Giannis Antetokounmpo delivered so more insight into his decision making when it comes to a long term future with the Milwaukee Bucks.
The Giannis Antetokounmpo supermax extension is the most prominent headline of the offseason for the Milwaukee Bucks.
With one year and $27 million left on his deal, the question on everyone’s mind is whether the Greek Freak will sign his lucrative extension offer with Milwaukee or not. New cap projections say that the Bucks can offer the superstar a five-year deal worth $226 million, less than the originally projected $250 million, but far more than any other franchise could offer him nevertheless.
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Currently vacationing in Sweden, the two-time league MVP interviewed with the Stockholm newspaper Aftonbladet ($$).
With rumors about his future with the Milwaukee Bucks looming large, Giannis cleared the air, transcribed by Kurt Helin of NBC Sports:
"Antetokounmpo: “There are a lot of rumors. Everyone has opinions. But at the end of the day, I will do what is best for my family. I do not see why I could not be in Milwaukee for several years. As long as Milwaukee and I are on the same page when it comes to being one of the best teams in the league and winning championships, that’s fine. When it changes, it will not be good. It’s easy, I want to be a winner… As long as we can win and create a winning culture, it will be good.”Aftonbladet: So your plan is to stay in Milwaukee next year and then maybe sign an extension?Giannis: “I do not know what the plan is. It depends on what decisions they make. If they make the right decision, I’ll be there for many years. If they do not, we’ll see. The NBA is a business and we take it day by day. Hopefully we can succeed together.”"
This news was nothing unheard of, as the 25-year-old told TNT’s Ernie Johnson more of the same when he accepted his second MVP award virtually in September.
"“As long as everybody is on the same page and as long as everybody is fighting for the same thing every single day, which is to be a champion, I don’t see why not be in Milwaukee for the next 15 years.”"
Giannis Antetokounmpo’s desire to build a winning culture with the Milwaukee Bucks puts pressure on the higher-ups to make that possible.
Despite possessing the best regular season record in consecutive seasons, all the Bucks have to show for it is two disappointing postseason exits. The team knows that running it back next season with this roster intact is out of the question, as they find themselves taking part in what is set to be a very active trade market.
The team has been involved in a slew of trade speculation since their playoff defeat, ranging from Bogdan Bogdanovic to Victor Oladipo, to most recently Robert Covington and P.J. Tucker and several more. The reported interest in these targets indicates that Milwaukee is going to do everything in their power to get Giannis a revamped championship-caliber supporting cast ahead of next season.
With the NBA set to uplift its moratorium on trades and kickstart free agency in the coming weeks, expect Milwaukee to be busy. This is shaping up to be the most crucial offseason in Bucks’ franchise history, with their superstar potentially hanging in the balance.
Only time will tell what Giannis Antetokoumpo and the Bucks have in store, but right now, it appears that a long-term future together is certainly in the cards.