Milwaukee Bucks Rumors: Thanasis Antetokounmpo reportedly finalizing 2-year deal
By Adam McGee
The source of frequent rumors over the past two weeks, it appears as if the Milwaukee Bucks and Thanasis Antetokounmpo may well be close to a 2-year deal.
UPDATE (11:30 CT): According to Shams Charania of The Athletic, the Bucks and Thanasis have now reached an agreement on a two-year deal.
The Milwaukee Bucks and Thanasis Antetokounmpo -- the older brother of the NBA MVP, Giannis -- have agreed to a two-year contract, league sources tell @TheAthleticNBA @Stadium.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 7, 2019
Where there’s smoke, there’s fire, as the old saying goes, and in recent weeks there’s been no shortage of smoke linking the Milwaukee Bucks with a deal for Thanasis Antetokounmpo.
It all started with reports that Thanasis, the elder brother of MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo, was set to join Milwaukee for Summer League, yet that notion was swiftly put to an end when his name was notably absent from the official roster released by the team.
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Logic would have suggested that put an end to any chance of Thanasis joining up with his brother in the near future, but the reports kept on coming. This time the news was coming from Greece, as sports site Gazzetta reported that general manager Jon Horst had given the “green light” for negotiations to begin on a two-year, $3 million contract.
That report prompted further investigation from Matt Velazquez of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, who noted that there was no deal in place at that time, although that didn’t mean it wouldn’t happen down the line.
Saw the report about Thanasis Antetokounmpo and the Bucks. Followed up on it. Word I got was there’s nothing in place — let alone agreed upon — right now. Doesn’t mean it won’t happen, just that it’s not a thing at this particular moment in time.
— Matt Velazquez (@Matt_Velazquez) July 5, 2019
Now, just a couple of days later, it seems as if that point may have been reached as Eurohoops, the highly credible source of all news and reporting on European basketball, have now released their own story indicating an agreement between the Bucks and Thanasis is close.
According to the report from Nikos Varlas, the two-year deal is likely to follow the structure that had been speculated about in previous reports:
"“Thanasis’ contract will be guaranteed and it’s expected to pay him a total of $3 million.”"
Considering the twists and turns of this saga to date, there’s certainly reason to remain somewhat skeptical until a deal is completed, but it does appear that too many respected reporters from across the European basketball community have been pointing to Milwaukee’s interest in Thanasis for the past two weeks or so.
The terms of the contract are also interesting, as Thanasis could have signed with the Bucks on a two-way deal that would have allowed him to split time between the NBA and the Herd in the G League, yet the reporting suggests Antetokounmpo will be joining via a regular roster spot instead.
Of course, Thanasis joining Giannis would not only give the Bucks their own set of Antetokounmbros, but it would also make for the second set of brothers on next year’s team given the recent deals for twins Brook Lopez (who, along with Eric Bledsoe, is currently in Greece with the Antetokounmpos) and Robin Lopez.
(Perhaps Miles Plumlee, Marshall Plumlee and Tyler Zeller just found themselves with the Bucks at the wrong time.)
Thanasis was drafted with the 51st overall pick in the 2014 NBA Draft, and played two games in the NBA as a member of the New York Knicks. From there, Antetokounmpo went on to make NBA D-League All-Defensive Teams in both 2014 and 2015 while playing for the Delaware 87ers and Westchester Knicks, respectively.
Since returning to Europe, Thanasis has continued to build on his reputation as an impactful defender during a successful stint with Panathinaikos, who were coached by Rick Pitino last season.
Antetokounmpo shouldn’t be expected to take on any major role if his deal with the Bucks does come to pass, but be may have some utility as a specialist defender on the wing who logs situational minutes.
Of course, such a move would undoubtedly please his brother, Giannis, although it does also open the possibility for the discomfort that could come from the Bucks needing to waive or trade his brother down the line.
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The Thanasis Antetokounmpo saga may rumble on for another few days before any more concrete news arrives, but it’s reached a point where it’s become increasingly difficult to ignore or dismiss. It looks like the Bucks will have a second Antetokounmpo next season.