All of 2020’s top 50 free agents are off the board. LeBron James, Jayson Tatum, and several other notable players have signed contract extensions. Every 2020 draftee who is expected to sign a contract for the coming season has done so.
However, we’ll still waiting for news on the biggest contract question of the NBA offseason: Will Giannis Antetokounmpo sign a super-max extension with the Bucks?
Antetokounmpo’s decision figures to have a seismic impact on the rest of the league. Besides potentially making or breaking the Bucks’ future, it’ll also be a crucial turning point for all the teams who are maintaining cap flexibility in the hopes of making a run at the reigning MVP in 2021 free agency, including the Mavericks, Raptors, and Heat.
Even the teams that have no shot at landing Antetokounmpo themselves will be keeping a close on his situation, since the NBA’s balance of power could shift depending on where the star forward decides to spend the next few years of his career.
The Bucks and Antetokounmpo have until December 21 to finalize a super-max extension, which would add five years onto his current deal and pay him a projected $228.2MM (assuming the cap increases by 3% for 2021/22). If the two sides don’t reach an agreement by that point, Antetokounmpo will be on track to reach free agency in 2021, putting significant pressure on the Bucks to prove during the coming season that they’re a legitimate championship contender.
Reports leading up to the offseason indicated that the Bucks were projecting confidence about their chances of locking up Giannis before the regular season began, but Zach Lowe of ESPN said on The Jump on Tuesday (video link) that the team has “gone kind of silent” since then.
That doesn’t necessarily mean that the Bucks aren’t still confident, but it’s somewhat concerning when combined with reports that Antetokounmpo had been looking forward to teaming up with Bogdan Bogdanovic, who was seemingly on track to join the Bucks in a sign-and-trade deal last month before it fell apart.
Still, the Bucks have posted the NBA’s best record for two consecutive seasons and added Jrue Holiday to the mix for 2020/21. There’s no reason why they shouldn’t be one of the best teams in the NBA again this season, and Holiday increases their postseason upside.
Antetokounmpo’s teammates also don’t seem too concerned about his contract situation, having jokingly gifted him with pens for his 26th birthday on Sunday, as Eric Woodyard of ESPN details.
It’s worth noting that the Bucks and Antetokounmpo could still complete the same five-year super-max extension during the 2021 offseason — they don’t necessarily have to get it done now.
But if he decides to wait, Giannis would be signaling that he wants to keep his options open, and speculation about his future would only increase over the course of the year, since super-max deals can’t be signed during the season. He won’t be able to get any more money by waiting, so if he knows he wants to stay in Milwaukee long-term, it makes sense for him to sign that new deal sooner rather than later.
What do you think? Will Antetokounmpo sign a super-max extension with the Bucks sometime in the next 12 days? Or will he forgo a new deal this month, choosing to keep his options open as his 2021 free agency approaches?
Vote in our poll, then head to the comment section below to share your thoughts!
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Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Yes. I mean no. Sorry
If he was gonna sign it, he would have done so by now…
Yes of course
But Bucks will allow him to request trade after 2 years
If Giannis signs
Knicks have 3 potential free agent stars to sign
Kawhi
Oladipo
Jrue Holiday
Knicks are likely to be in deep trouble on free agency next year
Aren’t the Knicks in deep trouble on just about everything. You can’t spell “Knicks” without the “ick”.
NBA will award the Knicks one of top 5 draft picks next summer
Heard they’ll prob sign all three
I’m sure Kawhi will opt out next year to sign with the Knicks.
Leonard is in SoCal because that is where he wants to be. That guy does not want NY. He wants to fly under the radar as a Clipper.
He wants to fly under the radar in Los Angeles? Am I reading that right? He left Toronto for Los Angeles in order to fly under the radar?
The Knicks are in deep trouble every year. The franchise is a laughing stock. Who would play there
It just takes 1 …we know how this works
Storied franchise….basketballs better on a whole when there are meaningful games played as MSG
Id love if the next good wave knicks team would develop that tough gritty 90’s Knicks team vibe but who knows, progression should be the only immediate goal
Doubt it – think he’ll test the waters next summer
Giannis is staying in the “cream city” for a very looong time, make no mistake about it!
He’s headed to Dallas.
Looking forward to seeing you in the 6ix Giannis!
Based on the fact that both LeBron and Anthony Davis locked in multiple years, and Miami signed Bam, the conventional wisdom in the NBA would seem to be that Giannis is signing.
But the logical thing to do if you’re Giannis is to wait.
And if you’re Milwaukee, the logical thing to do is trade Giannis if he won’t sign.
But, for reasons that escape me, it seems like either Milwaukee or Giannis will do something illogical.
Why is Giannis waiting the logical thing to do? I would think the logical thing to do is sign the largest contract in league history versus waiting a year to sign elsewhere and leave $60+ million on the table.
I really don’t understand why he would sign now. He can get that exact same deal next year. Play it out and see how the year goes, keep your options open.
Including option to be injured but that doesn’t seem to be an impediment if you are a top player (e.g. Durant).
Regardless of what injury giannis gets. He will receive max money.
What are the rules if he waits to the end of season? Lets say they win or anyway he decides after the season that he will sign new 5 years contract? How much would he lost if any? Tnx.
These are his options with the Bucks:
Until December 21: Five years, super-max.
After December 21 (for rest of 2020/21): 1-4 years, lower max.
During 2021 free agency: Five years, super-max or 1-4 years, lower max.
He’s not walking away. Anyone who follows basketball knows that. They stay healthy they are the favorites to go to Finals. So if he wants to go. It’ll be a sign trade. He’s not walking on Bucks. Very few teams that can make this trade work. I just don’t see him leaving. With Holiday they are much better.
Heat.
He will. Ad didn’t sign saying he’s coming back to LA til last week. The worst thing a player can do is say I’m signing so don’t worry about me. No you want them thinking you haven’t decided so they get more in the contract. There’s way more then money in contracts
He should not sign, and hope vultures like Miami’s Riley nd Toronto’s Ujiri keep miscalculating.
If he wants to win multiple titles…Dallas. He needs luka.