While Giannis Antetokounmpo and his agent have stated that the reigning NBA Most Valuable Player would like to stay in Milwaukee, rumors have started circulating that he might want out if he believes that he has a better chance of winning elsewhere.
The Bucks finished this NBA season with the best record in the league with Antetokounmpo leading the way. He was already named this year’s Defensive Player of the Year and is a frontrunner for winning the league’s MVP award once again.
However, the Bucks are down 0-2 in their second-round playoff series against the Miami Heat, causing rumors to fly that Antetokounmpo is already thinking about leaving the Bucks.
According to reports, it’s an “open secret” within the NBA bubble in Orlando, where the playoffs are being played, that if Antetokounmpo doesn’t sign a long-term extension with the Bucks and enters free agency in 2021, he would be interested in joining either the reigning NBA champion Toronto Raptors or the team that’s currently leading the series against them, the Miami Heat.
Of course, if the Bucks bounce back and end up winning the series, the rumors will probably fade. But if they do lose, many believe that Antetokounmpo will look to join a team that has at least one other star that could take the focus off of him.
The Heat have been getting the best of the Bucks by focusing most of their attention on defense towards eliminating Antetokounmpo, and no other Bucks player has been able to step up and score when the Heat have been able to frustrate Antetokounmpo.
The Bucks will certainly offer him a max extension in the offseason. If he doesn’t accept, look for Milwaukee to try and trade Antetokounmpo to the highest bidder.
