Giannis Antetokounmpo has been outspoken about his desire to win and reluctance to sign an extension recently, but one NBA insider believes this approach could force the Bucks to take action.
On multiple occasions in the last few weeks, Giannis has said that if he doesn’t feel like everyone on the team is going for a championship, then he may look to join another NBA franchise.
“If there is a better situation for me to win the Larry O’Brien I have to take that better situation,” The two-time MVP told Bleav just last week.
Very soon, he will be eligible for a three-year $173 million extension, but doesn’t want to commit just yet.
“The real question’s not going to be this year — numbers-wise it doesn’t make sense,” Antetokounmpo told The New York Times. “But next year, next summer it would make more sense for both parties. Even then, I don’t know.”
If the Bucks fail to win a championship next season, ESPN’s Zach Lowe has hypothesised about what could happen, since the Bucks have an ageing roster of Khris Middleton (32 years old), Brook Lopez (35 years old) and Jrue Holiday (33 years old).
“Let’s say that that happens, then you get to the offseason he’s got one guaranteed year left on his contract, everyone that you just mentioned is one year older,” Lowe said on The Lowe Post. “He has already told you that ‘If I don’t think this team can win big, win all the way I’m going to go somewhere else.’ Whatever you think is a disappointing Bucks season, I think they actually might trade him, and I think part of the reason why Giannis is being so out there about this is almost doing the Bucks a favor in that sense that they will have that clarity.”
There certainly has been a noticeable shift in Giannis’ attitude as of late and certainly it could be perceived as the 29-year-old planting the seeds and soft launching his future trade request.
If he doesn’t request a trade in the near future, the Bucks may just beat him to it and trade for players who actually want to be there.
Until the Greak Freak signs an extension to stay in Milwaukee, expect the trade rumors to be pretty much constant, since it’s regarding one of the most talented players in the game.
There will be no shortage of suitors for Antetokounmpo and some of the teams Lowe and Ramona Shelburne mentioned include the Knicks, Nets, Lakers, Heat, Warriors, Pelicans, OKC, Rockets, Raptors and the Magic.
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