Giannis high fiving Lillard (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images)
Just four years ago, Giannis Antetokounmpo led the Milwaukee Bucks to the Promised Land, beating the Phoenix Suns in the 2021 NBA Finals. It was a long time coming for a franchise that had shown so much promise, yet failed to go all the way.
Since then, however, the Bucks have struggled in the playoffs. They’ve lost in the first round of the postseason in each of the last three seasons, and although injuries have certainly contributed to that, Milwaukee simply isn’t getting the job done.
Antetokounmpo is still one of the most dominant players in the Association, but his future remains uncertain in Wisconsin. That uncertainty reached a new level on Tuesday, however, as the Bucks surprisingly decided to waive Damian Lillard following his Achilles tear in the playoffs. Dame had $113 million remaining on his deal, and that will be stretched over the next five seasons. Yes, Milwaukee managed to acquire Myles Turner from the Indiana Pacers with this move, but that’s not exactly a game-changer.
Can Giannis Win it All in Milwaukee?
For what it’s worth, The Greek Freak is reportedly “not pleased” with the team’s decision to waive Lillard, who was supposed to be his co-star for the foreseeable future. The Bucks pulled off a blockbuster deal for Dame in 2023, only to cut ties with him after a terrible injury. Lillard and Giannis played just three playoff games together.
The Giannis trade buzz has been making its way throughout the Association for months after he expressed his desire to compete for more titles and be in a winning environment. Is a core of Giannis, Turner, Kevin Porter Jr, Kyle Kuzma, and Gary Trent Jr really going to be an NBA Finals contender? Likely not.
ESPN’s Brian Windhorst reported Tuesday that he believes Antetokounmpo’s likelihood of being moved is probably lower now.
“If you're a team out there like maybe the [San Antonio] Spurs or the [New York] Knicks or the [Miami] Heat who were maybe saving up their assets to try to make some sort of Giannis Antetokounmpo run if the Bucks weren't able to have an impactful free agency, you have to reevaluate how you're now operating over the next few days as well,” said Windhorst. “I would have to assume this significantly lowers the chances of Giannis Antetokounmpo becoming available anytime soon.”
He’s under contract for the next two seasons, and the Bucks just signed Turner to $107 million deal. Giannis was reportedly on board with partnering with Turner in the Milwaukee frontcourt, but Turner also isn’t exactly a co-star like Dame was.
However, what reason does he have to stay right now? Sure, he’s been extremely loyal to the franchise that brought him into the league, but they aren’t exactly making moves to elevate the franchise to an NBA Finals threat. They also have to find a proven replacement for Lillard at PG. That's yet to happen.
Numerous teams would jump at the opportunity to trade for Giannis. The Toronto Raptors, New York Knicks, and Miami Heat have been mentioned as potential suitors. The reality is the only way he’s leaving Milwaukee is by demanding it. The Bucks are doing everything they can to make sure that doesn’t happen, but unless some massive roster upgrades come in free agency, it truly does feel like Antetokounmpo should be exploring his options elsewhere.
Giannis is likely waiting to see how free agency unfolds for the Bucks, and if he’s not convinced by the moves, it could be time to leave before the 2025-26 campaign begins.
It's up to Milwaukee to do everything in their power to build an elite squad around him.
Quinn is a seasoned sports journalist from Vancouver, Canada. He's an editor for RG, a betting analyst, and a regular writer for Gino Hard, an NHL website that covers all things hockey. Quinn was previously a senior editor for ClutchPoints for 4.5 years. He is an ex-athlete himself, having played college baseball in the United States in his younger years. Quinn is a Swiss Army knife and has covered most sports, including soccer, baseball, basketball, football, tennis, and more.
