The Bucks’ recent losses point to one inevitable conclusion: they would be better off trading Giannis Antetokounmpo. After suffering consecutive losses against shorthanded teams—the Nuggets without Nikola Jokic and the Timberwolves without Anthony Edwards—it’s become clear the Bucks are nowhere near a championship contender.
Milwaukee’s trade assets are also limited, and they would be hard-pressed to find sufficient roster upgrades any time soon. It’s a heartbreaking decision to make, but it’s becoming more and more obvious every game that the Bucks can’t build a title contender around Giannis.
The Bucks need to trade Giannis before it’s too late
Even with Giannis playing and the team fully healthy, the Bucks are still falling to teams without their best players. Their most recent loss against Minnesota was one of the worst this season. Even without Anthony Edwards and Rudy Gobert, the Timberwolves controlled the entire game in a 33-point blowout.
The crisis of the Bucks’ season has led to some desperate ideas, such as trading for inconsistent former stars past their best days. A move like trading for Ja Morant might increase the team’s ceiling slightly, but it makes it very unlikely that the ceiling will ever be reached. Acquiring a player who really moves the needle will also require the Bucks to drain their remaining assets.
The NBA is too deep these days for a team with only one or two stars and insufficient depth to win. The Bucks have seen this the hard way so far. They stand at 17-23 now for 11th place in a weakened East. The gap between them and the top teams, even in their conference, is so big that it’s hard to imagine the Bucks winning a single playoff series, let alone three to reach the Finals.
With all that said, the true solution becomes obvious. The Bucks need to have the courage to trade their superstar and get the best return possible. Yes, the man who brought the team its first championship in 50 years, the man whose rise from overlooked prospect to MVP has all been contained in one uniform.
It’s also become clear that Giannis himself will not come out and ask for a trade. But the Bucks need to see it’s in their best interest and Giannis’ best interest. He’s still one of the best players in the world and just 31 years old. He can compete for a title on another team with a better roster.
But his future in Milwaukee doesn’t look bright. Instead, the Bucks will be best served entering a full rebuild with the assets they recoup from trading Giannis. And Giannis Antetokounmpo himself will be better off playing for a proper championship contender elsewhere.