There’s little reason to rehash the latest round of rumors reported by ESPN’s Shams Charania and some of the contradicting claims made by Brian Windhorst last week regarding Giannis Antetokounmpo’s future in Milwaukee. The most disappointing thing to me, though, is not the usual slop they feed us (I expect it from the “worldwide leader”). It’s how Bucks fans’ opinions have been shaped by the national media, which has long been suspected of a bias toward Giannis leaving for a larger market.
Set aside
what Giannis wants—the most critical thing here—for a moment. If he wants to be a Buck, you don’t trade him. Full stop. He is still one of the best two or three players in the game, and you can absolutely build a title contender around him. It’s clear that this team isn’t that at the moment, and while opinions differ on how they could return to that status, the cupboard is not as bare in Milwaukee as many think, given the small pool of young, controllable talent they’ve amassed plus two tradeable firsts. As long as Giannis is in his prime and on the roster, the likelihood of a title team exists, no matter how small. If he leaves, that likelihood is gone in the short term, with no guarantee it will reemerge. Trading him represents a rebuild, and smart franchises don’t rebuild when they have a player of Giannis’ caliber unless the player asks out. Given the choice, keep the sure thing rather than risk the unknown.
In this week’s Tuesday Tracker, vote based on what your personal feelings on Giannis’ future vis-a-vis the Bucks should unfold. Forget about what you might have read/heard—what do you want for the team as a fan? Also, weigh in on ESPN’s coverage of the whole affair plus Bobby Portis’ upcoming trade eligibility.
As always, this poll will be open until midnight Central on Friday, and we’ll post the results later that day. Thanks for voting!
