It’s all peaches and cream for the Milwaukee Bucks right now. After all, they are projected to be one of the best teams in the NBA this coming season and are considered to be one of the favorites to win it all.
It also goes without saying, however, that there’s going to be a ton of pressure on this team to bag the championship this year. What happens then if they fail?
Championship or Bust for Milwaukee Bucks
The fact that Damian Lillard is now a Buck has a lot to do with the lofty expectations. Milwaukee gave up a whole lot to get their hands on the seven-time All-Star, and the team will obviously want to get a return on their investment in the near future.
This was what Giannis wanted all along. He sent an indirect warning to the Bucks to go out and add more pieces to aid him in his quest for a second championship. The front office heeded their call, and the ball is now in Antetokounmpo’s court.
Worst-Case Scenario
Before Milwaukee successfully recruited Dame, Giannis made it abundantly clear that he will leave the Bucks if he doesn’t win a title this season. As such, the question remains: will the former back-to-back MVP still demand a trade if the Bucks fail to win it all this year?
Zach Buckley of Bleacher Report imagines a ‘nightmare’ scenario for Milwaukee wherein Antetokounmpo still decides to leave if the Bucks fail to win a title in 2023-24:
“Milwaukee’s outlook appears great for now, but what happens in two years when he can enter free agency with the Bucks owing Lillard nearly $122 million for his ages-35 and -36 seasons?
“The Bucks’ best bet is to keep Antetokounmpo soaked in celebratory champagne between now and then, but if this season falls way short of its championship-or-bust expectations, he could again have reasons to rethink his future with the franchise,” Buckley wrote.
Now more than ever, Milwaukee has to win a championship. Failing to do so could lead to dire consequences.
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