a move, the possibility remains intriguing. The Bucks’ playoff journey appears shaky, likely facing elimination in the first round by the Indiana Pacers. This situation was compounded by injuries to key players, including Giannis’ calf strain and Damian Lillard‘s Achilles issue.
Underperformance has plagued the Bucks this season, leading to significant changes, including the midseason firing of head coach Adrian Griffin, replaced by Doc Rivers. However, improvements were minimal.
General Manager Jon Horst finds himself in a tight spot, with limited draft capital and salary cap space after a series of aggressive moves aimed at building a competitive team.
Last offseason presented a critical decision point. With Brook Lopez approaching free agency and Jrue Holiday nearing the market, Milwaukee could have chosen a younger, more cost-effective strategy. Instead, they reaffirmed their commitment to their current core, re-signing Lopez and trading Holiday for Lillard.
However, if Antetokounmpo’s priority is securing another NBA championship, he might feel his opportunities in Milwaukee are dwindling.
Would The Bucks Ever Trade Giannis?
This past off-season saw Giannis once again made it clear he wants to win another championship, regardless of where he plays. He has stated it clearly. Unless Milwaukee is in the business of winning championships, he’s out.
It is not uncommon for a superstar to keep the pressure on his team by threatening to leave. It would only be unusual if Giannis went around saying he was happy in Milwaukee, win or lose.
Interestingly, Antetokounmpo’s message has been conveyed in multiple levels and depths. It’s not like he’s dropping hints here and there. He’s being very blunt and to the point.
When he was recently asked on the “48 Minutes” podcast whether he sees himself playing the rest of his career in Milwaukee, he could’ve easily diverted. Or kept it simple. I’m not worried about that right now. I’m only worried about this season. Standard stuff. Instead, he went on this rant:
“At the end of the day, I am a winner,” Antetokounmpo said (at the 23:26 mark of the podcast). “I want to be a winner. Contracts, fame, status, comfort zone does not matter to me. What matters the end of the day is that thing right there.” Then he pointed to the Larry O’Brien Trophy behind him.
“That’s what matters. And I don’t want to be able to get stuck in this lifetime to keep on talking about the same story: ‘Oh, we went to Game 6 in the NBA Finals, we won. We were down 2-0, we came back, we won four games.’ I’m tired of hearing the same story over and over again.”
The Bucks obviously never want to trade Giannis, however, will they eventually not have a choice? Would the Bucks be able to convince Giannis to stay by pointing at the incredible amount of injuries the team has suffered this season?
Only time will tell.
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