Earlier than their highway recreation towards the Boston Celtics on Sunday, Milwaukee Bucks head coach Doc Rivers offered an replace on ahead Giannis Antetokounmpo.
The coach indicated they do not plan to ship Antetokounmpo, 31, elsewhere earlier than the NBA commerce deadline on Thursday at 3 p.m. ET, and he desires to stay in Milwaukee. The ahead did not play towards Boston due to a calf damage.
Doc Rivers offers Giannis Antetokounmpo replace amid commerce rumors
“Giannis has mentioned all the pieces we have to hear, that he desires to be a Buck, he loves town and that is all I can go by as a coach proper now. Has it been tough? Yeah,” Rivers informed ESPN’s “NBA Countdown” (h/t Bleacher Report’s Timothy Rapp). “Your gamers every single day have to listen to stuff. Each single day, about not simply their finest participant, however they’re thrown within the combine as nicely. My favourite day of the yr this yr would be the day after the commerce deadline. That’ll be my favourite day. I believe everybody will probably be right here.”
Maybe Rivers mentioned that to extend Antetokounmpo’s commerce worth, which is already excessive. The Bucks clearly would not be a championship contender even when he had been wholesome.
Loss to Celtics confirmed why Bucks should commerce Giannis Antetokounmpo
The Celtics crushed the Bucks, 107-79. Boston guard Jaylen Brown scored a game-high 30 factors on 12-of-20 capturing from the sphere. He additionally had 13 rebounds and two assists. Milwaukee, in the meantime, went 29-of-82 from the sphere (35%).
With the loss, Milwaukee’s season is continuous to sink. The Bucks (18-29) have gone 2-8 over their previous 10 video games and are actually twelfth within the Jap Convention. The Celtics (31-18) are second within the convention after going 7-3 of their final 10 video games.
The championship window of the Bucks — who have not reached the Jap Convention Finals since profitable their second title throughout the 2020-21 season — is closing. To rebuild, Milwaukee wants extra draft picks. Buying and selling Antetokounmpo, who’s within the first yr of a three-year, $175.36M contract, would assist it purchase extra of these.
Loads of groups poised to make the playoffs could be eager about Antetokounmpo, who was named to his tenth All-Star Recreation on Sunday. The Golden State Warriors
could reportedly ship a package deal that features ahead Draymond Inexperienced. Different potential suitors embody the Minnesota Timberwolves, Miami Heat and New York Knicks.
Rivers might wish to preserve his roster intact. Nonetheless, it is time for the Bucks to face actuality: Antetokounmpo in all probability is not going to hoist one other Larry O’Brien Trophy in a Milwaukee uniform. So, as a substitute of losing his prime, the franchise ought to let the 13-year veteran attempt to win his second ring elsewhere.
