Should the Milwaukee Bucks try to keep Giannis Antetokounmpo?
The Milwaukee Bucks and Giannis Antetokounmpo seemed destined to split this offseason, bringing an end to an era that produced an NBA Championship in 2021.
The Bucks had their worst season in a decade this past year, failing to make the playoffs for the first time since 2015-16.
Giannis had his toughest season to date, playing in a career low 36 games. He averaged 27.6 points, 9.8 rebounds, and 5.4 assists.
All three were his lowest averages 2017-18.
The Bucks decided to keep Giannis past the NBA trade deadline despite rumors of multiple teams being interested. The hope was to make a push for the Play-In Tournament, but an injury to Giannis in March derailed their hopes.
The relationship between the Bucks and Giannis was strained in the final month of the season when Giannis reportedly wanted to return to the court, but Milwaukee did not clear him.
Can The Relationship Be Salvaged?
While signs point to Giannis being traded, is there a possibility that the two sides can mend fences?
If so, Milwaukee will have to prove they are serious about being a championship contender by making the necessary moves. Giannis has made it clear that he wants to compete for titles.
He will be 32 next season, and his injury history over the past few seasons isn't great, bringing questions regarding his durability and long-term impact. The time for Giannis to win is now, and the Bucks are further away from a championship than ever before.
Seemingly, the only way for Giannis to remain happy in Milwaukee is for the team to reshape the roster into a viable contender around him.
Milwaukee doesn't have a ton of cap flexibility and are rather limited in terms of assets, but do have the tenth overall pick, which is their biggest trade chip.
Potential Options
In the NBA, very few players are actually untouchable. While names often pop up in rumors, the right offer and unknown factors could bring about some of the craziest trades.
Ja Morant and Kawhi Leonard are two names that have been in the rumor mill going into the offseason, and the tenth overall pick would probably be enticing for the Grizzlies or Clippers as they move into a new era.
Kyrie Irving is another possibility should the Mavericks look to go into a different direction.
The Bucks have salary with Kyle Kuzma and Myles Turner to make a number of high-profile deals work, but the tenth pick is the gold in any scenario to acquire another star.
All three players would tell Giannis that they want to get back to prominence in the Eastern Conference, giving him a potential reason to stay.
