Bucks management had to be encouraged by Giannis Antetokounmpo‘s first public comments after winning his second consecutive MVP on Friday. Appearing from Greece on TNT’s “Inside the NBA,” Antetokounmpo speculated about a lengthy future with the franchise (Twitter link).
“As long as everybody’s on the same page and as long as everybody’s fighting for the same thing,” he said, “fighting for the same thing every single day, which is to be a champion, I don’t see why not to be in Milwaukee for the next 15 years.”
Antetokounmpo could go a long way toward making that happen by accepting a maximum extension that the Bucks have promised to put on the table this offseason. That new contract would take effect with the 2021/22 season and could be worth more than $250MM over five years, depending on what happens with the salary cap.
If Antetokounmpo turns down the extension and opts for free agency, he’ll become the top player in what could be a loaded market next summer. The Bucks could still offer more years and a higher salary than any of their competitors, but they would prefer to get a long-term deal completed as soon as possible.
Bobby Marks of ESPN offers a preview of what the market for Antetoukoumpo might look like. He notes that Milwaukee has strung together two straight impressive regular seasons and won’t need a full roster overhaul to be in the title race. Marks suggests the Bucks might be interested in Thunder guard Chris Paul, but isn’t sure if a package of Eric Bledsoe, Robin Lopez (if he opts into his current deal), Ersan Ilyasova, D.J. Wilson and draft picks would be enough to get a deal done.
If Antetoukoumpo opts for free agency, Marks has Miami in the “driver’s seat” to land him. The Heat already have two All-Stars in Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo, along with a collection of young talent. They can keep their current core together by offering free agent guard Goran Dragic a one-year, $20MM contract this summer, then renouncing his rights to clear room for Antetokounmpo in 2021 and re-signing Dragic with their $4.8MM room exception.
Marks lists the Raptors, Mavericks and Knicks as other serious contenders to add Antetoukoumpo in free agency, along with the Lakers if LeBron James is willing to sacrifice $16.2MM in his 2021/22 salary.
“I don’t see why not to be in Milwaukee for the next 15 years” is not the same as him saying “I am staying in Milwaukee for the next 15 years.” I think there is a good chance he will stay, but nothing he has said so far indicates that’s his plan. His comments are intentionally ambiguous.
Exactly. “I don’t see why not” is not really a solid commitment.
I’ll use that with my girlfriend next time. Babe do you really love me? “I don’t see why not.”
Only thing I can guarantee is neither Andrew Wiggins or pick 2 in the 2020 nba draft will ever be members of the Milwaukee bucks !
You’ll be eating those words in about 200 days.
One Celtics reporter proposed a deal that would send Hayward and picks to Bucks for Giannis
That might be doable if Boston includes Tatum and maybe Smart. They can hang on to the picks and Hayward.
Giannis has said everything he can, consistently, to create the expectation he’s going to stay in Milwaukee.
Not saying that won’t change, but it won’t be anytime soon, so Harden-Westbrook-MVPs can stop fantasizing about the Rockets trading for him. As if that was remotely possible to begin with [eye roll]
I don’t see why not
Actually, he’s said everything he can to avoid saying he is leaving. It’s not really a secret he wants to play with his friends like everyone else is doing. They all know careers are short and for someone who grew up in a level of poverty we don’t have in america, he’s already making enough money that happiness has to start playing into it. I would be pretty nervous if I was a bucks fan. That’s not a playoff roster.
Giannis avoids saying anything on the topic, period, consistent with wanting a choice as is his due.
He could speak of wanting to play with his friends but has not. He could speak of even having friends on other teams but has said that he does not, that he prefers to compete.
He is only recently, if ever, even an African-American.
I think they can do better than CP3 with their expendable contracts.
Middleton ,donte ,Wilson Robin Lopez and The pacers pick for wayoff pee and shamet! Getting George as a big name might fool Giannis into taking the super max
That sounds doable. I like it on paper.
Seems very clear that he is staying! Can’t wait for the many very disappointed fans crying when Giannis takes the super max & they will never ever have a chance to get him to their teams… & that folks will be one of the best days in the league’s history! When a legendary player chooses to stay in the small town market that drafted him!
It doesn’t seem clear at all, if he were staying he’d come right out and say it. I’m all for him staying but he has yet to indicate he plans to do that.
Even if he said “I’m staying” that wouldn’t mean anything. All can change anytime, and nowadays unhappy players don’t have too many problems to force their way out when they fancy.
If the Warriors can’t get Giannis then they’ll go for Harden or whoever else. They’ll find a way to get a star in Chase Center. Where there’s a will there’s a way, especially if there’s a big pot of gold and a bag of money waiting at the end of that rainbow.
If management decides to make a run with Wiggins at the wing then let’s roll with it. It’s all good whatever happens. Not sure if there’ll be any crying on this end if we don’t wind up with Giannis.
Doesn’t mean the talk will stop, or the pursuing will stop or the attempts will stop. It just means that if it doesn’t happen there won’t be any crying over on this side. It’s called shooting for the Stars.
It seems like bucks fans actually believe if you say these she puts statements they will come true. Keep praying.
Absolute… Wow auto correct
I doubt Giannis takes the supermax in 2021 because of the lower salary cap. Better to wait until 2022 to see how the Bucks do. Giannis will see that the Bucks didn’t get younger nor improve, but went backwards.
Clearly he’s setting up a “we are not all on the same page” excuse
Why not the strategy where he posts up? B Lopez or Middleton could deliver perfect soft entries being tall themselves, or knock in 3s. Let Bledsoe drive the middle.
Seems like HC Bud is making it harder than it could be.
That’s a really great point and they should utilize that plan a little more often. But I wouldn’t take the ball out of his hands. He gets from the three-point line to the hole in fewer steps than almost anybody I’ve ever seen. He is such an effective Drive and Dish guy. Except with the Bucks there’s nobody to Dish to besides Middleton.
I agree. Giannis needs to develop some go-to post moves and also develop a midrange game. Leave those threes alone. Also, Coach Bud needs to take those kid gloves off with their minutes.
Ask Ray Allen & Michael Redd about how their prime years went in Milwaukee. Kareem won a title & bolted!