Over the summer, the Milwaukee Bucks waived Damian Lillard to create space to sign Myles Turner to a four-year, $107 million deal. By doing so, Milwaukee stretched the remainder of Lillard's contract ($113 million) across five seasons. It was an aggressive move for the Bucks, but they wanted to convince Giannis Antetokounmpo to stay amid the trade rumors.
Giannis decided to start the season in Milwaukee, although the Bucks and Knicks did discuss a trade over the offseason. Here we are a quarter of the way into the season, though, and the Giannis trade saga is heating up again.
On Wednesday, ESPN NBA insider Shams Charania reported that Giannis and his agent are discussing with the team whether the superstar will stay in Milwaukee or go elsewhere. He added that a source "with direct knowledge of the situation" said the "writing is on the wall," barring "a dramatic turn of events in the Bucks' season."
In other words, prepare yourself (if you haven't already) for Giannis to leave Wisconsin sometime in the next two months.
Bucks' aggressiveness hasn't worked in their favor with Giannis
If Giannis does decide that a trade is what's best for him, and again, that seems to be the direction he's headed in, it will make Milwaukee's decision to waive and stretch Lillard's contract look terrible. The Bucks did so to be competitive, but they're 9-13, 11th in the East. Granted, Giannis did miss four games, all losses, but that doesn't change anything. He played on Monday in the team's 129-126 loss to the Wizards, who previously won only two games.
Milwaukee doesn't look like a team that can contend for a title. Giannis has made it clear that he wants to be in a position to win another championship, which is why the Bucks felt like they needed to move on from Lillard after he tore his Achilles in the playoffs. They knew that he'd miss the 2025-26 season and that time wasn't on their side.
Time certainly isn't on their side right now, either. It doesn't help that Turner is struggling. He was their big offseason acquisition, and he hasn't lived up to those expectations in his first few months in Milwaukee.
The Bucks knew the risks that came along with stretching Lillard's contract out to add Turner, but they hoped it'd help push them closer to a title than they've been in recent seasons. Giannis could be gone soon, and guess what? They'll still have to pay Dame for the next few years. Yikes.