One of the biggest stories surround the Milwaukee Bucks this offseason, and the entire NBA in general, is the future of two-time league MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo with the organization. After a third consecutive first round exit in the NBA Playoffs, many members of the national media, and even some Bucks fans, expected Giannis to request a trade away from Milwaukee, the only team he has ever played for.
Obviously, there is no shortage of big market teams that would love to add a player like Antetokounmpo to their team. However, the Bucks made it clear early on that, should their star request a trade, they would have an incredibly high asking price, one that very few teams, if any, would be willing to meet.
But all of that now appears to be moot as latest reporting states what many Bucks fans have hoped and believed all along: Giannis is [probably] staying.
Giannis Antetokounmpo Does Not Appear Ready to Leave the Milwaukee Bucks
Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks
Dec 22, 2017; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) dunks a basket in the first quarter during the game against the Charlotte Hornets at BMO Harris Bradley Center. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports
Indeed, many fans who have been following Giannis for years believed that the reports that he would request a trade were merely rumors that did not come from the team nor the player himself. After all, the Greek Freak said as recently as the last All-Star break that he is “not the kind of guy” who would request a trade.
And now it seems that the rest of the NBA world is starting to realize that Giannis meant what he said.
Per a report by Hardwood Paroxysm:
“There hasn’t been a definitive and certain statement from Giannis Antetokounmpo or the Bucks leaked to the media about his intention to stay, but the tea leaves all read that way, and that’s the assumption being made by several teams.
“So once again, everyone buried the Giannis Bucks era, and once again, the Greatest Buck Ever looks set to stay the course with the team that drafted him. You can’t blame Bucks fans for laughing at everyone and taking the victory lap once again.”
But what is most interesting about the report is that Giannis and the Bucks, while earlier believed not to have met yet this offseason, have apparently met twice!
“What’s interesting is that several people I spoke to are under the impression there were two meetings. One with Giannis and the front office, with no report of the outcome from it and another with ownership and the front office that was focused on finances, specifically trying to reduce or eliminate their tax bill this summer.”
Now, it is going to be virtually impossible for the Bucks to completely eliminate their tax bill. Doing so would require moving both Kyle Kuzma and Damian Lillard, and neither will have strong trade markets this summer. Lillard, of course, will not have any market as he is recovering from a torn Achiles.
But the fact of the matter is that Giannis wants to be in Milwaukee, he wants to make it work in Milwaukee, and he wants to win another NBA Championship in Milwaukee.
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