The Milwaukee Bucks have one of the top five, or someone might say top three, players in the NBA in Giannis Antetokounmpo. The entire league is monitoring the situation with his contract, and preparing for the summer when he might be available. For example, the Golden State Warriors are constructing their payroll to have plenty of cap space in the summer of 2027, hoping the Greek Freak opts out of his contract and looks for another team. However, speaking during media day, Bucks co-owner Wes Edens delivered a clear message for any team that wants to get Giannis.
Milwaukee Bucks Owner Has Bad News for the League
When Edens took the stage to speak with reporters, all of them wanted to know what is happening with Giannis. He reassured fans that he is committed to the team, saying:
“Yeah, I mean, I had a great conversation with Giannis back in June out here. And he made it clear that he was committed to Milwaukee. He likes being here, he likes his family being here. He thinks that the team is obvious. Again, we’ve had some kind of bad fortune in these last couple of years in the playoffs. But there are a lot of positives.”
Edens also discussed his team’s commitment to Giannis. He specifically mentioned how the moves the Bucks made in the offseason reflect their commitment to win. The co-owner also said he is optimistic that the team can compete.
The Bucks Have Plenty of Time
The Bucks are in no rush to trade Giannis or make any drastic move. They have him under contract for two more years before he has a player option and can opt out of his deal.
Even if they do not manage to compete this season, the Bucks can still wait until next year’s trade deadline to get maximum value. History has shown that teams wait until the player asks out, and even then, they do not trade him immediately to his preferred destination. Yes, some stars manage to get to where they want, like Anthony Davis to the Los Angeles Lakers or James Harden to the Brooklyn Nets.
Giannis Misses Media Day
Bucks general manager John Horst announced during media day that Giannis will be absent due to testing positive for COVID. The former MVP has been stuck in Greece and cannot travel due to his illness. But the good news is that he will be able to travel and join the team for training camp. Naturally, reporters wanted to ask Giannis about his future in Milwaukee. Recently, he spoke about the possibility of getting traded, saying:
“Look, I hope it never happens, but I’m still waiting for it. Because it doesn’t mean that just because you’ve contributed to the team, the team won’t do what’s best for them.”
The NBA is in a different spot after last year’s trade deadline. After the Luka Doncic-Anthony Davis deal, anything is possible. However, the Bucks wanted to stress to the media and fans that both the team and Giannis are committed to each other. For how long, we will have to wait and see.
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