Reigning NBA MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo still has two years left on his four-year, $100 million contract with the Milwaukee Bucks, but he is expected to receive a staggering five-year, $247 million supermax contract offer this summer. Should Giannis sign on the dotted line, speculation about the Greek Freak's future will obviously subside. Until then, however, rumors will continue to swirl about his departure from Milwaukee and which teams have a realistic shot at either pulling off a blockbuster trade or signing him as a free agent in the summer of 2021.
According to a recent report from Eric Pincus of Bleacher Report, some folks around the NBA believe the Golden State Warriors have already set themselves up for a scenario in which Giannis doesn't sign that lucrative supermax contract.
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According to the report, the belief is that Golden State set out to acquire a future first-round pick from the Timberwolves in hopes that they could use that pick, as well as Andrew Wiggins, as part of a trade package for Giannis in the event that he informs the Bucks he will not re-sign.
Pincus writes, “Some around the league believe the Golden State Warriors acquired a first-round pick from the Minnesota Timberwolves, along with Andrew Wiggins, with the notion of a potential future trade with the Bucks.”
It goes without saying, but I'll say it anyway, surrounding Giannis with the Splash Brothers would be an absolute dream scenario for Warriors fans and a total nightmare for every other team in the league. Of course, the Warriors aren't the only team positioning themselves to make a run at Giannis, in what could become the biggest superstar hunt in league history.
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Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo still has two years left on his four-year, $100 million contract, but the Bucks will be able to offer him a staggering five-year, $247 million supermax this summer. Whether or not Giannis agrees to sign that extension or opts to explore free agency in 2021 remains to be seen.
In the meantime, there will be plenty of time to speculate about the Greek Freak's future and the possibility of him playing elsewhere has intrigued NBA fans and media personalities alike. This includes ESPN's Stephen A. Smith, who recently said that he hopes Giannis will end up in San Francisco alongside Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson.
“Honestly, I wish Giannis would go to the Warriors this offseason. I think a superstar like that should be in a bigger market. Could you imagine somebody like Giannis surrounded by Steph Curry and Klay Thompson? Golden State would be back in the championship for the next three to five years.”
The do-it-all forward posted career highs across the board last season with 27.7 points, 12.5 rebounds and 5.9 assists, 1.5 blocks and 1.3 steals per game while guiding the Bucks an NBA-best 60-22 record. He has only upped those numbers in 40 appearances this year, as he currently boasts averages of 30.1 points and 12.9 boards to go along with 5.5 dimes per night. As a result, the Bucks hold the best record in the NBA at 37-6.
On the flip side, the Warriors have the worst record in the NBA due to the fact that The Splash Brothers are sidelined with injuries. If the Bucks underperform in the playoffs should Giannis risk his supermax payday to go compete in an already loaded Western Conference? Have fun debating that topic for the next year!
