WT: Giannis Antetokounmpo's Future With Bucks 'The Elephant In The Room' In NBA

[MiamiSPX]

Giannis wants to win. Bucks are finished with no future.
He will be traded

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I think he would love to stay there, he's just built differently. But they are going to come up empty when he asks them for specific ways in which they can improve the team. There really is nothing they can do.

[WuTang_CMB]

Less than two weeks ago, Antetokounmpo appeared on his brother Thanasis' podcast and reiterated his competitive desire.

"Me not having a second championship -- I look back at my career and everybody can say, 'Oh, incredible career, active Hall of Famer, first ballot, whatever, but me, my personal goal, if I am not able to help my team win a second ring, I'm letting down myself," Antetokounmpo said.

It is a window into Antetokounmpo's mind, and one that has fueled Milwaukee's high-pressure, high-stakes decision-making over the past seven years.

Still, each time Antetokounmpo's future with the Bucks has been in question, he has chosen to return to Milwaukee. He has signed two extensions -- a supermax contract in 2020 and again in 2023, and he is under contract until the 2027-28 season.

But after nine consecutive trips to the playoffs, the second longest active streak among teams, the Bucks have few pathways available to improve the team, leading to a scintillating question teams across the league are debating: If Giannis Antetokounmpo wins a second ring, will it be in Milwaukee -- or not?

Sitting at the lectern postgame, he knew the question was coming.

"I'm not going to do this," Antetokounmpo said. "I'm not going to do that. I know how it's going to translate. I don't know, man. I wish I was still playing. I wish I was still competing and going back and working out.

"I don't know."

[JB7]

If OKC wins it all this year, they likely stand pat and don't go for Giannis

Toronto and Houston would have best packages on the table (If Scottie and Amen are included). Houston probably #1 since they have those PHX picks. But have to see where TOR lands in the lottery.

Giannis always had a thing for GS and Curry. I would not be surprised if that was his #1 destination and Bucks take a lesser package to make Giannis happy.

Curry has maybe 1-2 good years left. The dude is almost 40. Same with Butler. Then again, given the way Giannis plays, I'm not sure how many good years he has left either. At the very least, it'd be a fun team to watch, and they'd probably win at least one title.

With most of these guys, if they are serious about trying to win, they usually want to join players that have already proven themselves. That's the allure of Curry. He has done it multiple times. Plus, San Francisco is a very desirable market (a lot of money in the Bay area).

[ishoy123]

Giannis wants to win. Bucks are finished with no future.
He will be traded

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I think he would love to stay there, he's just built differently. But they are going to come up empty when he asks them for specific ways in which they can improve the team. There really is nothing they can do.

Agreed. Their final play was to go all-in for Dame. If it doesn't work, it is what it is.

[LoveMyRaps]

Bucks would love to get a big like Poeltl. Not a lot of teams have better bigs to offer.
Lopez is aging and they basically don't have a center at the moment.

Poeltl + RJ + Dick + Ochai/Walter + 3-4 First Round Picks

That's a pretty competitive offer IMO.

[Raptorfan2012]

Bucks would love to get a big like Poeltl. Not a lot of teams have better bigs to offer.
Lopez is aging and they basically don't have a center at the moment.

Poeltl + RJ + Dick + Ochai/Walter + 3-4 First Round Picks

That's a pretty competitive offer IMO.

Who are the Bucks pairing these guys with with Giannis gone? The Bucks have absolutely nothing now without Giannis - they will be worse than the Wizards once Giannis leaves.

[Jcity08]

Bucks would love to get a big like Poeltl. Not a lot of teams have better bigs to offer.
Lopez is aging and they basically don't have a center at the moment.

Poeltl + RJ + Dick + Ochai/Walter + 3-4 First Round Picks

That's a pretty competitive offer IMO.

Who are the Bucks pairing these guys with with Giannis gone? The Bucks have absolutely nothing now without Giannis - they will be worse than the Wizards once Giannis leaves.

They probably need to tank next year for AJ and rebuild.

[Raptorfan2012]

Giannis wants to win. Bucks are finished with no future.
He will be traded

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Masai is on the plane to Milwaukee right now.

[Raptorfan2012]

Giannis wants to win. Bucks are finished with no future.
He will be traded

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I think he would love to stay there, he's just built differently. But they are going to come up empty when he asks them for specific ways in which they can improve the team. There really is nothing they can do.

Giannis gave the Bucks a championship already. Both parties can leave amicably; very similar with us and Kawhi. The Bucks have nothing left for Giannis to play for and with. Its time for him to start thinking about the next chapter in his life.

[Raps in 4]

Giannis wants to win. Bucks are finished with no future.
He will be traded

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Giannis is going to walk into that meeting wearing a classic Raptors jersey.

[MiamiSPX]

Giannis wants to win. Bucks are finished with no future.
He will be traded

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I think he would love to stay there, he's just built differently. But they are going to come up empty when he asks them for specific ways in which they can improve the team. There really is nothing they can do.

Giannis gave the Bucks a championship already. Both parties can leave amicably; very similar with us and Kawhi. The Bucks have nothing left for Giannis to play for and with. Its time for him to start thinking about the next chapter in his life.

Agreed. The consensus among Bucks fans is that they wouldn't blame him for leaving. It's not hyperbole to say they have no avenues with which to improve the team. They literally have none. No draft picks. Your largest non-Giannis contract is injured for at least a year. The next biggest contract is Kuzma, and nobody is taking him.

None of their youngsters are promising, and anyway, they don't make enough money to be able to move them for anything significant.

Given the Dame injury, I'm actually hard-pressed to come up with a worse situation currently.

[TakeYourHeart]

Bucks would love to get a big like Poeltl. Not a lot of teams have better bigs to offer.
Lopez is aging and they basically don't have a center at the moment.

Poeltl + RJ + Dick + Ochai/Walter + 3-4 First Round Picks

That's a pretty competitive offer IMO.

Why deplete the team just to keep Scottie? You gut the depth even further, leave us with no starting center all for a questionable fit between Scottie and Giannis.

In my opinion it is ideal to trade Scottie to keep more assets, players and construct a better roster.

[TorontoBarneys]

The flexibility of our offer will depend on where we hit with our lottery pick.

If we get #1, there's no way you include Cooper in any deal. Too valuable.

If we get #2, it poses the possibility of retaining Scottie + Poeltl while sending out out multiple FRP's. Harper is a great piece to begin a rebuild with and if they luck out in the '26 draft, it's potentially a quick 2-year rebuild.

If we get #3 or worse, then yeah, you'd have to include one of Scottie/Poeltl to get it done.

[Son Goku 25]

Someone send that Masai and Bobby clip to Giannis on a daily basis to remind him. That should do the trick.

Seriously though, I know they both have a great relationship and Giannis probably considers us an option.

[Merit]

If only it was that easy, right?

Also, we don't have the Pacers pick, it was traded for Ingram.
Quickley isn't a throw in, his value might be net-zero or even negative at this point given the size and length of the contract, and his mediocre performance this year. Bucks would be rebuilding - why would they trade a top 3 player for the 2nd, 4th, and ~6th?? best guys off of a bottom 7 team, while only getting back two picks, presumably out of the lotto?

Try to think of it from the other team's perspective. I mean, hell - would you trade Scottie for that package right now? lol.

If Scottie asked out, then yes - I would trade him for RJ, IQ, Gradey, and two firsts. Yes, yes I would.

If Scottie was on the Bucks instead of Giannis, you would take that package for him? Two mid-tier guys locked up to $30m contracts long(-er) term, a role player prospect, and 2 1sts out of the lottery? And you're still committed to Kuzma and Lillard for the next few years? When you didn't control any of your own picks? I wouldn't. Lillard(hurt)/IQ/RJ/Dick/Kuzma is your locked in team now into 2026-27. hat's worse than treadmill, and you only have 2 picks in the 20s to look forward to? Yikes. I think you'd get fired for that once the team starts the season 3-12 getting blown out by 20 nightly because they can't play any defence.

I would also look to move Lillard and Kuzma. It would be the start of a full teardown.

[Clutch0z24]

We can get outbid pretty easily by teams if this becomes an asset war between teams....We would be in the hunt but we would come up short because other teams if they wanted him could put better offers on the table....The only way Giannis becomes a Raptor is if he himself forces himself to be traded here....While not impossible i don't think he chooses the Raptors over other teams....

Thunder
Rockets
Nets

Might be all ahead of us if this becomes a thing this summer.

[WuTang_CMB]

Good news

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[WuTang_CMB]

If Amen is off the table and Presti chooses not to pursue Giannis then Masai is going to do everything to not include scottie barnes in a deal. Horst shouldn’t even pick up the phone if thats the case.

But if Toronto gets say the #2 pick for dylan harper that would be enticing along with all future draft capital and few other young players.

[ishoy123]

Giannis calls out Scottie as a player "who can handle the ball and put the teammates in the right place and play-make to make the team better"

[Scizzup]

Giannis to Houston make sense. They have a foundation on defense and those Suns picks are interesting. The only issue, which a lot off team will face is trading for him will deplete their roster. I also think the Amen thing is just talk, if Giannis wants to go there and will resign they will include Amen and give up fewer picks.

Idk if Giannis would go to Boston (J brown) but them and OKC (Jdub) are the easiest plug in teams for him (if Presti is interested). Maybe he can recruit KD to Houston with him.

I don't see him coming to Toronto. Scottie+ filler and 2 first + 2 swaps is gone at the very least in that trade. So won't be cap space for FA and few picks to trade for help. Giannis on a bad 3 point shooting team with Ingram or IQ being his 2nd best player is a 2nd round exit at best. first round if they get a bad matchup.


I think its more likely Giannis is still on the Bucks next year.