The Bucks are headed down a scary highway and the one manner out is to commerce star participant Giannis Antetokounmpo (or he requests out).
Let’s paint the grim image for the Bucks:
Damian Lillard is 34 years outdated, and after tearing his achilles in all probability received’t return till 2027.
On this yr’s draft, Milwaukee don’t personal their first picks – in reality they don’t personal their first till 2031 and have the least favorable first spherical swaps in 2026, 2028 and 2030 PLUS don’t personal ANY firsts in 2027 and 2029.
To not point out, Brook Lopez, Bobby Portis, Taurean Prince, Gary Trent Jr. and Kevin Porter Jr. are all free brokers over the summer time.
Yahoo Sports activities’ Ben Rohrbach sums up the state of affairs completely – and why the Bucks have to act quick.
“The three-year, $175 million contract extension Antetokounmpo signed in 2023 begins in July, which implies the Bucks may run it again a couple of times extra — earlier than Antetokounmpo can choose out in 2027,” Rohrbach stated. To what finish? In one other yr, Antetokounmpo will solely have one assured season left on his deal, and no crew desires to commerce its whole future for a one-year rental. Delaying a deal merely winnows his commerce market. Bear in mind: The Toronto Raptors dealt just one first-round draft decide for Kawhi Leonard in 2018.
“Milwaukee will wish to maximize its return. This isn’t the Dallas Mavericks dealing Luka Dončić for cents on the greenback. Give the Bucks each first-round decide you’ve gotten, plus all of your younger expertise, or else you don’t get one of many three greatest gamers in the complete NBA — one of many sport’s few actual difference-makers.
“To maximise its return Milwaukee should commerce Antetokounmpo now, earlier than he requests a commerce.”
If the Bucks don’t chunk the bullet quickly, Giannis may request a commerce away from the crew this summer time anyway.
No matter Giannis decides, the complete destiny of the NBA shall be at his mercy, insider Brian Windhorst says.
“The query for the entire NBA is ‘what does Giannis do about it?’” Windhorst stated on NBA Immediately. “Does Giannis point out to the crew he desires to remain put and stay a Buck going ahead. Or does Giannis point out he could wish to go searching? If the reply is B, the complete NBA offseason will hinge on it.”
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