Bucks Tell Giannis Antetokounmpo They Are Ready to Spend in the Future

Milwaukee Bucks' forward Giannis Antetokounmpo
Milwaukee Bucks' forward Giannis Antetokounmpo in 2018. Photo by Jevone Moore/Cal Sport Media/CSM/REX/Shutterstock (9485611ac)

The Milwaukee Bucks have been known for keeping a tight budget in order to avoid paying luxury tax in recent years, but the franchise is reportedly ready to change course after a disappointing playoff elimination last week. 

According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, Bucks recently had a meeting with their superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo and told him that they are willing to spend in the future in order to surround him with a championship-able supporting cast. As part of the meeting, the two sides discussed several ways on how to improve the team, and are expected to talk again in the near future.

Bucks’ willingness to pay luxury tax isn’t just motivated by the recent playoff exit but also the fact that Antetokounmpo is entering the final year of his deal. If Milwaukee doesn’t lock him to a long-term deal soon, the reigning MVP can become an unrestricted free agent in 2021 and leave somewhere else.

Bucks will offer Giannis Antetokounmpo a supermax extension in the next couple of weeks, which would see him earn up to $250 million over the five years. However, it is unclear whether the 25-year-old forward is going to accept it considering his NBA title ambitions and inability to get there with Milwaukee.

Milwaukee Bucks have been the league’s best regular-season team in the past two seasons but failed to make it count when it mattered the most. During the 2018/19 season, Buck got to Eastern Conference Finals, where they were eliminated in six games by the eventual champions Toronto Raptors.

This year, the Bucks didn’t even make it that far, as they were stopped in semi-finals by Miami Heat. Their exit was even faster, as they were routed 4-1 by the Heat.

Harley loves music and tries to go to a music festival every summer. When he's not listening to music, he writes about movies, food and wine, art, and sport.