Rival teams are "praying" that Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo is "moved to rethink his future" in town after an ugly 2023-24 season ended with a first-round playoff loss.
Marc Stein reported that news on the #thisleague UNCUT podcast (21:21 mark) regarding Antetokounmpo, who signed a three-year, $186 million contract extension with Milwaukee last October, linking him with the team through 2027-28.
"Teams are already hoping, crossing their fingers tightly, wishing, praying that Giannis is moved to rethink his future as a Milwaukee Buck, even though it eas just last October that the Giannis response to the Damian Lillard trade acquisition was to immediately sign a three-year max extension with Milwaukee, but that's not going to stop potential Giannis trade suitors from lusting after the idea that he is somehow unsettled there anew."
A year that started with so much promise after the acquisition of now eight-time All-Star Damian Lillard ended in colossal disappointment following a six-game first-round playoff series loss to the Indiana Pacers.
The Bucks won just 49 games in a season that saw the team fire first-year head coach Adrian Griffin despite a 30-13 start. Head coach Doc Rivers then came aboard, and the team had a losing record down the stretch with him on the sidelines.
Milwaukee still managed to earn a No. 3 seed, but struggled in the playoffs without Antetokounmpo, who missed the entire series with a strained calf that also sidelined him for the final nine regular-season matchups.
Obviously, Antetokounmpo would be a massive offseason target. The 29-year-old's resume includes two NBA MVP awards, eight All-Star Game appearances and five All-NBA First Team honors, among other accolades. He just averaged 30.4 points, 11.5 rebounds and 6.5 assists per game.
Antetokounmpo has made it clear that he values winning above all, perhaps never more than when he went on the 48 Minutes podcast with ex-Milwaukee assistant Ross Geiger.
"At the end of the day, I am a winner," Antetokounmpo said (23:26 mark, h/t James Herbert of CBS Sports).
"I want to be a winner. Contracts, fame, status, comfort zone does not matter to me. What matters the end of the day is that thing right there," Antetokounmpo added as he pointed to the Larry O'Brien Trophy behind him.
"That's what matters. And I don't want to be able to get stuck in this lifetime to keep on talking about the same story: 'Oh, we went to Game 6 in the NBA Finals, we won. We were down 2-0, we came back, we won four games.' I'm tired of hearing the same story over and over again."
Antetokounmpo isn't winning now, even after picking up a great teammate in Lillard. And with the East staying competitive and featuring one powerhouse (the Boston Celtics) and multiple upstart teams, it's hard to see an immediate path back to the mountaintop for Milwaukee.
But for now, though, Antetokounmpo remains a Buck and committed to the team in hopes of turning things around ASAP.
"trade" - Google News
May 04, 2024 at 11:53PM
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NBA Trade Rumors: Rivals 'Praying' Giannis Rethinks Bucks Future After Playoff Loss - Bleacher Report
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