NBA rumors: Should Milwaukee Bucks fans really be worried about the prospect of losing Giannis Antetokounmpo? There recently has been some buzz about opposing teams monitoring the former back-to-back MVP’s situation in Milwaukee as he becomes eligible to sign another extension in September. If the Bucks place an offer on the table and Antetokounmpo decides to turn it down, then surely, the trade rumors are going to pick up a lot of steam.
NBA Rumors: Giannis Antetokounmpo Will Wait Until Next Summer Before Signing Extension
To be clear, however, Giannis turning down an extension offer from the Bucks next month doesn’t necessarily mean that he wants out. It’s also very much possible that he holds out on signing a new deal until next summer when he would be eligible for a supermax extension that would make him the highest-paid player in NBA history.
League insider Tim Bontemps of ESPN believes that this is going to be the case for Antetokounmpo:
“I think he’s going to wait until next summer, he’s got one year left on his deal. Assess the situation in Milwaukee and then decide what he wants to do as opposed to doing it now,” Bontemps said on a recent episode of the Brian Windhorst & The Hoop Collective podcast (h/t HoopsHype).
The most interesting bit in Bontemps’ statement, however, is about how Giannis could “assess the situation in Milwaukee.” The ESPN reporter did not delve too much into this but he seems to have implied that Antetokounmpo will take a wait-and-see approach in terms of the direction the Bucks are headed in the immediate and long-term future.
NBA Rumors: Will Giannis Antetokounmpo Actually Jump Ship?
Right now, it is clear that Giannis’ loyalty lies with the Milwaukee Bucks. In fact, you can see a scenario wherein he pulls off a Dirk Nowitzki or a Kobe Bryant wherein he plays his entire career with the same team. Then again, as they always say, nothing is impossible.
Giannis has already done it all with the Bucks, including winning a championship in 2021. They are coming off a very disappointing campaign last season, and if they suffer another first-round exit in 2023-24 then things could get very interesting next summer.
Realistically, it does seem like Giannis will put pen to paper on what’s going to be a record-breaking extension with the Bucks next year. However, until he actually signs on the dotted line, anything can happen.
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