The Giannis Antetokounmpo era in Milwaukee has been coming to an end for months now, and even though a number of would-be frontrunners emerged in that time, no one was ever sure what the return for the two-time MVP might be. But this week's developments might have given us a clearer picture of the cards Jon Horst and company now have at their disposal.
According to Bill Simmons, Boston had already made an offer for Giannis Antetokounmpo in the past week. Speaking to NBA insider Zach Lowe over his podcast on Sunday, Simmons was quoted as saying that the Celtics had already reached out to Milwaukee with a real offer.
"I think they dove in [to the Antetokounmpo sweepstakes.] From what I heard, they made an offer in the past week...I thought they were sitting it out," he said.
Pair that with the latest scoop from Marc Stein on his Substack (subscription required): that the Miami Heat are indeed willing to part ways with the 13th overall pick in the upcoming NBA Draft, which would give Milwaukee two selections and expedite their rebuilding process post-Antetokounmpo.
"A deal, league sources say, that would feature Tyler Herro, Kel'el Ware and Jaime Jacquez Jr. as presumed certainties among Heat veterans to be headed to Milwaukee along with the No. 13 pick in the upcoming NBA Draft as well as additional but not-yet-specified draft compensation," Stein wrote on Sunday.
The Bucks suddenly have all the leverage they need to secure a worthwhile return for Giannis Antetokounmpo
Giannis has said he wants to compete, has been vocal about his desire to stay in the Eastern Conference, and has expressed concerns with how intact the Heat roster would still be after putting together a package for him.
Put together, all of this makes it seem as though the writing is genuinely on the wall now. An earlier report from insiders Sam Amick and Eric Nehm of The Athletic (subscription required) also said that the two-time MVP would actually be “willing to sign the four-year, $275 million extension," which would mean that Boston now poses a “serious threat to the Heat’s pursuit.”
This means that perhaps for the first time, Milwaukee no longer has to negotiate against a single suitor. They can take their time to go back and forth between the Heat’s proven, ready-to-compete assets and whatever package Boston is willing to put on the table to keep the Greek Freak out of Miami. The Celtics' interest could force the Heat's hand in Giannis talks, while the Heat's offer could also force Brad Stevens and company to find ways to sweeten the deal.
For months, the conventional wisdom suggested that if Giannis ever left, the return would be diluted by his contract status, maybe his injury history, and the desire to stay in a specific market. But with the Celtics seemingly entering the fray, even if just to disrupt ongoing talks, the Bucks suddenly have on their hands the one thing they lacked a week ago: a bidding war.
Boston and Miami now have to put their best foot forward in any talks if they truly want Giannis Antetokounmpo
As bidding wars go, that gives them the leverage to drive their asking price up. The pressure is no longer just on Milwaukee; it's on Boston and Miami to decide exactly how much their championship windows are worth.
Horst is on record saying he plans to go for blood if he has to settle for losing the player who built and defined this era of Bucks basketball. Now he has the means to do just that. Milwaukee’s front office has plenty of soul-searching to do after how this era ended, but they’ve been gifted the ultimate position of power.
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