[Shams] Sources: Giannis Antetokounmpo to explore best fits outside of Milwaukee

[Castle Black]

I don't enjoy seeing teams lose their franchise players tbh, especially in their prime. Same way I don't like seeing cities lose their franchises. It really sucks for the fanbase. That team drafted him, developed him, helped him grow, etc. And fans create emotional bonds with said player (see Mavs fan's reactions to losing Luka for reference).

With that said, this does seem like a situation where Giannis is best going elsewhere, simply because MIL has no way of significantly improving the team around him for the foreseeable future. They're only going to be worse with Dame expected to miss all of next season, and they don't own their 1st Round Pick this year. This would be as good a time as any for both parties to go their separate ways.

Will be interesting to see how this plays out. Still think Houston makes the most sense and can offer the best package of young players + picks (they own PHX's next 2 FRP's unprotected + their own). Would love him as a Spur, but don't see them parting ways with Castle and MIL likely wouldn't make a deal without him. Miami is always going to make a push, but it would likely cost them Bam and/or Herro, suddenly making it a considerably less desirable situation. Brooklyn has a plethora of Draft capital, but not a lot of talent to pair him with. And the dark horse team imo is OKC if the don't ring this year. They could offer Chet + another player + a ton of draft capital.

[Bornstellar]

Shams' initial report was "Giannis open to exploring potential fit outside Milwaukee" lol. ESPN needed to juice up the draft lottery, didn't they?

There's literally a playoff game on after the lottery. The fact Bucks fans are so in denial and running with the "trying to increase ratings" narrative is kind of sad honestly.

[GiannisAnte34]

Shams' initial report was "Giannis open to exploring potential fit outside Milwaukee" lol. ESPN needed to juice up the draft lottery, didn't they?

There's literally a playoff game on after the lottery. The fact Bucks fans are so in denial and running with the "trying to increase ratings" narrative is kind of sad honestly.

There hasn’t been a crumb of concrete proof offered here. Is this the kind of reporting you feel satisfied with?

If you just enjoy the drama from embellishment then more power to you.

[Clay Davis]

I don't enjoy seeing franchises lose their star players tbh, especially in their prime. Same way I don't like seeing cities lose their franchises. It really sucks for the fanbase. That team drafted him, developed him, helped him grow, etc. And fans create emotional bonds with said player.

With that said, this does seem like a situation where Giannis is best going elsewhere, simply because Milwaukee has no way of significantly improving the team around him for the foreseeable future. They're only going to be worse with Dame Lillard expected to miss all of next season, and they don't own their 1st Round Pick this year. This would be as good a time as any for both parties to go their separate ways.

Will be interesting to see how this plays out. Still think Houston makes the most sense. Would love him as a Spurs, but don't see them parting way with Castle and MIL likely wouldn't make a deal without him. Miami is always going to make a push. Brooklyn has plethora of Draft capital. And the dark horse team imo is OKC if the don't ring this year.

Giannis's professionalism throughout his career will be an asset in free agency. Any team making trades for Giannis has to be at least as serious of a franchise as Milwaukee, and there's a few that meet that standard. That being said, they do exist, and they'll have to come to the bargaining table with their best foot forward and their merits elongating their shadow.

I think this is best for Milwaukee, too. They had a wonderful run with Giannis. Plenty of franchises never had the rizz to give their nurtured talent the opportunity to compete for -- and win! -- a championship. But they made some moves that didn't work, and they can either fade away into the horizon and sink at sea or beach, salvage, and create an even more beautiful vessel. Who knows, maybe Giannis comes back after a few contracts for one last run with an up-and-coming Bucks team.

If they're smart (and, more importantly, lucky), they can accelerate their rebuild and be back to play-off contention within 3 years. If you've got a young star, there's few worse players than Lillard to have provide tutelage. It's really a great situation for everyone.

[bbms]

There’s only a few MVP level players in their prime, there are way more than a few teams who would want to acquire such a player. Do the math, there should be plenty of interested parties. It only takes one desperate owner to overpay.

what kind of overpay do you think would suit bucks better? bucks have limited options since they don't own themselves in the draft, they'd need players to make a team and picks back right?

Again I think the best option would be to completely rebuild with the farm restocked. Take back a bad contract like Embiid (if he’s dead cap) Beal, or PG13. You’ll get compensated for the bad contract dead weight plus have all the trade for Giannis centered around lottery picks and swaps.

bucks need another partner right? if phi has giannis their picks won't be great plus 35% chance they don't own their pick in 2025. lac will have an absurd amout of capspace after 2027 so the lac picks that 76ers own aren't probably going to be that appetizing.

[SkyBill40]

Unless the words "I'm unhappy and I want to explore other options outside of Milwaukee" are uttered by Antetokounmpo himself, this is just a fat nothing burger.

[Bornstellar]

Shams' initial report was "Giannis open to exploring potential fit outside Milwaukee" lol. ESPN needed to juice up the draft lottery, didn't they?

There's literally a playoff game on after the lottery. The fact Bucks fans are so in denial and running with the "trying to increase ratings" narrative is kind of sad honestly.

There hasn’t been a crumb of concrete proof offered here. Is this the kind of reporting you feel satisfied with?

If you just enjoy the drama from embellishment then more power to you.

Concrete proof? What do you think NBA news is? The only "concrete proof" you get is when the deal actually happens. The most reputable NBA news source is reporting it and that is enough proof. Shams doesn't just make stuff up, no matter how much you want to rationalize it and pretend it's some absurd attempt to increase ratings for a 30 minute lottery. Stick your head in the sand all you want, but it's becoming increasingly obvious that Giannis' tenure in MIL is nearing its end

[Bornstellar]

Unless the words "I'm unhappy and I want to explore other options outside of Milwaukee" are uttered by Antetokounmpo himself, this is just a fat nothing burger.

Kawhi Leonard never once said himself "I want out of San Antonio."

[SkyBill40]

Unless the words "I'm unhappy and I want to explore other options outside of Milwaukee" are uttered by Antetokounmpo himself, this is just a fat nothing burger.

Kawhi Leonard never once said himself "I want out of San Antonio."

Leonard was always pretty non committal to things and he's still that way now. The only thing he did commit to in SA was purposely tanking his play so that he could force his way out, and that's a lot worse in my opinion than coming out and saying it.

[Castle Black]

Unless the words "I'm unhappy and I want to explore other options outside of Milwaukee" are uttered by Antetokounmpo himself, this is just a fat nothing burger.

Kawhi Leonard never once said himself "I want out of San Antonio."

Too soon.

[Bornstellar]

Unless the words "I'm unhappy and I want to explore other options outside of Milwaukee" are uttered by Antetokounmpo himself, this is just a fat nothing burger.

Kawhi Leonard never once said himself "I want out of San Antonio."

Leonard was always pretty non committal to things and he's still that way now. The only thing he did commit to in SA was purposely tanking his play so that he could force his way out, and that's a lot worse in my opinion than coming out and saying it.

My point is that the player himself uttering the words rarely happens to begin with

[GiannisAnte34]

what kind of overpay do you think would suit bucks better? bucks have limited options since they don't own themselves in the draft, they'd need players to make a team and picks back right?

Again I think the best option would be to completely rebuild with the farm restocked. Take back a bad contract like Embiid (if he’s dead cap) Beal, or PG13. You’ll get compensated for the bad contract dead weight plus have all the trade for Giannis centered around lottery picks and swaps.

bucks need another partner right? if phi has giannis their picks won't be great plus 35% chance they don't own their pick in 2025. lac will have an absurd amout of capspace after 2027 so the lac picks that 76ers own aren't probably going to be that appetizing.

Yes because Phi would need to compensate picks just for absorbing PG13 or Embiid at this point. Those are two of the worst contracts in the league because they’re damaged goods. It would need to be a multi-team trade where Phi gives up other good assets like McCain and their lotto pick this year if they get one.

[Yoshun]

I heard a rumor he wants to play in Brooklyn.

Spoiler:

I actually started the rumor

.

[GiannisAnte34]

There's literally a playoff game on after the lottery. The fact Bucks fans are so in denial and running with the "trying to increase ratings" narrative is kind of sad honestly.

There hasn’t been a crumb of concrete proof offered here. Is this the kind of reporting you feel satisfied with?

If you just enjoy the drama from embellishment then more power to you.

Concrete proof? What do you think NBA news is? The only "concrete proof" you get is when the deal actually happens. The most reputable NBA news source is reporting it and that is enough proof. Shams doesn't just make stuff up, no matter how much you want to rationalize it and pretend it's some absurd attempt to increase ratings for a 30 minute lottery. Stick your head in the sand all you want, but it's becoming increasingly obvious that Giannis' tenure in MIL is nearing its end

ESPN submits clickbait all the time and that’s your shining example of reputable news? Maybe reexamine the slop you so eagerly hawk down. If you read the Shams article it doesn’t assert anything other than “teams will want to make a deal to get Giannis” and the irony is you laughing here when what you’re defending is a joke

[bbms]

shams usually reproduce agents' press release, if he's reporting that, means giannis team is putting pressure on the fo.

if people don't see giannis press conference's elimination day as him putting bucks fo under pressure i don't know what will make people see.

[Bornstellar]

There hasn’t been a crumb of concrete proof offered here. Is this the kind of reporting you feel satisfied with?

If you just enjoy the drama from embellishment then more power to you.

Concrete proof? What do you think NBA news is? The only "concrete proof" you get is when the deal actually happens. The most reputable NBA news source is reporting it and that is enough proof. Shams doesn't just make stuff up, no matter how much you want to rationalize it and pretend it's some absurd attempt to increase ratings for a 30 minute lottery. Stick your head in the sand all you want, but it's becoming increasingly obvious that Giannis' tenure in MIL is nearing its end

ESPN submits clickbait all the time and that’s your shining example of reputable news? Maybe reexamine the slop you so eagerly hawk down. If you read the Shams article it doesn’t assert anything other than “teams will want to make a deal to get Giannis” and the irony is you laughing here when what you’re defending is a joke

Okay bud. I'll be sure to bump this thread during the summer when Giannis is traded

[ball_takes23]

Giannis is going to pick his destination. He's too much of a family man to just accept whatever location they send him. NY, LA or Miami will be where he ends up imo.

He is going to pick his destination because he is close to free agency and can just refuse to sign with certain teams.

That puts MIL in the conundrum of either accepting a rental package or a package based on little leverage but that is what happens when you wait. If LAL, Miami, and NY are his teams is another team going to come in and blow MIL away knowing that they will only have GIannis for two years? Shrugs that is the question

thats how AD was able to force his way to LA, leaking thru the media which teams he was willing to play for. In a few weeks Giannis will do the same, letting the rest of the teams know that he is not interested.

[DaddyCool19]

Can the Bucks even upgrade/retool with that Lillard injury? If Lillard had a smaller injury, maybe they could've retooled by trading him but sadly the situation there seems dire right now

[CharityStripe34]

Shams' initial report was "Giannis open to exploring potential fit outside Milwaukee" lol. ESPN needed to juice up the draft lottery, didn't they?

There's literally a playoff game on after the lottery. The fact Bucks fans are so in denial and running with the "trying to increase ratings" narrative is kind of sad honestly.

You missed my point. Shams' initial report was about Giannis being "open about exploring potential fits outside of Milwaukee." ESPN has now basically all but said that he's shopping around. Giannis may very well quietly tell the GM and owners to shop him, but figured ESPN would run with it like he's online shopping for other teams. Not more than two months ago Giannis said the quote "I am not that kind of guy [to ask for a trade], they would have to kick me out." He certainly has said in the past that he wants to be with the Bucks as long as they want to remain competitive as his way of 'putting pressure' on the Bucks. I'll simply wait until he actually comes out to say he'll be requesting a trade before assuming anything.

I actually think given the relative parity around the NBA, it's not impossible for the Bucks to retool a bit with a decent team. Things change all the time.

[Zeno]

Giannis clearly wants to stay with the Bucks but he also clearly wants to win so unless the Bucks can turn that roster into a contender with near zero assets, the request almost certainly coming. Honestly, it is in the Bucks best interest to trade him unless Horst has a friend as dumb as Nico.