A day after an enormously disappointing playoff exit for the Milwaukee Bucks, one NBA insider provided more concerning news for fans of the team.
Brian Windhorst is one of the most plugged-in media people for the NBA. Since the early days of covering LeBron James, Windhorst has been very in tune with what is going on behind the scenes in the league. Today, while talking about the state of the Milwaukee Bucks after their series loss to the Miami Heat, Brian Windhorst dropped some insight on the Giannis Antetokounmpo contract situation.
Giannis still has two years left on his deal but usually, at this point, teams try to get an extension signed to mitigate the risk of the player leaving. That is why this nugget that Windhorst dropped on ESPN is slightly concerning.
“I think it is unlikely that Giannis extends his contract this summer,” Windhorst said on ESPN.
He doesn’t seem to think that Giannis is looking to leave. The issue revolves around the rest of the roster and how expensive going all-in for a championship is.
There are several players in their 30s on Milwaukee's roster who are due to make a lot of money. Khris Middleton has a player option. Brook Lopez is a free agent and will be looking to get paid. Meanwhile, the new CBA puts higher penalties on teams that overspend. All of this complicates trying to sign Antetokounmpo to an extension.
This is a risk for the Bucks. While Giannis has given no indication he wants to leave, if things do not change and he doesn’t get an extension, other teams will start circling, trying to sway him to join them.
This might turn into nothing. Again, Antetokounmpo has given no indication that he wants to leave Milwaukee. However, Windhorst's reporting should put fans on edge just a little. The front office in Milwaukee has a lot to juggle as it works to keep the current window of contention open while also thinking about Antetokounmpo's long-term future with the team.
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