The Milwaukee Bucks decided to hire Taylor Jenkins as the franchise’s next head coach. After Doc Rivers and the team parted ways, Jenkins was tapped to lead Milwaukee into the future. There is a question about whether or not that future includes Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Antetokounmpo played musical chairs with the Bucks last season. He was clearly not sure whether or not he wanted to stay with the team or be traded. This summer, he will be a hot trade target for any team that believes they are close to winning a title.
Bucks fans are still holding out hope that Antetokounmpo will want to return to Milwaukee next season. He was non-committal about that possible future recently.
GettyMilwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo drives the ball during a game. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images)
Giannis Antetokounmpo non-Committal About his Future with the Bucks
The hire of Jenkins doesn’t seem to have much effect on Antetokounmpo. When asked about whether or not Jenkins will coach him, Antetokounmpo said “We’ll see”. That doesn’t seem to give Bucks fans a lot of hope that he will be playing for the team next year.
Milwaukee will be deciding on the future of Antetokounmpo before the NBA Draft starts. That will allow them to figure out if they are going to trade him for some draft picks. If the Bucks are going to trade him, they are going to do so for a ton of draft picks and some young players.
The Bucks are going to be fielding a ton of trade offers this summer. Teams that are still competing in the playoffs could end up joining the fray for a proposed trade for him. He is by far the most intriguing possible trade piece available this offseason.
Jenkins would certainly love the opportunity to coach Antetokounmpo. He coached Ja Morant while he was in Memphis, so he has experience coaching star players. The difference with Antetokounmpo and Morant is that Antetokounmpo has no off-court problems.
GettyMilwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo dunks the ball in a game. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images)
Milwaukee has to Get the Best Possible Return if They Trade Giannis Antetokounmpo
In order for the Bucks to have a clean break from Antetokounmpo, they need to make sure they get the best possible return for him. They need to wait for the best deal from another team before they trade their franchise player, whom the team loves.
Antetokounmpo has a history of injuries that is starting to pile up, so that will make it tougher to extract full value from another team. Antetokounmpo’s contract situation is something else that another team will have to consider if they decide to make a move for him.
Antetokounmpo only has one more year guaranteed on his contract. He has a player option available to him in 2027-28 worth $62.7 million. He is eligible for an extension, which a team will likely need to pay before they are willing to trade for him. If he’s traded, it will happen within the next month or so.
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