The Milwaukee Bucks are officially out of championship contention, and Giannis Antetokounmpo is rethinking his loyalty to the franchise. As uncertainty grows regarding his basketball future, more details have been released on what kind of team he might want to play for if he moves on from the Bucks.
“If Giannis ever makes the leap and requests a trade — or if the Bucks see writing on the wall and explore preemptive options — he’ll want more than just a new jersey,” reported Brandon ‘Scoop B’ Robinson. “I’m told he’s looking for three things: 1. Staying in the Eastern Conference, to keep his travel and media profile intact, 2. Being in a position of control, with a voice in roster building and coaching direction, 3. A market where other stars would want to join him — a place that isn’t just a destination for him, but could become a destination because of him.”
Giannis, 30, has spent all 11 years of his career with the Bucks. As a 2x MVP, NBA champion, and 9x All-Star, he’s established himself as a modern basketball legend who is on pace to join the ranks of the greatest players ever.
The big thing for Giannis has been loyalty, and he’s taken pride in staying with the team that drafted him back in 2013. Since his ascension into stardom, Giannis has never wavered in his commitment to the Bucks. After back-to-back failed seasons, however, Giannis’ loyalty is being pushed to the limit, and there are rumblings that he may consider leaving for the first time in his career.
Of course, with a three-year, $164 million contract, Giannis will have to force his way out if he wants a change of scenery, and it will likely trigger a massive bidding war across the league. Ultimately, the Bucks control his NBA future, but Giannis will surely have some say in any trade negotiations.
While teams like the Warriors, Spurs, and Rockets have been tied to Giannis, it makes sense that he prefers to stay in the East. The difference in talent is major, and Giannis wants to avoid making the title chase any harder than it already is. Of course, it also means he won’t have to move to the other side of the country.
The Greek Freak also values power within the organization, and he wants to be somewhere where he can have some control over the major decisions. This means that teams who cater to their stars and allow them to influence the front office will appeal more to Giannis as a potential future landing spot.
Finally, Giannis wants to team up with stars, and not every team is built to handle them right now. For Antetokounmpo, the key is to find a place that can help him build a dynasty so that he won’t have to worry about trying to carry a team on his own anymore.
With these criteria in mind, only a few teams stand out as an ideal fit for Giannis: the Atlanta Hawks, Miami Heat, and the Brooklyn Nets. While none of them are perfect destinations, they all offer Giannis what he’s looking for in his next NBA franchise, and they all have the assets to get a deal done.
