NBA Writer Spells Out Why Giannis Antetokounmpo Is About To Get Traded

Key Highlights

• “They have a $22.5 million cap hit on their books in each of the four seasons after this one for stretching Damian Lillard’s contract.”“Without a Giannis trade, there isn’t a clear path back to contention in the next few years,” Bailey continued.
• “So, Milwaukee can either … let Antetokounmpo dominate for a mediocre team until he hits his mid-30s, when the asset base starts to replenish but he’ll be nearing the end of his career; or … they can trade for him a rebuild-boosting and era-shifting package that could have them competitive again in a few years.
• Consider this a bet that they’ll take the latter path at some point before the 2026-27 season starts.”Antetokounmpo, drafted 15th overall by the Bucks in 2013, emerged from humble beginnings in Greece to become one of the NBA’s all-time dominant forces.
• His early seasons showed promise, earning All-Rookie honors in 2014 and the Most Improved Player award in 2017.
• By 2019 and 2020, he claimed back-to-back MVP titles, adding Defensive Player of the Year in 2020.