Giannis Antetokounmpo is reportedly scheduled to meet with the Milwaukee Bucks sometime this week. The purpose of the meeting is to talk about the team`s future direction. This comes after reports from figures like Chris Haynes and Shams Charania suggesting Antetokounmpo is considering whether Milwaukee is the best long-term fit or if he should explore other options. The upcoming discussion is seen as potentially critical in determining where the superstar will spend his peak years.
There have been previous occasions when Antetokounmpo was thought to be considering leaving Milwaukee. Each time, the Bucks managed to convince him to stay by making significant trades. Examples include acquiring Jrue Holiday in 2020, which led to a championship win in 2021, and Damian Lillard in 2023. However, the trade for Lillard hasn`t yielded similar success. Partly due to injuries, the Bucks haven`t won a playoff series since Lillard joined the team. Lillard himself suffered an Achilles tendon injury in the first round against the Indiana Pacers and is expected to miss the next season recovering.
This current situation leaves the Bucks in a very challenging spot. They lack control over their own first-round draft picks until 2030. Their roster is aging and expensive. Key players like Brook Lopez, who is a good fit alongside Antetokounmpo with his shooting and defense, is 37 years old and potentially becoming a free agent. A controversial trade saw long-time teammate Khris Middleton reportedly moved for Kyle Kuzma at the trade deadline – a move widely criticized. Consequently, there appears to be no obvious or easy way for the Bucks to quickly return to being a championship contender.
According to Chris Haynes, Antetokounmpo has “great ambition” and is focused on winning “multiple championships.” Antetokounmpo has previously stated that winning more titles is more important to him than simply remaining with one team for his entire career. In 2023, he told The New York Times, “Winning a championship comes first. I don`t want to be 20 years on the same team and don`t win another championship.”
If the Bucks hope to retain Antetokounmpo for the long term, this upcoming meeting will likely involve them trying to convince him of their plan for future championship contention. Given the team`s current challenges, this path seems difficult, perhaps even impossible. Therefore, if Antetokounmpo is genuinely considering leaving the only NBA franchise he has ever played for, information regarding that possibility will most likely emerge after this discussion.
Jasper Hawthorne