While the Milwaukee Bucks stumble towards the playoffs without Damian Lillard – and face many questions even if Lillard returns this season – there are teams from the League, keeping an eye on the situation of Giannis Antetokounmpo. As has been reported at NBC Sports before, it is at the top of the list of “superstars to watch” for most of the teams because it is so competitive and Milwaukee seems to move away from the assertions.
Add the reconstruction of Brooklyn to this list of interested teams, reports Brian Lewis to the New York Post.
“The staff of the multiple league who spoke with the post says that Giannis antetokounmpo has been and remains the plan for the nets. If Antetokounmpo is exchanged elsewhere this summer, it could make the way to GM Sean Marks Simple, Tanking for another year and build through the lottery. ”
Provide a little context for this report.
• The Bucks will not exchange antetokounmpo unless it requires it, the sources of the league have told NBC Sports several times. Milwaukee has no motivation to make a job. Antetokounmpo is one player among the first three in the world who leads to victory on the field and leads the business model for the Bucks – the fans pay tickets to see it, the sponsors pay to be associated with the franchise because of him.
• Antetokounmpo did not ask for a trade.
• Antetokounmpo signed a three -year contract extension with the Bucks a year ago which does not even start before next season. He is under contract with the team until the summer of 2027 (he has a player option for the season after that).
• Milwaukee cannot exchange antetokounmpo and pivot a reconstruction because the Bucks do not control their own choice until 2031 (and even if a team sent them five first-round choices in a trade, how good these choices would they be good as antetokounmpo lifts said that the team in the playoffs and probably contest).
• With its contract extension, even if Antetokounmpo asked for a job, the Bucks could slow down the search for an agreement, in place of a way to upgrade their list and keep antetokounmpo happy and in Wisconsin.
• Antetokounmpo has fueled rumors more than once saying that competition for a ring is the most important thing. The current iteration of the Bucks does not look like a title competitor, and the list ages.
• If Antetokounmpo asked for a job, each team of the League would at least call the tires on a potential trade. Antetokounmpo is a MVP twice at its peak, players like this are not available in a trade.
• If Antetokounmpo asked for a job, he would like to be treated somewhere, he makes the team a candidate in the legitimate title. Brooklyn would have many other work to do to get there.
All this to say that Brooklyn GM Sean Marks can have antetokounmpo as “Plan A”, but it would be better to have a “plan B” and “Plan C” ready to use. Plan A is a real long shot.
