Upon the commencement of NBA Media Day, all eyes are on Damian Lillard and the Milwaukee Bucks. Giannis Antetokounmpo, who declined to sign an extension this summer, appears pleased with the trade and has stated that he will remain a Buck as long as “we are winning.” He stated that he is excited to engage with a player “made of the same stuff.” However, he also stated that it is not financially prudent for him to sign a contract extension at this time.
If the MVP declines his player option in 2025-26, he becomes a free agent. The option is more of an insurance policy for participants and will likely only be used if the Greek Freak suffers a catastrophic misfortune. Prior to the Bucks’ acquisition of Lillard, there were rumors that one of the NBA’s greatest players would 1.
With Lillard on the Bucks, the team has the opportunity to retain the MVP for the foreseeable future. Nonetheless, Antetokoumpo will wait until the following offseason to re-sign for $233 million over four years. Ideally, Milwaukee will have a championship procession to commemorate the signing by then.
Do the Bucks have a roster that is competitive enough to retain Giannis Antetokounmpo?
Obviously, this query will not be answered for the next two to three years. Despite this, it appears that the Bucks have a decent chance of maintaining a championship-contending roster around Antetokoumpo. Khris Middleton’s aptitude is waning, but he no longer needs to be the number two player on this roster since Lillard has assumed that position.
At this juncture in their careers, Lillard is better suited to be this type of player. The All-NBA player is 33 years old, but he should be a competent Robin to Antetokoumpo’s Batman for the next two seasons. The Bucks will not have the most depth, but they will contend for the championship.
