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Could Giannis Antetokounmpo’s future with Bucks be in question?
Could Giannis Antetokounmpo’s future with Bucks be in question?
The Milwaukee Bucks are staring down the barrel of what would be their third consecutive first-round exit, including the second-straight to the Indiana Pacers.
We’re only two games into it, but the Bucks are facing a 2-0 deficit. If we know anything about the track record of NBA teams down 2-0 in the series, it’s not good; according to Sports Illustrated, teams down 2-0 are 34-425 in a series, meaning teams down two games only win just over seven percent of the time.
Assuming that trend keeps true, could Giannis Antetokounmpo‘s future be in question? According to one respected NBA insider, teams are going to be monitoring his status heading into next season.
“How is [Giannis Antetokounmpo] going to be looking at this (situation) going forward?” ESPN NBA insider Brian Windhorst asked this morning. “I don’t have an answer. The league doesn’t have an answer. But that question is very likely going to define most of the NBA offseason.
“There’s no indication that he’s not done everything but invest in this team, but he can see the landscape like everybody else. How can he believe that this Bucks team can continue to improve going forward, considering how they’re devoid of all assets? How he looks at that could very possibly change the face of the NBA within the next six months.”
Antetokounmpo, 30, is still in the thick of his prime. He averaged 30.4 points, 11.9 rebounds and 6.5 assists on 60.1 percent shooting and 62.5 percent true shooting this season. He led the NBA in 2-pointers and free-throws this season, his fourth time leading in free throws over the last five years.
Brook Lopez, Taurean Prince and Gary Trent Jr. will all be free agents this upcoming summer, while Bobby Portis, Pat Connaughton and Kevin Porter Jr. all have player options. Damian Lillard also isn’t getting any younger and has recently dealt with a blood clot.
The Bucks cleared themselves of the second apron, but have been one of the oldest teams in the NBA, have no great young players waiting in the wings and don’t own any of their first-round picks (outside of swaps) until 2031. Andre Jackson Jr. and AJ Green are both fine, but neither is a building block for the future.
The writing is on the wall. Antetokounmpo knows the expectation hasn’t been met with this core, so I’m very curious to see if he is on the move sooner rather than later.
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