After the Milwaukee Bucks lost to the Miami Heat in five games during the Eastern Conference semifinals, the speculation and rumors started swirling about the immediate future of Giannis Antetokounmpo.
The superstar forward has one year left on his contract with the Bucks, and the pressure is officially on for the Milwaukee franchise to improve its roster. According to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN, the team’s front office has promised to surround him with the talent to contend.
“In a three-hour lunch meeting Friday in Milwaukee, Bucks co-owner and governor Marc Lasry made it clear to reigning MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo that the franchise is willing to spend into the luxury tax to deliver him a championship supporting cast, sources told ESPN,” wrote Wojnarowski.
The clock is ticking for the Bucks as they need to move fast to put the right pieces around the face of the franchise. Antetokounmpo has remained loyal and patient over the last few years, but that could change if he feels he can’t get over the top with this squad.
With a relatively weak free agent market this year, the Bucks may be forced to make a trade or two to drastically improve the roster. Chris Paul will be a trade candidate in the offseason and a potential fit for Milwaukee, but his massive contract could make that difficult.
Once the 2019-20 NBA season is officially over, there is a chance more trade scenarios emerge for the Bucks to add talent to their roster. Until moves are made, the uncertainty will continue to loom large in Milwaukee about Antetokounmpo’s future with the franchise.
