Plenty of teams are hoping for the chance to sign Giannis Antetokounmpo. The Warriors, in particular, have thought about pairing him and Stephen Curry should Kevin Durant leave in free agency, Marc Stein of the New York Times writes in his latest newsletter.
Antetokounmpo would have his pick of suitors on an open market, but as Stein notes, the Greek Freak may never make it to free agency. Antetokounmpo loves Milwaukee and the Bucks have to feel they have a chance at getting him to sign a super-max extension with the team during the summer of 2020—a year prior to him hitting the open market.
Yet, the Warriors will always swing big if given just the tiniest of chances. Antetokounmpo and Curry have selected one another first overall in back-to-back All-Star drafts and the two share a mutual admiration for each other, Stein notes.
Stein, who was honored over the weekend by the Basketball Hall of Fame as a Curt Gowdy Media award recipient, has more in his latest newsletter. Here are some highlights:
- The Mavericks‘ interest in Nikola Vucevic may be overstated, Stein hears, adding that he doesn’t get the sense that Dallas will pursue the big man. The Mavs were rumored to have interest in Vucevic as a free agent target this summer.
- The Lakers have the ninth-hardest remaining schedule and a playoff birth is no guarantee. “It’s going to be tough, but we shouldn’t want it any other way,” LeBron James said. “I look forward to the challenge — and I’m getting healthy, too.”
- Charles Barkley wonders if the advent of super teams will prompt small market owners to try to take back control in future CBA talks. “I hear all these clowns on TV talking about, ‘It’s great that all these players are exuding these powers,’” Barkley told a small group of reporters prior to All-Star weekend. “Let me tell you guys something: Workers ain’t never going to have power over their ownership. Ever. Now it might work for a couple guys here or there, but in the history of the world, no workers have ever overtaken the people who own a business. And when these guys are sitting at home locked out in a couple years, I want y’all to remember I told y’all that.”
Charles Barkley is not an eloquent man, but he almost always seems to speak the truth.
He’s not correct. There are many cases where the best employees have made a bunch of money and then have left and become the owners of their own businesses. That’s what’s going to happen here too as rich players are increasingly going to buy sports franchises in the future with all their huge post-career equities. Soon most owners will all be past players.
At least he can read.
try comprehending before responding.
Barley is annoying as heck on many occasions. And a lot of his often obnoxious, baloney comments are influenced by his bitterness of having never won the big one.
A lot of good commentators have never won the big one. Barkley’s problem is that networks always want to throw him out there because of his popularity and sometimes he doesn’t have much prepared, and may not have even claimed he did. But throw it to Barkley anyway for some action & joviality.
This latest thing… I don’t think the players want to go so far as attempt some sort of takeover, where now they would be the party that has to make the tough calls with so many variables.
The guy at the table who says he can make everyone at the table richer will be heard… New boss same as the old boss.
BTW there’s been a change in leadership at the union shop; players who are less wealthy are in, James out; so I have read on HR.
Preach it Chuck!
I’m the complete opposite. Think they should play where suits them.
Abolish the draft and start with players who want to play for your team.
Lebron’s offseason has already started
It’s not healthy for the totality of the league for guys building superteams.
Didn’t work for Shaq.
Dr. Buss executed his control.
Didn’t shaq want out?
I’d like to see the Mavs free up more space by getting rid of Courtney Lee or Powell and get two names this summer- maybe DeAndre Jordan back and Malcom Brogdon or a good non max guard, don’t think those two get a max anywhere else
Did you even watch the mavs? You seriously want Jordan back? Brogdon is likely to worth the contract he receives either..
Agreed. Lee & Powell are both good role players too. No reason to force a move for a minimal upgrade.
In football, it is pretty much assumed the NFL will have a lockout in a couple years. Owners have practiced with fielding all-new players in previous bargaining years. NBA players probably have more pull than NFL players though.
Now the NFL has a supplementary league to pluck from.
There has always been supplemental leagues. CFL, NFLEuro, Arena. As long as the product doesn’t look like complete garbage there will be viewership and they will hype up the talent.
NBA fans are more attached to players than teams like it is in the NFL.
link to en.wikipedia.org
The AAF just started, and next year the XFL will be rebooted! I hope they change some rules.
Lol Giannis isn’t going anywhere. He loves it in Milwaukee. This isn’t just where he plays basketball, this is his home. Steph to Milwaukee is more likely then Giannis to any team
I’m sure he loves the frigid cold, reminds him of his real home, Greece and all. Oh, wait. California climate is similar to Greece not Milwaukee. You beetter hope the Bucks can do something in the post season or your boy might start eyeing the grass on the other side!
It sounds played out but Giannis really is different from most guys.
Folks thought that of Anthony Davis.
Haha. Yep. He’ll be on the Celtics before he retires.
California taxes are also similar to Greece’s as well.
That super max is worth way more in Wisconsin. Weather is not everything.
neither is money you’ll never use.
Tell me how GSW would be able to even afford him with all there other guys maxed out. He ain’t taking a veterans minimum like Cousins. It’s a ridiculous thought just because guys like each other. Just another guy from a big market on a coast who can’t understand why anyone would want to stay in Milwaukee. By the way they have three billionaire owners from New York whom are financially invested in developing Milwaukee and see him as their greatest asset. What do you think will happen?
Why do people get so upset about something 2 years away? Its just a assumption that a player will join another team in 2 years. As a GSW fan I have heard about a dozen players who want to join GSW in the last 2 years. No reason for Buck fans to get upset about this article because what else do these writers have to write about? Until the playoffs come around there is nothing going on in the NBA.
I think it assumes Durant is gone, Igoudala’s contract would be up, and they would not retain Green. That would give them enough funds for a max type contract.
Colossus besides the outrageous taxes of California, the state is a complete dumpster fire. Civilized people aren’t just leaving from there, there running out of there.
Want to stop super teams? Have a hard salary cap and no limit contracts. It’s simple.
The AAU mentality has consumed the NBA. Times have changed…
If LeBron were able to beat GS in the first round and win the title he’s GOAT.
Beat GSW? LeBron’s going to do well just to get to the playoffs. Then, even if he’s able to summon all of his GOAT-ness and channel his inner Jordan, the Lakers might get one game against the Warriors.
They are quick enough to beat the Warriors, Kuzma,Ingram, and Ball won’t be easy to guard and they get up and down the floor like gazelles.
Thanks for today’s good laugh. Only way lakers have a chance is if 2 of GSW big 5 get hurt and out of the playoffs.
With all of the tampering fines being handed out to players, coaches and owners these days, how are there even rumors that gauge the interest level of teams in particular free agents? Wouldn’t any rumor be considered tampering?
How long is Curry’s contract? Why not Curry to Milwaukee?
Answering my own question…contract ends in 2022. Giannis will be 28.