Well, here we are. Another summer of free agency, another summer that NBA teams (or at least their writers) believe Giannis Antetokounmpo will leave the Milwaukee Bucks. Oh, by the way, Giannis isn’t a free agent yet. In fact, he won’t be a free agent for at least two more seasons. He is under contract for 2023-24, 2024-25, and has a player option for 2025-26.
But this is the time of year when big market franchises that have not accomplished anything since before Giannis was even born convince themselves that they are so much better than Milwaukee and Giannis is just dying to get out of it.
Also Read: 10 Years of Giannis: His Top-10 Moments with the Milwaukee Bucks
New York Knicks Insider Believes Giannis Antetokounmpo May Leave the Milwaukee Bucks
In a recent article discussing the [doomed to fail] possible moves that the Knicks can make in free agency, SNY Sports Ian Begley wrote:
“Who would the Knicks pursue next season if they don’t make a big move this offseason? That’s unclear.
“But it’s worth noting here that several teams are keeping an eye on the situation in Milwaukee concerning the future of Giannis Antetokounmpo, as we’ve previously noted. Antetokounmpo is eligible for an extension with Milwaukee this summer.
“Financially, it makes sense for Antetokounmpo to wait on signing an extension or new contract. I don’t know if the Knicks are one of those teams keeping an eye on the Antetokounmpo situation, but I’d imagine most teams are monitoring it.”
In other words, Begley believes that this summer (the one where Giannis has two guaranteed years left on his deal, and three if one counts the player option) is the summer that will determine Giannis’ future.
The complete deafness to anything that goes on outside the big ityc is laughably apparent. Whether this is Begley’s opinion or one that he shares with other big market writers/teams, it is simply absurd for multiple reasons.
1. Giannis Antetokounmpo Hand-Picked the Milwaukee Bucks’ Head Coach
All three finalists for the Bucks head coaching position, Nick Nurse, Adrian Griffin, and Kenny Atkinson, all met individually with Giannis in his home. The two-time MVP informed the front office that he wanted Adrian Griffin. Giannis and Khris Middleton joined Jon Horst and the ownership group at the dinner at which it was agreed up that Griffin would be the head coach.
Truly, I do not understand why analysts and fans cannot get it through their minds that the Bucks would not have invited Giannis (or Middleton, for that matter) to give input on the team’s next head coach unless there was already a plan in place for their own long-term futures with the team.
2. The Milwaukee Bucks Salary Cap
As was the case in 2020 when Giannis and the Bucks agreed to his super-max extension, no team in the NBA, no matter how big a market they may be, can offer him as much as Milwaukee can.
If Giannis was the type of player to whom money meant everything (he’s not), it would be the smart, financial decision to say in Milwaukee. The NBA rules highly benefit teams that hold onto the stars whom they drafted.
Begley even admits himself that it makes more sense for both Giannis and the team to wait on an extension until next season given their cap situation. Giannis is not stupid. He knows the ins-and-outs of contract negotiations. There is nothing that he has ever said or done that would indicate the “failure” to land a super-star free agent would be his cue to leave.
3. Giannis, Literally Himself, Said He Is Committed to Milwaukee
From an interview with CBS in March of this year:
“I wear my heart on my sleeve and I really appreciate people that gave my an opportunity to change my life, my parents’ life, my kids’ life. I don’t that that for granted, I don’t take that lightly.
“The first time I was able to leave and be a free agent and join another team, I chose to stay with the Milwaukee Bucks because they helped me, they guided my through all the processes when I was an 18-year-old.
“I will always have that in my mind and in my heart and as long as I’m healthy and as long as they want me to be a part of the Milwaukee Bucks Organization, I would love to stay there.”
I just… how much clearer does it get?
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