Giannis Thread - 13th Season with the Bucks

[MartyConlonOnTheRun]

I mean, for anyone thinking “if we’re not contenders this year he’s gone” then it sounds like you’ve already made up your mind cuz that sounds like 100% cope.

Depends what you count as a contender. Like I considered us a 'contender' last year as a five seed. If we are an 8th seed and getting our ass kicked by any decent team, what would you do as either Giannis or the Front Office at that point?

(I think we are a top 4 seed next year and with Giannis healthy in the playoffs/trade at the deadline, we will be in the mix)

[MartyConlonOnTheRun]

ESPN getting back to the basics.

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I'm guessing we're going to keep seeing/hearing this heavily to start the year. Really odd timing for this to all get leaked now and does nobody any favors. I love Giannis, but this is partially on him for letting it get this distracting. For someone who says they don't like the drama...

I have zero idea what Giannis wants, but what is he supposed to say. If he keeps saying every week "I'm never leaving Milwaukee" 1. It changes the leverage for the bucks 2. Changes the leverage for giannis on the Bucks, 3. He might not know for sure and doesn't want to be a hypocrite. Does he want to stay here for years if we decline to a playin team?

He could shout from the roof tops that he is never leaving Milwaukee and it would make us feel better as fans, but doesn't mean it's true or the best thing to do.

[paulpressey25]

Sengun, Jabari Smith, Reed Shepherd and the 2027 Nets pick swap, 2027 Suns pick and three unprotected Houston future firsts.

Shepherd not essential to the deal if Houston is short on guards and we don’t send them Dairy and/or Rollins. Then drop us that Mav’s/Phoenix swap thing they have in 2029.

[Matches Malone]

ESPN getting back to the basics.

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I'm guessing we're going to keep seeing/hearing this heavily to start the year. Really odd timing for this to all get leaked now and does nobody any favors. I love Giannis, but this is partially on him for letting it get this distracting. For someone who says they don't like the drama...

I have zero idea what Giannis wants, but what is he supposed to say. If he keeps saying every week "I'm never leaving Milwaukee" 1. It changes the leverage for the bucks 2. Changes the leverage for giannis on the Bucks, 3. He might not know for sure and doesn't want to be a hypocrite. Does he want to stay here for years if we decline to a playin team?

He could shout from the roof tops that he is never leaving Milwaukee and it would make us feel better as fans, but doesn't mean it's true or the best thing to do.

I'm not expecting him to come out and say anything definitive. But from the little he has said on it over the last few years, he already kind of flip-flops when the topic is brought up. One minute he's giving an interview in Greece about bringing the Bucks back to the finals, and the next he's acknowledging he's thought about other destinations this offseason and is more serious about looking elsewhere to win and secure his legacy (Which Shams then runs with and probably exaggerates what happens). Like you said, he might not know what he wants and doesn't want to be a hypocrite, but at some point, I hope he makes a decision. I don't think the year-to-year plan and constantly putting pressure on the organization is the right way to go about this and I think could cause more issues. Front office can make way more mistakes if they feel like they are on borrowed time walking on eggshells to build the roster up.

Personally, I'm just over it all. I just want to follow my team and enjoy basketball without every story line and how the team is covered going back to will he won't he leave. Exhausting.

[Chad34]

I’ve been a Giannis fan from the beginning and have been sensing the vibes with Giannis feel off. He seems to be changing, I’m surprised he stayed as humble as he has for as long as he has, but he seems to becoming more Americanized and self centered. The thing I’ve admired most about him was his humility and integrity. I was always willing to root for him still if he left the Bucks, but if he stoops to playing dirty tricks to force his way out, don’t know if I ever could. Seems like the writing is on the wall. He needs to come out and just be honest IMO, I could respect that a lot easier than playing dishonest games.

[MartyConlonOnTheRun]

Giannis has been one of the most low-key super stars. He's never been in trouble, a good family man, and has been loyal. All this despite having zero connections to this current team, front office, etc. if he's exhausting, I don't know what super star isn't.

[soxperry]

Stephen A says, "Im moving everyone but Brunson for Giannis."

Hey guess what, Stephen, and league fans in general... if you dont have great draft picks, you are giving up your best player for Giannis. Plain and simple. We're going to be taking other players too. You dont like that? No trade then. Good luck.

[Chad34]

Does Giannis feel betrayed by the Bucks somehow, did they start trade talks on their own?

[Ron Swanson]

Horst better have his best Kuzma plus Bobby and multiple swaps/firsts trade package ready to pull the trigger on at the trade deadline, because outside of this team miraculously starting 30-13 or something, can’t see any other way you’re gonna convince him we have any sort of realistic shot at winning a championship this season.

[Dick Tate]

GM's receive a plethora of calls from other GM's. Virtually every player is discussed at some point. Kicking the tires. The Knicks aren't the first and won't be the last. And Horst "taking their call" is what a GM should do.

Can’t label a “multi-week” “exclusive negotiating window” as just “taking their call.”

[Matches Malone]

Giannis has been one of the most low-key super stars. He's never been in trouble, a good family man, and has been loyal. All this despite having zero connections to this current team, front office, etc. if he's exhausting, I don't know what super star isn't.

The situation is exhausting. Most superstars don't have the same thing going on for 7+ years of rumors. I understand you want to stick up for him but you don't need to turn what I said into some Giannis bashing and like people don't appreciate what he's done here.

[FAH1223]

Houston or OKC are the best bets for a trade.

The East is wide open. Obviously Cleveland and New York have the best rosters.

But Giannis is the best player in the conference.

I think he will carry the Bucks to the postseason.

Does he have a 2018 LeBron type run in him?

[tonyreyes123]

Giannis can go already. This is like when you know your GF is flirting with other guys but you keep simping in denial

[humanrefutation]

ESPN getting back to the basics.

Read on Twitter

I'm guessing we're going to keep seeing/hearing this heavily to start the year. Really odd timing for this to all get leaked now and does nobody any favors. I love Giannis, but this is partially on him for letting it get this distracting. For someone who says they don't like the drama...

I actually think Giannis is too honest for his own good. It would be very easy for him to just lie to the media and say "I'm never leaving Milwaukee!" while telling Horst, behind the scenes, to make the call. But he's honest. He won't slam the door because, in his mind, he's prepared for the possibility if things get bad this year, and he doesn't want to be accused of misleading everyone about his intentions.

[raferfenix]

Horst better have his best Kuzma plus Bobby and multiple swaps/firsts trade package ready to pull the trigger on at the trade deadline

This is what’s newsworthy to me.

Giannis’ team could be emphasizing to Shams (on background) how excited they are about this new era Bucks team, but instead…

[mke_design]

ESPN getting back to the basics.

Read on Twitter

I'm guessing we're going to keep seeing/hearing this heavily to start the year. Really odd timing for this to all get leaked now and does nobody any favors. I love Giannis, but this is partially on him for letting it get this distracting. For someone who says they don't like the drama...

I actually think Giannis is too honest for his own good. It would be very easy for him to just lie to the media and say "I'm never leaving Milwaukee!" while telling Horst, behind the scenes, to make the call. But he's honest. He won't slam the door because, in his mind, he's prepared for the possibility if things get bad this year, and he doesn't want to be accused of misleading everyone about his intentions.

I don’t think being a fence sitter is viewed any more keenly than a liar. Make a choice. If he doesn’t want to be a buck which, assuming this is all true, you tell him to stay in Greece and wait to be traded in 3 months.

[mke_design]

Why does Myles sign here if Giannis is gone? Was he duped into a lie? He’s a really good player and could have been paid by the Pacers and waited out the storm for the Pacers to rise again. Seems like a really weird decision in hindsight.

[soxperry]

I dont know if any one player that we could feasibly acquire makes us a real contender. But Id like to know who people think that could be.

[El Pooch Grande]

Sad night. Feels like it's over to me. Really thought he was cut from the Dirk/Duncan/Kobe cloth....

Also, the true reason for the relentless Giannis rumors by ESPN and the media: They want this franchise relocated to Seattle ASAP.

Buckle up gentleman, because I'm not sure the Milwaukee Bucks as we know them will exist by the end of this decade, which also makes the trade compensation and rebuild efforts around Giannis moot. Why should we care about a package for a "rebuild" if it's actually truly going to be a rebirth gift for the resurrection of the Supersonics?

[Plossum]

Why does Myles sign here if Giannis is gone? Was he duped into a lie? He’s a really good player and could have been paid by the Pacers and waited out the storm for the Pacers to rise again. Seems like a really weird decision in hindsight.

I thought it was because the Bucks undercut the Pacers to pay Turner more than the Pacers were willing to give him?

Generally it’s always about money.