The Milwaukee Bucks were busy this offseason revamping their team after another early playoff exit. The biggest question the team had to contend with, though, was the future of superstar forward Giannis Antetokounmpo, as trade rumors have swirled around him all offseason long, and that has continued in the weeks leading up to the new season.
For now, Antetokounmpo is committed to the Bucks, but how long will that remain true? According to NBA insider Brian Windhorst, even though Antetokounmpo is still with Milwaukee for the time being, it sounds like the expectation around the league is that that may not be the case for much longer.
Brian Windhorst Believes Bucks Could Still Trade Giannis Antetokounmpo
With each passing failed postseason run since the Bucks’ championship run in 2021, the trade rumors surrounding Antetokounmpo have only grown louder. After getting bounced in the first round by the Indiana Pacers last season, it was clear that changes needed to be made, and it appeared as if there was a real possibility that Antetokounmpo would get traded.
Amid the persistent rumors, Milwaukee’s front office decided to make a pair of big moves that didn’t directly involve Antetokounmpo. After he tore his Achilles tendon in the series against the Pacers, veteran guard Damian Lillard was waived by the Bucks, with the team opting to stretch the remaining $103 million on his contract. That came after Milwaukee poached center Myles Turner from Indiana in free agency, signing him to a four-year, $108 million contract.
These two big moves, while costly, were made in an effort to signal to Antetokounmpo that the Bucks still want to build a winner around him. And while they have apparently appeased him for the time being, it sounds like if the team struggles again this upcoming year, it could end up being the Greek superstar’s final year with the only team he has ever played for in the NBA.
“It is very clear to the whole league that Giannis’ situation in Milwaukee is probably short-term,” Windhorst said on “First Take.” “While everybody is being respectful, the league is preparing for the end of Giannis’ tenure in Milwaukee. That’s not an insult, that’s just the reality. You can hear by Giannis’ own words and actions, he’s thinking about it in the back of his mind too.”
Will the Bucks Trade Giannis Antetokounmpo?
GettyGiannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks reacts against the Philadelphia 76ers.
Anytime Antetokounmpo is on the court, the Bucks are going to have a shot at winning. The problem is that, even for as good as Antetokounmpo is, he can’t do it all on his own. The team’s efforts to build around him over the past couple of years have failed, and while there are still several talented players around him in Milwaukee, it remains to be seen whether or not this team can actually compete for a title this year.
If they go on a run in the Eastern Conference, which appears to be pretty weak heading into the new season, that could change Antetokounmpo’s feelings about his future with the Bucks. But if they struggle again or get eliminated early in the playoffs, that could result in him finally forcing his way out of town after years of trade rumors.
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