Giannis Antetokounmpo trade rumors have died down in recent weeks, but the two-time MVP hasn’t reached a decision on whether he wants to continue playing for the Bucks, ESPN’s Shams Charania said this morning during an appearance on “Get Up.” (Twitter video link).
“Sources tell me there’s still nothing set in stone about whether Giannis Antetokounmpo will stay in Milwaukee or whether he will be leaving,” Charania said.
There have been past reports that Antetokounmpo might consider leaving Milwaukee to improve his chances of winning at least one more NBA title. Speculation began to grow after the Bucks were eliminated in this first round of this year’s playoffs and star guard Damian Lillard suffered an Achilles tear that’s expected to sideline him for all of next season.
Bucks general manager Jon Horst responded by retooling the team’s roster this summer. He waived and stretched the $112.6MM that Lillard had left on his contract for the next two years and used the new-found cap space to sign center Myles Turner away from the Pacers.
Horst also added Gary Harris, Jericho Sims and Cole Anthony in free agency and re-signed several of the team’s own free agents, such as Bobby Portis, Gary Trent Jr., Kevin Porter Jr., Ryan Rollins and Taurean Prince.
The aggressive move with Turner was viewed as an important step toward convincing Antetokounmpo that the Bucks could remain competitive in the Eastern Conference. Although there hasn’t been much trade talk over the last month, Charania insists that Antetokounmpo’s situation hasn’t been resolved.
“There’s been some very real conversations over the last week or so,” Charania said. “The constant question that Giannis has, though, is can I win a championship with this roster? … He wants to win a second championship, so he’s asking that question over and over.”
He added that there are “multiple teams waiting in the wings” to make offers if Antetokounmpo decides he wants out.
No coincidence this resurfaced so soon after the Luka extension!
I’m certain the plan they sold him on to at least buy time if not buy into fully was luka declining to extend with lakers it not working out and Giannis leveraging his friendship with Luka to persuade him to force lakers to trade him in a opt in and trade( like James harden to clippers or cp3 to rockets) to bucks who can trade 3 first rd picks next summer! Delusional pitch and plan but delusion is all they have right now
This is a STRETCH. Giannis and Luka aren’t friends. This has nothing to do with his extension, which didn’t come out of nowhere.
Man, ESPN has really become unwatchable.
The Bucks after roster payroll for next year is $148 million ($17 million below the cap), with Lillard’s dead money pushing them to $172 million (they’re $21 million below the first apron).
How can any team be a contender with a $148 million salary payout unless most/all players are on the rookie scale (which none of Buck players are).
If Giannis wants to win another championship his best bet is to wait to next offseason. He will have one year left on his contract (and then player option). That would mean the Bucks can get back less assets for him, giving his new team a better roster to compete.
Oh well…
All those Giannis wanting teams and their media shills need to give it a rest.
On June 11th Giannis tweeted, “Does anyone else miss Woj?” I wonder if he still feels that way.
Give it a rest, Shams. And Hoops Rumors. This is very clearly clickbait. Shams has no actual connection with Giannis or his agency, he’s just promoting a narrative ESPN wants.
You know with the media always putting this out there is only hurting teams who actually try to build around this rumor. They hold back money so they have a chance only causing them from missing out for the present. Watch his movie and actually learn how fiercely loyal he is in his life. Milwaukee made his dreams come true along with paying him so handsomely to get out of poverty. Plus until I hear he is selling his shares in Milwaukee Brewers, I dont see him going anywhere
Clickbait.