The Milwaukee Bucks entered Sunday because the thirteenth seed within the Japanese Convention. A matinee matchup in opposition to the Boston Celtics may see them get their season again on observe, or fall additional into disaster relying on the outcome.
The Bucks have misplaced seven of their opening 9 video games. They’re twenty second in defensive ranking and 20th in offensive rating. Proper now, Milwaukee appears to be like like a crew that wants a reset. After all, that remark has begun placing groups across the NBA on excessive alert as they wait to see whether or not Giannis Antetokounmpo turns into obtainable for commerce.
Based on Marc Stein, a number of groups have already let Milwaukee know that they’d be prepared to barter a commerce bundle if the two-time MVP does change into obtainable. Nonetheless, as Stein additionally famous, it is broadly accepted that Giannis would need to push for a move to ensure that Milwaukee to start sitting on the negotiating desk.
“It’s understood fairly clearly in 29 different entrance places of work that Antetokounmpo is barely ever going to be made obtainable for commerce if he pushes for it,” Stein reported via his SteinLine Newsletter. “However a handful of groups on the market have definitely begun planning for such an eventuality — and, in some circumstances, have already let the Bucks know that they are going to be prepared to speak commerce if crew officers ever attain that time — even when Milwaukee has zero curiosity in such discussions as we communicate.”
If the Bucks do resolve to pivot, Damian Lillard is much extra more likely to be moved than Giannis. He hasn’t had the influence many anticipated when he joined the franchise. His partnership with Giannis hasn’t blossomed, and opposing groups have constantly exploited his defensive limitations.
Nonetheless, Giannis is 29 and 25 days away from his 30th birthday. He desires to compete for championships whereas he is nonetheless in his prime. If the Bucks resolve to pivot and start rebuilding, it is unlikely he’ll present the mandatory endurance. That is when groups would step in to supply an exit route.
Milwaukee is not at that time but. But when they hold freefalling towards the underside of the Japanese Convention, it will not take lengthy for the entrance workplace to start getting nervous. And when a entrance workplace is nervous, large strikes are by no means far-off.
Sadly for Bucks followers, Milwaukee’s final large commerce chip simply so occurs to be one of many franchise’s biggest gamers.