Last week the Milwaukee Bucks completed their 15-man roster by re-signing Thanasis Antetokounmpo to a one-year deal. Having been on the roster for four seasons, he has been an integral part of the locker room and was on the 2021 title-winning team.
The news wasn’t a shock to many with Giannis Antetokounmpo still on the roster. He hasn’t played a prominent role on the team, but in the locker room, he is a great presence, especially for his younger brother Giannis.
The financial aspect of Thanasis Antetokounmpo’s deal with the Milwaukee Bucks
Per Spotrac, Thanasis has signed a one-year deal worth $2.34m. Being the 15th man on the roster means he is unlikely to see any more game time than last season, but keeping Giannis happy and motivated is a huge thing for Milwaukee. Some fans may dislike it and feel he is only on the roster because of Giannis, but he is still a solid basketball player capable of being in the NBA.
It was also vital for the Bucks to keep a hold of Thanasis as rumors circulated of teams looking to pick him up in order to draw Giannis to a new city in the next coming seasons. Not to say that Thanasis joining the New York Knicks would tempt Giannis away, but it was likely a recruitment tactic with reports of them monitoring his situation.
Overall the contract is fine and takes up very little cap, and if he plays, it will most likely be just garbage time minutes. This deal is much more of a benefit when it comes to familiarity and a positive presence in the locker room.
Assessing Thanasis Antetokounmpo’s fit and role with the Milwaukee Bucks
As previously mentioned, Thanasis’ role in this team is as a locker room presence and a calming figure for Giannis when things are going tough. Last season he did only play 37 games, averaging 5.6 minutes and just 1.4 points per game.
Towards the latter stages of the season, he did see more minutes and put up decent stat lines that prove he can still perform well when required. In April against the Memphis Grizzlies, he scored 12 points, eight rebounds, and four assists, shooting .545 from the field. He followed that up with 14 points against the Toronto Raptors while shooting .500 from the field.
I understand the argument that this roster spot could have gone to a younger player with something to prove and potentially grow into a solid rotational piece. However, we know this move is for more than just on-court reasons, and I can understand why the front office continues to keep Thanasis.
He adds familiarity in the locker room and will help with the new guys, in particular the draft picks, when it comes to bedding in quickly with the rest of the roster. If needed he adds an extra body at the forward position if injuries occur during the season. As the 15th man on the roster, most players don’t see much game time, and it is understandable that some fans may be annoyed by this, but if Thanasis signing is a way to keep Giannis, then it is vital for the Bucks to keep him.
To conclude, Thanasis is a locker room guy that will mostly play garbage minutes to let other players rest.
Thanasis Antetokounmpo’s long-term outlook with the Milwaukee Bucks
The long-term outlook with this signing is intriguing. At 31 years old and not playing often, this deal may see Thanasis not return following this new one-year deal. It is clear that teams think they can prize Giannis away from the Bucks and that Thanasis can be a tool to do that. However, we don’t know if that is 100 percent the case, and the front office may genuinely see value in him being part of the locker room.
Following on from this season, we may see that Thanasis stays around the team even if he is not part of the official roster. If the front office feels there is a way to keep all parties involved happy then they will do it regardless. Some have offered up the idea of him potentially becoming an assistant coach, but that’s just one idea.
For this coming season, Thansis will take up the same role as he has in the previous four seasons in Milwaukee. He is always an integral part of the bench mob and keeps spirits high in the locker room. After this season, we will have to see what the front office decides to do with him.
The verdict on Thanasis Antetokounmpo’s new deal with the Milwaukee Bucks
Overall, this was a deal that I think everyone expected to see. It is a good deal for the Milwaukee Bucks, and Thanasis Antetokounmpo will continue to do his role as in previous years. The new draft picks and the likes of A.J. Green will not see their minutes impacted by this move.
Financially, the deal makes sense. Keeping the money low but also doing the role perfectly and being a calming presence for Giannis, and ensuring familiarity and positivity remain in the locker room are all welcoming things. At the end of the season, they can then decide what is best to do from there, whether it’s keeping Thanasis as a player or another role or just letting him go.
To conclude, this was an expected move by the Milwaukee Bucks and helps in more ways than just on-court and keeps people happy. As the 15th man on the roster, there’s not much to complain about with the signing of Thanasis Antetokounmpo. The Bucks gave him the league minimum, so it’s certainly not a financial issue.
BTBP Grade: B+
Stay tuned for more Milwaukee Bucks news and analysis as the NBA season edges closer.