The time will soon come for Giannis Antetokounmpo to make a decision on his looming supermax extension. How will the new cap projections affect it?
During this NBA offseason, no decision has bigger impact on the league than what Giannis Antetokounmpo chooses to do with his long-term future.
From the minute this year’s free agency period opens, the Milwaukee Bucks will offer the reigning back-to-back MVP a five-year supermax extension that will ensure whether Antetokounmpo stays put for the foreseeable future. Of course, what was once going to be the richest extension in NBA history has been affected by the financial hardships facing the league as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.
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Now Antetokounmpo’s supermax extension will come in around $226 million over five years after the league and the NBPA agreed on their tentative plan for the 2020-21 season.
That includes the reworked salary cap numbers for not just this season, but the 2021-22 and 2022-23 seasons as The Athletic’s Shams Charania reported on Thursday night.
While the drop in overall money isn’t insignificant by any means, the Bucks have a new advantage in their back pocket under this scenario. The Athletic’s John Hollinger ($$) recently noted that with the cap numbers known for the next three seasons, Antetokounmpo would actually make more money now under these projections, especially when the current CBA expires going into the 2023-24 season.
While the Bucks can offer more money than any other team, Giannis Antetokounmpo is guaranteed to have that offer on the table when he would hit free agency next offseason.
Of course, as it continues to be noted in any discussion that breaks down what Antetokounmpo has to ponder this offseason, the 25-year-old has the security of knowing that same offer will be on the table next offseason, thanks to his eligibility. That certainly is a chip in Antetokounmpo’s favor that edges out the financial advantages Milwaukee has in securing the superstar’s services long-term.
Nevertheless, rumblings continue to surface in regards to the Bucks’ confidence level when it comes the possibility that Antetokounmpo signs his supermax extension, just as ESPN’s Zach Lowe relayed in his offseason preview column late last week:
"“Many within the Bucks remain confident Giannis Antetokounmpo will sign a five-year supermax extension valued at between $220 million and $250 million (depending on the cap level) before the start of the 2020-21 regular season. Unless something drastic changes, Milwaukee is not trading him. If Antetokounmpo doesn’t sign, the Bucks are prepared to play it out, sources have said.”"
Whether that comes this fall/winter or late next summer remains to be seen, but the Bucks’ confidence hasn’t diminished, even after their latest disappointing playoff finish.
The clock on when Antetokounmpo is able to sign his supermax extension, if he so chooses, will start in likely a couple of weeks time and he will have until the day before the start of the 2020-21 season to either put pen to paper or inform the Bucks he’s passing on committing to such a deal.
With Antetokounmpo’s decision looming over everything the Bucks will do this offseason in a way to reload their hopes to take next year’s NBA title, Bucks fans ought to brace themselves for what will be the biggest offseason in franchise history.