Bucks are shot

The Milwaukee Bucks have been doing its best to keep its resident superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo happy over the past few years. After a first-round playoff exit in the 2023 playoffs, Giannis announced that he would see how committed the Bucks are toward winning another championship before deciding whether to sign a long-term deal to stay in Milwaukee.

This led the Bucks to pull the trigger and trade away former All-Star Jrue Holiday, Grayson Allen and draft picks to acquire Damian Lillard from the Portland Trailblazers in September 2023. A month later, Giannis signed a three-year extension worth $175 million. That contract kicks in next season.

This season, the Bucks also traded away fan favorite Khris Middleton to secure the services of forward Kyle Kuzma and give Giannis more help, but this hasn't panned out. Kuzma's shooting has been abysmal, especially in this year's playoffs.

The Bucks were bamboozled by the Indiana Pacers in their first round series (4-1) marking the third straight year of early exits in Giannis' prime. The Game 4 Achilles injury to Lillard means that Giannis will play most of the 2025-26 season with only Kuzma and Bobby Portis as his main supporting cast.

Even with a completely healthy team, the Bucks won't be able to compete with the beasts of the East namely the Cleveland Cavaliers, Boston Celtics and the New York Knicks next season.

With Lillard and Giannis making $112 million in salaries for next season, and with no good young players, and no first round draft picks until 2031, there is no path forward for the Bucks to improve the team enough so as not to waste the remaining prime of Giannis.

Given this, expect Giannis to request for a trade and for the Bucks to accede to his wishes and go on a full rebuild. As of this writing, many NBA teams are salivating about the prospect of snagging the two-time MVP and nine-time All-Star. Giannis is considered a top 5 player in the NBA and his presence can transform pretenders into contenders. This regular season, he averaged 30.4 points, 11.9 rebounds, 6.5 assists and 1.2 blocks.

The Houston Rockets, Oklahoma Thunder, Brooklyn Nets and San Antonio Spurs are in the mix for the Giannis sweepstakes since these teams have a treasure trove of draft assets and young stars to get the Bucks their expected return.

The Rockets are good and are on the cusp of being a contender, but they have a difficult time scoring in the half-court. A twin tower combination of Alperen Sengun and Giannis would be imposing. Houston has enough young talent and picks to make it worthwhile for the Bucks.

By next season, the San Antonio Spurs are ready to win and contend in the playoffs. They have a once-in-a-generation talent in Victor Wembanyama and made a bold, win-now move by acquiring De'Aaron Fox at the deadline. Getting Giannis would make them almost unbeatable in the paint. The Spurs have many assets that making this megadeal would still give them enough to build a champion team.

Like the Spurs, the Thunder have a lot of assets to get Giannis. While they don't need him given that they are the No. 1 team in the NBA and are projected to dominate over the next few years, having Giannis would accelerate a Thunder dynasty. If the Thunder win it all this year, the need for another superstar would fade. If they don't, they might just pull the trigger.

Regardless, Antetokounmpo's time in Milwaukee is coming to an end.

raffyrledesma@yahoo.com