Mere days following the peak of the Jimmy Butler trade rumors, a new player has surfaced in the latest rumblings: 2x MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo. According to ESPN’s Tim Bontemps, teams across the league are watching that situation in hopes of potentially luring Giannis to their roster.
“Longer term, rival teams are still watching what will happen with Giannis Antetokounmpo if the Milwaukee Bucks suffer another disappointing end to the season after two consecutive first-round losses,” wrote Bontemps.
Giannis, 30, was drafted 15th overall by the Milwaukee Bucks in 2013. After his first three years in the league, Giannis blossomed into a top-tier star and he’s been among the game’s best players ever since.
As a 2x MVP and a regular candidate for best player in the world, many fans and experts have tried to get Giannis into a bigger market, where he can grow his brand to an entirely new level. So far, through 11 years, Giannis has remained loyal to the Bucks. And in return, the Bucks have done everything in their power to surround him with a championship roster.
They acquired Jrue Holiday and Khris Middleton, who helped the Bucks win a title in 2021. They hired coaching legend Doc Rivers to lead the locker room, and they also traded for Damian Lillard to create a powerful new tandem. The Bucks sacrificed a lot to help Giannis win now.
But despite the Bucks’ best efforts, they’ve been in a steady decline since their title run years ago. Last season, at the start of the Giannis/Lillard era, they finished 3rd in the East at just 49-33. They lost in the first round of the playoffs to a young and inexperienced Indiana Pacers squad.
This season, while the Bucks have been better recently, they aren’t yet in the upper echelon of contenders and they still have a long way to go before they’re in a place where they can consistently win games.
It’s no secret that Giannis has a thirst for winning, and with the Bucks currently being one of the most disappointing teams in the NBA, there is a growing sense that he might consider a change of scenery to maximize his title chances.
Since Giannis still has four years left on his deal, including a player option, it’s unlikely he will get moved before this year’s trade deadline. But if the Bucks get bounced early in the 2025 playoffs, teams expect that he may be more open to forcing his way out and demanding a trade just like his teammate and co-star did.
A lot is riding on this season for the Milwaukee Bucks. Besides validating their blockbuster trade for Lillard, they must prove to Giannis that this is a place that he can win for the next few years to come. If not, teams will be lined up and ready to give Giannis their best pitch.
The next game for Giannis and the crew is on Saturday, December 28th, at United Center against the Chicago Bulls at 8:00 PM EST. On Tuesday, December 31st, they play the Indiana Pacers at Gainbridge Fieldhouse at 3:00 PM EST. Finally, the Nets return home on Thursday, January 2nd for a showdown against the Brooklyn Nets at 8:00 PM EST.
Thank you for being a valued reader of Fadeaway World. If you liked this article, please consider following us on Google News. We appreciate your support.
