When Giannis Antetokounmpo hit the injury report, the Milwaukee Bucks predictably struggled. Missing your perennial MVP candidate in the lineup will do that to you. With the losses piling up, an obvious truth has revealed itself: the Bucks need more to be competitive.
The bottom of the Eastern Conference Play-In race has been surprisingly competitive, more so than most would have expected. The Bucks' current sub-.500 record is not good enough to secure them a spot. The margin to make up the distance is not large, by any means, though.
One good winning streak will easily put them back in the playoff picture of the Eastern Conference. The problem is the aspirations in Milwaukee are bigger than that. Whether they be misguided or not, the Bucks want a chance to win it all. Michael Scotto noted in his recent rumor mill round-up the answer to elevating the roster might come in the shape of Zach LaVine.
Scotto wrote, "The Milwaukee Bucks have conducted background due diligence on LaVine and others around the league, as usual, sources told HoopsHype. ... [Kyle] Kuzma has been linked to the [Sacramento] Kings via trade rumors for several seasons."
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It is worth noting that Scotto said nothing was 'imminent' with this situation. LaVine appears to be on the radar, but his ticket to Milwaukee has not been bought just yet. If the union does come to pass, the Los Angeles Lakers could be licking their chops for 2027.
Antetokounmpo has one more guaranteed year left on his contract after this season. A player option for 2027-28 would allow him to explore free agency in 2027. It remains quite telling that no extension has been signed just yet.
LaVine is a good player. That has never been a real doubt. The problem with the Kings star has always been the bloated contract of his.
The good news is 2025-26 is the second last season of that deal. LaVine then has close to a $49 million player option for 2026-27, which the 30-year-old would be wise to pick up. That would directly tie LaVine to Antetokounmpo's remaining years in Milwaukee.
It has always been difficult to build a strong team around the hefty price tag that is carried by the Kings scoring machine. The on-court fit with Antetokounmpo could be solid, but filling out the rest of the roster with competent talent will be difficult from there.
Should these last few years play out in Milwaukee, and Giannis somehow ends up as a free agent in 2027, the Lakers will be waiting. Offering him a spot beside Luka Doncic will be a strong sell to a player who wants to win in the NBA.