All isn’t effectively in Milwaukee.
In 2021, the Bucks gained a world championship and it appeared like Giannis Antetokounmpo would dominate the NBA for the following 5 years.
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Quick ahead to 2024 and there are murmurs of commerce rumors after the Bucks fell to 1-4 to start out the season.
The most recent nadir got here on Thursday after being defeated by the Memphis Grizzlies, 122-99, making it three consecutive losses of their first 4 video games.
“Dropping is irritating,” Giannis mentioned afterward. “My dad used to say why complain in case you’re not going to surrender. I am not going to surrender.”
‘The Greek Freak’ might not have given up on his teammates but, however his religion within the group seems to be waning.
This has not gone unnoticed in The Affiliation. In keeping with experiences, “groups are circling — and hoping” — to land the seemingly disgruntled two-time MVP.
“I would not be shocked if this occurred earlier than the commerce deadline,” a senior crew govt informed CBS.
Giannis and the Bucks agreed to a three-year, $186 million contract extension simply final yr.
The extension begins with the 2025-26 season, which means Antetokounmpo is underneath contract for no less than 4 extra years, and a fifth if he chooses.
The 29-year-old has frequently professed his loyalty to the crew that drafted him in 2013, however solely underneath one situation: stay aggressive.
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Nevertheless, the Bucks not really feel like true contenders within the resurgent Japanese Convention.
Milwaukee was unable to defend its title on the finish of the 2021-22 season after falling to the Boston Celtics in Sport 7 of the Japanese Convention Semifinals.
A yr later they had been eradicated in 5 video games towards the Miami Warmth within the first spherical of the postseason.
Final season, Giannis suffered a calf damage and missed the rest of the common season, in addition to the whole lot of the 2024 NBA playoffs, when the Bucks fell to the Indiana Pacers in Spherical 1.
Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown’s Celtics have stuffed the ability vacuum within the Japanese Convention amid the Bucks’ regression.
Elsewhere, the Knicks, Magic and Cavaliers have all improved, which means the East is not as simple because it as soon as was.
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The teaching adjustments have not helped the Bucks.
Adrian Griffin was sensationally fired amid locker room issues regardless of the crew sitting in second place within the Japanese Convention with a 30-13 document.
His alternative? Doc Rivers, a coach who hasn’t gained since 2008 and is most well-known for turning into the primary coach in NBA historical past to blow three 3-1 leads in his profession.
Milwaukee is now 20-27 since Rivers changed Griffin and its offense appears as stale and unimaginative as ever.
The choice to call Darvin Ham (a person broadly derided for his time with the Lakers, the place he managed to alienate almost each participant, together with LeBron James) as his prime assistant coach appears extra baffling with every abject loss.
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However that is simply the tip of the iceberg.
The Bucks’ massive hit within the 2023 offseason, All-NBA guard Damian Lillard, remains to be unresolved.
On paper, ‘Dame Time’ is a championship-caliber match for Giannis, however the Antetokounmpo-Lillard axis has but to search out its groove.
They nonetheless have time to make it work, in fact, however that does not resolve the opposite obvious roster points crippling the present iteration of this crew.
Eliminating Jrue Vacation was an enormous mistake.
The Bucks’ perimeter protection is nonexistent and Vacation is likely one of the greatest perimeter defenders within the enterprise. To make issues worse, the Bucks traded him to the Celtics, strengthening a rival whereas weakening themselves in a single fell swoop.
The truth that Vacation was an integral piece within the Celtics’ championship-winning machine final season solely compounded the error in judgment.
Age is the opposite elephant within the room. In a league filled with rising stars, the Bucks are merely outdated.
Lillard is 34 years outdated. Brook Lopez is 36.
Khris Middleton, an necessary member of the championship-winning crew, is 33 years outdated and has but to play this yr as a result of damage.
Pat Connaughton is 31 years outdated and Bobby Portis Jr is 29.
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The Bucks are a “win now” crew that lacks the flexibility to win now.
The long run additionally appears fairly bleak, largely as a result of truth that there’s a dearth of fascinating younger gamers and Bucks common supervisor Jon Horst has frequently traded away his draft picks.
His draft strike price additionally would not make for good studying.
Since Horst took over as common supervisor in 2017, he has chosen six gamers within the prime 40, with the 2018 choose being Donte DiVincenzo, who’s now with the Minnesota Timberwolves.
All of this causes Giannis’ championship window to shut shortly.
All the issues, on and even off the courtroom, appear to suit completely into the palms of groups which were ready for a very long time to assault Giannis.
In keeping with CBS: “An NBA govt from the Japanese Convention has already heard the locations which can be believed to be Giannis’ doable most popular locations: ‘The groups I’ve heard are Miami and New York, the Nets, not the Knicks.’
They don’t seem to be the one ones.
In keeping with NBA consultants Zach Lowe and Ramona Shelburne, the New Orleans Pelicans, Toronto Raptors, New York Knicks and Golden State Warriors “will likely be carefully monitoring this example.”
Together with the Nets and Knicks, “every of these groups has a mixture of fascinating younger gamers and useful draft picks accessible that might be included in the kind of commerce that may theoretically be wanted to land Antetokounmpo.”
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For neutrals, the Warriors’ transfer is by far probably the most tempting. The prospect of Giannis teaming up with Golden State nice Steph Curry is the stuff of fantasy basketball.
You’d assume that the Greek star’s ball dealing with would complement Curry’s off-ball type of play and motion to devastating impact.
The Finals MVPs have additionally fostered one thing of a bromance through the years, which might certainly assist facilitate a possible commerce.
It additionally is smart on condition that at 36, Curry is not getting any youthful, and Warriors administration might resolve to do every part it might probably to get Splash Brother one final famous person working mate (and ring) earlier than he decides end his profession. Corridor of Fame profession.
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There will definitely be no scarcity of suitors if Giannis needs to go away Milwaukee.
A world-class expertise who’s one in all solely three gamers in historical past with an MVP, a Finals MVP and a Defensive Participant of the Yr award, which is obtainable when he’s nonetheless in his prime, would not come round typically.
Giannis himself has saved his playing cards near his chest. Nevertheless, earlier than the season started, he gave the primary actual signal {that a} commerce was on his thoughts, even when it was solely in jest.
“If we do not win this yr, would you be fired?” he mentioned whereas talking with Sam Amick of The Athletic.
“Do you will have it at the back of your thoughts, like, ‘(What) if this yr would not go effectively?’ Sure, if we do not win a championship, they may commerce me. Sure, that is the job we dwell in. That is the world we dwell in.”
What may have been an ironic remark is beginning to appear to be a actuality, a actuality for which the complete NBA appears to be on purple alert.
