An ESPN report relays that the Milwaukee Bucks won’t explore trading Giannis Antetokounmpo if he were to pass on his supermax extension this offseason.
Clearly, a significant amount of speculation revolves around Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo this offseason.
With a supermax extension waiting to be presented to him at the start of this year’s free agency that will be worth north of $220 million over five years, Antetokounmpo’s future in Milwaukee is at a crossroads as he ponders that offer this winter. As a result, a number of significant scenarios clearly hang over the Bucks this offseason.
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One scenario won’t include potentially exploring a move to deal away the back-to-back MVP.
Per ESPN’s Tim Bontemps, the Bucks are “emphatic” they won’t trade Antetokounmpo, even if he were to pass on signing his supermax extension this offseason:
"“Multiple sources have emphatically said Milwaukee will not look to trade Antetokounmpo if he passes on the extension. Instead, the Bucks will try to improve their roster and use the next year to show Antetokounmpo why he should stay.”"
It’s far from a surprise to see the Bucks shut down any conjecture that they would look to move Giannis Antetokounmpo this offseason under this scenario.
Antetokounmpo himself has tried to shut down speculation for desiring a move a year ahead of potentially going into free agency as he told the following to Yahoo! Sports’ Chris Haynes last month:
"“It’s not happening. That’s not happening,” Antetokounmpo told Yahoo Sports after the Bucks were eliminated in five games in the second round by the Miami Heat on Tuesday night.“Some see a wall and go in [another direction]. I plow through it. We just have to get better as a team, individually and get right back at it next season.”"
Even as Antetokounmpo holds all of the cards in this situation, he clearly has wanted to make it work in Milwaukee, at least for next season.
Antetokounmpo’s reported meeting with co-owner Marc Lasry has set the stage for this pivotal offseason and everything is on the table to convince Antetokounmpo to stay in Milwaukee, whether it’s going into the luxury tax or looking to upgrading their roster to contend for next year’s NBA title.
Because of the transaction moratorium in place as well as next season’s cap being worked out by the league and the player’s association, we’re far from seeing what those changes look like going into next season.
Many questions exist for the Bucks this offseason, but one thing is clear: Giannis Antetokounmpo won’t be getting traded anytime soon, even if he were to pass on his supermax extension.