Brian Windhorst has suggested that Giannis Antetokounmpo’s decision to leave the Milwaukee Bucks was only a matter of time, pointing to the team’s moves in free agency as a major factor.
Antetokounmpo’s desire to move away from Milwaukee was not exactly a secret. He had dropped plenty of hints during the team’s losing streak and later removed all Bucks references from his social media, fuelling further talk about his dissatisfaction.
With the ‘Greek Freak’ reportedly open to a move, several teams are now taking stock of their assets and considering whether they have what it takes to make a competitive offer for the two-time MVP.
And according to NBA insider Brian Windhorst, this was not a sudden decision by Antetokounmpo.
Brian Windhorst says Giannis Antetokounmpo’s desire to leave the Bucks started with Damian Lillard’s exit
Windhorst addressed the unfolding Antetokounmpo situation during an appearance on NBA Today.
He pointed out that Giannis was already considering his options after the Bucks stretched and waived Damian Lillard in order to bring in Myles Turner, and that their ongoing struggles had only strengthened his resolve to move on.
“I know there are going to be a lot of teams that show interest here. Teams have been thinking about Giannis potentially being on the trade market for over a year,” he began by saying.
“They can see what was on the Bucks roster, and what they had to trade. Frankly, the whole league was awestruck by the move that they made, stretching Dame Lillard and signing Myles Turner.
“I can’t emphasize this enough. Giannis saw that move and then was interested in being a Knick. He couldn’t have been more clear about where he felt about the Bucks roster.”
Windhorst added: “If the Bucks had come out and gotten off to a 15-5 start, they could have changed his mind. They are 9-13, 1-5 when he doesn’t play, and .500 when he does play.
“What else do you need to see? He does not have a championship roster right now. What will really be incumbent here is two Giannis decisions.
“One – does he go forward and finally pull the lever and say, ‘Trade me,’ because he’s danced around it for quite some time now.
“And two – when he does that, will there be one team on the list like there was this summer, or will there be multiple teams?”
Giannis Antetokounmpo’s next move could reshape the league
The Knicks have been linked to Antetokounmpo for some time, and while they are still interested, there is no guarantee they can meet Milwaukee’s asking price.
New York came close last summer when the ‘Greek Freak’ expressed interest in joining them, but the deal fell through because their offer did not match what the Bucks were hoping to get in return.
While New York remains a preferred destination for Giannis, their limited trade assets present a significant obstacle.
The Spurs might be better positioned to make a move with their young talent and draft capital, giving them an edge in negotiations if Milwaukee choose to rebuild.
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