After a trade deadline period that was dominated by the Greek superstar’s name bandied about, only for nothing to happen, the NBA’s off-season looks primed to be swallowed up by talk of Antetokounmpo trade discussion.
According to a report from ESPN’s Shams Charania on Monday, the Milwaukee Bucks are now “open for business” on trade calls for the two-time league MVP.
Antetokounmpo has said repeatedly that he likes playing in Milwaukee but wants to play for a franchise committed to competing for championships. The Bucks went 32-50 this season to snap a string of nine straight playoff appearances.
The Bucks can offer Antetokounmpo a four-year, $275-million contract extension in October. If Antetokounmpo doesn’t sign, he could become a free agent after next season.
Milwaukee co-owner Jimmy Haslam would like the matter settled long before October and spoke Wednesday as though the decision rests with the Bucks as much as it does with Antetokounmpo.
“We never had any problem communicating directly with Giannis — at all — and always knew where he stood,” Haslam said. “And I think he always knew where we stood. We’ve had those kind of conversations since the season was over. … So, sometime over the next six or seven weeks, we’ll decide whether Giannis is going to sign a max contract and stay with us, or he’s going to play somewhere else. And Jon and Taylor, along with (co-owner) Wes (Edens) and myself will make that call, and we understand the gravity of that call.”
Antetokounmpo has spent his entire 13-season career with the Bucks. The 31-year-old Milwaukee’s franchise leader in a slew of statistical categories, including games played, minutes played, total points, total assists and total rebounds.
Last season, he averaged 27.6 points, 9.8 rebounds and 5.4 assists per game in an injury-plagued season that saw him play just 36 games.
–with files from The Associated Press
