Plenty of options were waiting for Giannis Antetokounmpo if he had reached free agency, but he chose to remain loyal to Milwaukee, which has been his NBA home for the past seven years, writes Eric Woodyard of ESPN. Antetokoumpo provided an early Christmas present to Bucks fans on Tuesday when he agreed to a super-max extension that runs through the 2025/26 season.
“The way that this city has supported me and my family has been amazing since day one, since the day I walked in the Cousins Center gym and Bradley Center, also. It’s been amazing. I was 18, I’m 26 right now. All I know is Milwaukee,” Antetokounmpo said. “When I came here, all I knew is that this is a city that loves basketball, it’s a city that … We have more things to do now, but when I came here we had a lot of things to do so I could just focus on basketball and it’s a place that I want to be.”
While the Bucks had a huge advantage in the money they could offer Antetokounmpo, the two-time MVP had to be convinced that he could win a championship in Milwaukee. The front office was aggressive over the offseason, trading for Jrue Holiday and signing D.J. Augustin, Bobby Portis, Bryn Forbes, and Torrey Craig.
“I think we can get better. I believe we can be better. We’ve got better,” Antetokounmpo said. “We have a great team. We have a great culture. I know that I’m working toward that goal. The front office is working toward that goal, so I’m good. I’m happy. I think everybody’s on the same page.”
There’s more from the Central Division:
- Cavaliers swingman Kevin Porter Jr. didn’t travel with the team to New York, which means he won’t play at all during the preseason, according to Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com. The Cavs have chosen to address Porter’s legal issues internally, Fedor adds, and are being vague in their public statements. Porter didn’t practice with the team until December 10 and may not be ready for the season opener next week.
- The Bulls gave first-round pick Patrick Williams a start in their third preseason game, notes Rob Schaefer of NBC Sports Chicago. The decision was based partly on the team’s shortage of personnel due to injuries and COVID-19 concerns, but coach Billy Donovan also wanted to see how Williams would respond to opportunity. “It’s just more to see, like, OK, what does Patrick look like with that first group,” Donovan said. “Does Otto (Porter Jr.), you know, give us a little bit of a punch off the bench from a scoring standpoint? We’re gonna have to make some sacrifices all the way around as a team in terms of how we need to play, and then also what guys’ roles may be, just because of the uniqueness of what we’re all dealing with at this point in time.”
- The Pacers appeared to be on track to make another front office addition, possibly a second assistant general manager, but they’ve tabled those plans for now, tweets J. Michael of The Indianapolis Star.
I like starting williams with porter off the bench. Helps the first unit D and scoring off the bench. Patrick looks like he could be pretty good.
Yeah, that 2nd unit defensively should be fine, but offensively could be brutal!!
We’d literally be relying on Sato, Valentine/Temple, P.Williams, T.Young, and Gafford/Kornet..
Those are some good role players, but none have ever been relied upon to score really..With White moving to the starting unit it put a big hole in who would be the 2nd unit’s sparkplug..However, putting Otto in there would give that unit another playmaker, and a proven scoring threat.
Also, it would allow P.Williams the chance to relax and just play within the system. He’d have plenty of good passers around him, and guys that could make plays off the dribble, so William’s would be able to run his cuts and get some open looks alot more easily..
It is either put White back with the 2nd unit and start Sato, or move Otto to the 2nd unit and start Williams..I say the latter sounds like a solid plan to me..Also, this way Donovan can allow White to grow as a true PG, and see if he will ever develop his passing and floor vision enough to be a true floor general in today’s NBA..
I’d swap Otto Porter Jr and Wendell Carter Jr for LaMarcus Aldridge, Keldon Johnson and a second round pick.
Then start White, LaVine, Williams, Markeneen and Aldridge with Young serving as a good vet with Johnson and Gafford off the bench.
Think the Bulls would do well with this team, having a good mix of youth and experience, offence and defence, and so on. Williams would have no pressure to score straight away with others scoring easily. Billy could do a good job with this team.
Spurs would make this move cause it wouldn’t affect there money in FA with Otto Porters expiring deal. Carter Jr would be a good addition and could serve as a future piece at the Spurs
So when Aldridge leaves in FA in summer, hows that gonna feel?
Who knows? The Blackhawks and Cubs front office housecleanings resulted in titles. I have a good feeling about the long overdue shake up the Bulls just did. I think it’s gonna be a place players are gonna wanna be. Arrows pointin’ up.
Bucks bench definitely improved. I wonder is Oladipo gonna choose mavs or raptors in the off season….
He and Giannis worked out together in Greece this offseason. I wonder if the Bucks can find a way to add him.
I am really happy for Bucks fans. Not only did a player stay with his team, but it’s a player who’s actually worth the max contract he got. Both pieces of that are very rare these days.