After the Milwaukee Bucks have been eradicated within the first spherical of the NBA playoffs, rumors started to swirl about Giannis Antetokounmpo requesting a trade out of Milwaukee.
Nonetheless, ESPN’s Brian Windhorst appeared on “Get Up” on Tuesday to debate what the most recent rumors have been surrounding Antetokounmpo and a possible commerce.
This aligns with some current skepticism about him lastly going by way of with a commerce request. Nonetheless, these are rumors and hypothesis. Nothing issues till Antetokounmpo professes he desires to remain in Milwaukee. Effectively, that’s precisely what he did in a current interview.
That quote may be the official stamp of loyalty from the previous two-time MVP. He’s dedicated to the franchise, however for a way lengthy?
The Bucks are missing expertise and are in dire want of a roster overhaul. They’re greater than doubtless going to be with out Damian Lillard for all of subsequent season as a result of his torn Achilles, and will not be capable of deliver again Brook Lopez, who is ready to be an unrestricted free agent.
They’ll be in a bind this offseason with their salary-cap situation, whereas additionally not having possession of most of their picks inside the subsequent a number of years. The Bucks want to repair this workforce, as they’ve didn’t win a playoff sequence for 3 straight seasons now and have solely received one playoff sequence since they received the title in 2021.
They don’t have many choices to instantly catapult themselves again into title competition, no matter having Antetokounmpo or not. The Bucks have tried to make huge strikes over the previous few seasons, akin to buying and selling for Lillard and Kyle Kuzma, and neither resulted in playoff success.
Antetokounmpo is remaining loyal to the one workforce he has ever performed for within the NBA, however the persistence may be working skinny if the identical consequence continues. Lillard was in the identical state of affairs with the Portland Path Blazers for over a decade. He tried to stay loyal, however the failures started to pile up, and he requested a commerce. Kevin Garnett confronted this problem within the 2000s whereas with the Minnesota Timberwolves.
The rumors of Antetokounmpo leaving Milwaukee are starting to dwindle, however what’s stopping this saga from choosing again up subsequent season? Loyalty has an expiration date within the NBA.