Milwaukee Bucks

Giannis Antetokounmpo reportedly held a three-hour lunch with Milwaukee Bucks governor Marc Lasry on Friday to discuss the future of the organization, according to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.

The two spoke about ways to improve the roster going into 2020-21, and Lasry confirmed the Bucks would spend into the luxury tax if needed. The two will reportedly speak again after the star returns from vacation.

Antetokounmpo has one year remaining on his contract, and there are questions about his future with the team after the Bucks suffered a second-round loss to the Miami Heat. It was the second straight season Milwaukee had the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference but failed to reach the NBA Finals.   

Despite the disappointment, Antetokounmpo indicated he would not request a trade.

"It's not happening. That's not happening," he told Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports. "Some see a wall and go in [another direction]. I plow through it. We just have to get better as a team, individually and get right back at it next season."

Milwaukee returns much of the rotation going into next season, including Khris Middleton, Eric Bledsoe, Brook Lopez and George Hill. Their salaries could make it difficult to upgrade the roster, but Haynes reported the Bucks "are expected to be one of the busiest teams this offseason."

Antetokounmpo is eligible for a five-year, $254 million supermax extension this offseason, but the meeting with Lasry was likely necessary to provide assurances about the direction of the Bucks.

If the 25-year-old does decide to leave, numerous teams will hope to sign a player who already has one MVP award and is a favorite to win a second this season. The forward averaged 29.5 points, 13.6 rebounds and 5.6 assists and won the league's Defensive Player of the Year Award.

Danny Leroux of The Athletic reported the Miami Heat, Toronto Raptors and Dallas Mavericks could all be options for Giannis in free agency, while the Golden State Warriors and Boston Celtics could be potential destinations through trades.

Giannis Antetokounmpo reportedly met with Milwaukee Bucks leadership on Saturday to discuss the team's future following a second-round exit from the NBA postseason. 

According to Yahoo Sports' Chris Haynes, Antetokounmpo sat privately with co-owner Marc Lasry.

Antetokounmpo has repeatedly said he wants to win in Milwaukee, though he has one year left on his contract and remains one of the most coveted players in the NBA. 

It's not unusual for players to have exit interviews following the season, with meetings often including the general manager and coaching staff. 

In Antetokounmpo's case, there's a few more levels involved. 

The forward is eligible for a super-max extension Haynes estimates at $254 million over five years. Still just 25 years old, with one MVP award in tow and likely another on the way this year, Antetokounmpo and his next pact could determine the fate of the Eastern Conference for the next few seasons. 

As Haynes notes, that has plenty of rival teams keeping close tabs on the situation. 

Haynes wrote Milwaukee is committed to building a championship-caliber roster and is expected to make a flurry of moves this offseason. 

Getting Antetokounmpo to sign an extension a year before he hits free agency ranks as the most important item on the Bucks' to-do list. It appears there's plenty of mutual interest there. 

"Some see a wall and go in [another direction]. I plow through it," Antetokounmpo told Haynes. "We just have to get better as a team, individually and get right back at it next season."

 

The Milwaukee Bucks were once again favored to represent the Eastern Conference in the NBA Finals this season, but their year ended in disappointment, which means they must now turn their attention to free agency and the draft.

Milwaukee was eliminated by the Miami Heat in five games during the second round of the playoffs, and reigning NBA MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo missing Game 5 because of injury undoubtedly played a role.

The Bucks have posted the best regular-season record in each of the past two seasons, but it is clear that they need to put more around Giannis entering the 2020-21 season not only to achieve their goal of winning a championship, but also to convince The Greek Freak to re-sign.

The draft is one way to add some more talent to the mix, and here is a rundown of the Bucks' projected picks in five of the most high-profile mock drafts on the internet:

• Jonathan Wasserman, Bleacher Report: RJ Hampton, SG, New Zealand
• Jonathan Givony, ESPN: Leandro Bolmaro, SG, Spain
• Kyle Boone, CBS: Aleksej Pokusevski, C, Serbia
• Gary Parrish, CBS: Tre Jones, PG, Duke
• Tankathon: Nico Mannion, PG, Arizona

The Bucks do not own their first-round pick in 2020, but they do hold the Indiana Pacers' first-round selection as a result of the Malcolm Brogdon trade, and it is projected to be 24th overall.

Milwaukee may use that pick, but trading it is also a possibility. Shams Charania of The Athletic reported Thursday that rival executives believe the Bucks want to add a playmaker and more shooting around Giannis, and trading the pick could help them do that.

If the Bucks keep it, however, some intriguing names were thrown out as potential picks in the mock draft, but arguably none is more interesting than guard RJ Hampton.

Hampton looked like a possible top-10 or even top-five pick entering the 2019-20 season, but he struggled overseas with the New Zealand Breakers, averaging just 8.8 points, 3.9 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game in 15 contests while shooting only 40.7 percent from the field.

Wasserman noted that Hampton's "explosiveness and backcourt versatility" could still make him a desirable pick, especially as a reserve for a deep team like Milwaukee.

Another name that stands out is Duke point guard Tre Jones, who was named the 2019-20 ACC Player of the Year after averaging 16.2 points, 6.4 assists, 4.2 rebounds and 1.8 steals per game. Jones also improved as a shooter, connecting on 36.1 percent of his three-point attempts.

Jones isn't considered an elite NBA prospect despite his success at Duke, but if the Bucks trade point guard Eric Bledsoe—as Charania suggested they could—Jones would be an ideal replacement, as he is strong defensively and an even better playmaker.

Arizona point guard Nico Mannion is cut from a similar cloth as Jones after averaging 14.0 points, 5.3 assists, 2.5 rebounds and 1.2 steals per game as a freshman, and he could also give Milwaukee a playmaking point guard of the future.

Guard Leandro Bolmaro and center Aleksej Pokusevski are talented prospects in their own right, but they are long-term projects who would likely be stashed in Europe for at least the 2020-21 season.

The Bucks need immediate help in order to break through the glass ceiling and make a good impression on Giannis, so if they don't trade their first-rounder, taking an established college player like Jones makes the most sense provided he is available.

The Milwaukee Bucks are reportedly expected to shop guard Eric Bledsoe on the trade market during the offseason.

According to Shams Charania of The Athletic, the Bucks want to acquire a playmaker and more shooting this offseason to complement Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Bledsoe could be a trade chip to land those pieces.

The Bucks fell short of the NBA Finals again this season, as they were eliminated by the Miami Heat in the second round of the Eastern Conference playoffs.

This season was Bledsoe's third with the Bucks, and while his production was down a bit compared to the previous two campaigns, he was still a highly effective player.

The 30-year-old veteran started all 61 regular-season games he appeared in, shot 47.5 percent from the field and 34.4 percent from beyond the arc, and averaged 14.9 points, 5.4 assists and 4.6 rebounds per game.

Bledsoe was also named to the NBA All-Defensive Second Team after being named to the First Team last season.

The Bucks signed Bledsoe to a four-year, $70 million extension in 2019, meaning he is under contract through the 2022-23 season.

Trading Bledsoe could leave a big hole in the Bucks' lineup since he was third on the team in scoring and second in assists this season, but it is clear that Milwaukee needs to shake things up in order to experience more playoff success.

The Bucks posted the best record in the NBA in each of the past two seasons, but they fell in the Eastern Conference Finals in 2019 and the second round this season.

Milwaukee can also ill-afford to waste another MVP-caliber season from Giannis, especially since he can become a free agent after next season and may be compelled to leave if the Bucks don't improve and have a better finish.

As good as Bledsoe is in some areas, the Bucks could benefit from a true playmaker at point guard. Trading Bledsoe may not net them precisely that, but it would make room on the roster to sign one or acquire one in a different deal.

Raptors guard Fred VanVleet could be a logical target for Milwaukee on the free-agent market, as his contract expires at the conclusion of this season.

Despite an abrupt playoff exit, Mike Budenholzer reportedly isn't in danger of losing his job with the Milwaukee Bucks. 

Per Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium, Budenholzer "is safe" to return as head coach next season. 

After defeating the Orlando Magic in the first round, the top-seeded Bucks were eliminated from the Eastern Conference Semifinals in five games. 

Budenholzer has been criticized for not making adjustments in the postseason to put his team in a better position to win. 

"Milwaukee is one of the most rigid teams in the NBA, sticking faithfully to the same principles, regardless of who it is facing," The Ringer's Jonathan Tjarks wrote after the Bucks' 116-114 Game 2 loss to Miami. "It counts on the superior execution that comes with endless repetition of the same attack, ignoring the benefits that come from deploying a more varied approach."

Losing to the Heat opened up many questions about Milwaukee's future, especially relating to Giannis Antetokounmpo. The presumptive two-time MVP, who has one year remaining on his current contract, is eligible to sign a supermax extension this offseason. 

"It's not happening," Antetokounmpo told Yahoo Sports' Chris Haynes when asked if he would request a trade after the Bucks were eliminated. "That's not happening. Some see a wall and go in [another direction]. I plow through it. We just have to get better as a team, individually and get right back at it next season.”

The Bucks have had the NBA's best regular-season record in each of Budenholzer's two seasons as head coach. They won 10 of their first 11 playoff games last year before losing four straight to the Toronto Raptors in the Eastern Conference Finals. 

Milwaukee's .767 winning percentage during the 2019-20 regular season was the third-best mark in franchise history.  

The Milwaukee Bucks are reportedly preparing to offer MVP forward Giannis Antetokounmpo a five-year supermax contract extension as soon as the 2020 NBA free-agent period opens.

Shams Charania of The Athletic reported Thursday the Bucks will also "prioritize acquiring a playmaker and more shooting in the offseason to retool the roster around Antetokounmpo" after the Miami Heat eliminated them from the playoffs in the Eastern Conference Semifinals.

Offering Antetokounmpo the supermax, which Charania noted will likely fall between $221.3 million and $233.5 million depending on the salary cap, is a no-brainer. The bigger question is whether the four-time All-Star will sign it.

The 25-year-old Greece native has one season remaining on his four-year, $100 million contract. He can become an unrestricted free agent in the 2021 offseason if he doesn't sign an extension.

Last October, concerns arose about Antetokounmpo's future in Milwaukee after quotes emerged in which he discussed the factors he might consider when deciding whether to stay with the Bucks.

In a study about the challenges faced by small-market NBA teams in retaining star players, Harvard Business School professor Anita Elberse and her co-author, master's student Melcolm Ruffin, cited Antetokounmpo as saying: "I want the Bucks to build a winning culture. So far, we have been doing great, and, if this lasts, there's no other place I want to be. But if we're underperforming in the NBA next year, deciding whether to sign becomes a lot more difficult."

He later said he'd been misquoted.

Although the Bucks finished with the best record in the NBA (56-17) as the Greek Freak put himself in strong contention to win a second straight MVP award, they fell short of expectations in the postseason with the second-round exit.

Antetokounmpo suffered an ankle injury in Game 3 and aggravated it in Game 4, which forced him to miss Game 5 as the Bucks' season came to a close. It was a factor in their elimination, but Miami was the better team in the series, building a 3-0 lead before closing it out with Giannis sidelined.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wZkco8UUu-Y

The Bucks' need for another impact shooter or two is apparent. They finished 17th in the NBA in three-point shooting percentage (35.5) and shot at the same level in the postseason (35.8 percent) to rank 11th out of 16 playoff teams.

An Antetokounmpo extension would increase the duration of Milwaukee's championship window, but if he decides to keep his options open, it may be championship-or-bust for the organization next season.

After a disappointing end to their season, the Milwaukee Bucks could be focused on adding Chris Paul to their roster for the 2020-21 campaign. 

Per ESPN's Brian Windhorst, Paul being traded to the Bucks is "is going to become a conversation" this offseason:

"Chris Paul to Milwaukee is going to become a conversation."

—@WindhorstESPN 👀 pic.twitter.com/sYsONNuclQ

— Get Up (@GetUpESPN) September 9, 2020

The Bucks have had the NBA's best regular-season record in each of the past two seasons, but they've been eliminated from the postseason before reaching the Finals both years. The Miami Heat sent them home with a 103-94 win in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference semifinals Tuesday night. 

Giannis Antetokounmpo's contract status could play a factor in what the Bucks do this offseason. The reigning NBA MVP has one year left on his current deal and is eligible to sign a supermax extension. 

Despite Milwaukee's abrupt playoff exit, which saw Antetokounmpo miss the final game because of a sprained ankle, he has no intention of requesting a trade. 

"It's not happening," Antetokounmpo told Yahoo Sports' Chris Haynes after Tuesday's loss. "That's not happening. Some see a wall and go in [another direction]. I plow through it. We just have to get better as a team, individually and get right back at it next season."

Per Marc Stein of the New York Times, rival teams expect the Bucks to pursue a deal for Paul if the Oklahoma City Thunder make him available. 

The Thunder had a terrific season in their own right, making the playoffs with a 44-28 record and taking the Houston Rockets to seven games in the first round.

Thunder general manager Sam Presti clearly has an eye on the future after last year's trades of Paul George, Russell Westbrook and Jerami Grant set him up with as many as 15 first-round draft picks between 2020 and 2026. 

Paul is owed $41.3 million next season and has a player option for $44.2 million in 2021-22, per Spotrac. The 35-year-old averaged 17.6 points and 6.7 assists per game for Oklahoma City this season. 

The Bucks struggled to replace Malcolm Brogdon at point guard after he signed with the Indiana Pacers last summer. 

ESPN's Tim Bontemps reported in May that Milwaukee's ownership group would be willing to pay into the luxury tax "depending on how far the team goes this season."

Even though the Bucks' playoff run wasn't what anyone with the team expected, Antetokounmpo's looming free agency, assuming he doesn't sign an extension this summer, could prompt the organization to go beyond its comfort zone with the payroll. 

Mere hours after their playoff exit, the postmortems are being written for the Milwaukee Bucks, and speculation about reigning MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo is reaching a fever pitch.

The Ringer's Kevin O'Connor reported the Bucks are the "clear favorites" to sign Antetokounmpo when he becomes a free agent in 2021. However, the Miami Heat, Golden State Warriors, Toronto Raptors and Dallas Mavericks are lining up a possible offer, and the Los Angeles Clippers are considering all of their options in a potential sign-and-trade.

"One of the sources said Giannis has an 'admiration' for Clippers head coach Doc Rivers," O'Connor wrote.

Immediately following Milwaukee's 103-94 defeat to the Miami Heat in Game 5 of their second-round matchup, Antetokounmpo indicated he won't request a trade to expedite his exit.

"It's not happening. That's not happening," he said to Yahoo Sports' Chris Haynes. "Some see a wall and go in [another direction]. I plow through it. We just have to get better as a team, individually and get right back at it next season."

ESPN's Tim Bontemps also spoke to multiple sources who "are adamant that the Bucks won't trade" Antetokounmpo if he doesn't sign a supermax extension.

There's almost no scenario in which dealing the four-time All-Star makes sense for Milwaukee. Even if Antetokounmpo makes it clear he has no intention of re-signing, there's no telling when the Bucks will be this close to a title for the foreseeable future.

The Toronto Raptors showed how going all-in for one season can be the right approach when you're on the cusp of a breakthrough. They acquired Kawhi Leonard with no reassurances as to his long-term future, and Leonard was instrumental in their championship run.

The big question ahead for general manager Jon Horst is how he supplements Antetokounmpo for next season, since it's abundantly clear the supporting cast needs to improve.

The New York Times' Marc Stein reported some inside the league expect the Bucks to make a run at Oklahoma City Thunder star Chris Paul. Paul would be an upgrade over Eric Bledsoe and give Milwaukee an elite playmaker and leader to ease the offensive load on Antetokounmpo's shoulders.

Then there's the status of head coach Mike Budenholzer, who received more criticism than probably any other member of the organization for his failure to make the necessary adjustments on the fly against Miami.

Horst not only has to weigh Budenholzer's future but also think of any replacements who would better position the team for postseason success.

As O'Connor reported, Antetokounmpo's future isn't a fait accompli. He'll have every opportunity to put pen to paper on a long-term extension with Milwaukee.

But the organization has to operate under the belief the 2020-21 season could be the last in which the generational talent calls Milwaukee home.

Milwaukee Bucks head coach Mike Budenholzer said he's proud of his team for being on the "right side of history," referring to the team's protests against social injustice, systemic racism and police brutality.

ESPN's Malika Andrews relayed Budenholzer's comments:

Mike Budenholzer, holding back tears, said that the Bucks came in with high on-court expectations, but is proud of the way his team had “the humanity to stand and be on the right side of history... Winning is important. If you (have to) choose one, you’ll choose high character.”

— Malika Andrews (@malika_andrews) September 9, 2020

The Bucks refused to take the court for Game 5 of their first-round series against the Orlando Magic, leading to a wave of postponements across the NBA, WNBA, MLB and MLS in solidarity with Milwaukee.

Bucks guards George Hill and Sterling Brown read statements explaining the team's decision:

The Milwaukee Bucks statement: pic.twitter.com/F7XOPs4NqE

— Malika Andrews (@malika_andrews) August 26, 2020

The Bucks' protest came three days after Jacob Blake, a 29-year-old Black man, was shot seven times in the back by police trying to detain him in Kenosha, Wisconsin, which is 40 miles from Milwaukee.

The NBA season paused for three days as meetings took place between players, coaches, league officials and others. Ultimately, the NBA and NBPA committed to making further changes in the fight for social justice, per a statement released that week:

NBPA Executive Director Michele Roberts and NBA
Commissioner Adam Silver released the following joint statement today.

🔗: https://t.co/1nHK3FG9TB pic.twitter.com/7sSBLO8pMm

— NBPA (@TheNBPA) August 28, 2020

The NBA season resumed three days after the Bucks' protest, and Milwaukee finished off the Magic in a rescheduled Game 5.

The Bucks' season ended Tuesday after they lost in five games to the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference semifinals.

Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo is eligible to become a free agent after the 2020-21 season.

It remains to be seen where the reigning NBA MVP will be playing ball after the 2021 offseason, but ESPN's Stephen A. Smith believes Antetokounmpo won't be heading to the New York Knicks (2:35).

"No way in hell," Smith said. He went on to say that he was rooting for the new Knicks front office led by president Leon Rose but reiterated that there "ain't no way in hell that's happening. I don't believe that."

Ex-NBA player, ESPN analyst and Brooklyn Nets color commentator Richard Jefferson expressed similar sentiments against Antetokounmpo's potential of heading to New York.

The Knicks have tens of millions in cap space in the coming years, although the Bucks can offer even more money via a supermax extension.

Still, New York is coming off a 21-45 season and isn't in position to contend for a deep playoff run like the Bucks or other teams, and that could be a mark against the Knicks as they pursue top-end free agents.

As for Milwaukee, Antetokounmpo and the Bucks have largely thrived during the last two regular seasons, finishing with the NBA's best win-loss record both times.

However, the postseason has ended in disappointment on both occasions. Last year, the Bucks blew a 2-0 series lead to the eventual NBA champion Toronto Raptors before losing four straight in the Eastern Conference Finals.

This season, Milwaukee lost its first three Eastern Conference semifinal games against the Miami Heat en route to a 4-1 series defeat.

There hasn't been any serious indication that Antetokounmpo is looking to head elsewhere of late, and that's been the trend for some time.

On Tuesday, Antetokounmpo made it clear to Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports that he had no plans to go anywhere: "It's not happening. That's not happening. Some see a wall and go in [another direction]. I plow through it. We just have to get better as a team, individually and get right back at it next season."

He added:

"If winning a championship was easy, everyone would have one. We lost. Everyone saw that we lost. It's disappointing, but what are we going to do? We're going to keep working. I've got confidence in my teammates.

"Everyone has a role to play. You see my brother, Thanasis, he's always up cheering and doing whatever he can when he's not playing. I'm no different. This is a team, and I'm going to do whatever I can to help our team win games."

ESPN's Tim Bontemps also offered this report in June:

"Milwaukee is still considered likely to keep Antetokounmpo long term, but insiders cited the potential of the salary cap dropping both this offseason and in future years as a reason Giannis might take a wait-and-see approach. Still, the overriding belief is that whatever happens on the court will play the biggest role in his decision."

Antetokounmpo also had this to say to Mackenzie Salmon of USA Today in February on creating a legacy with the Bucks:

"I can't think that far ahead. I'm just trying to focus on the moment and get better.".

"But why not? I'm a guy that wants to be with a team for a while. As long as we're winning. And we're winning so far, so I don't think anything's going to change." 

The Heat-Giannis speculation has been prevalent in the past, with Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald writing that the team was considering going after Antetokounmpo and free-agent-to-be Indiana Pacers guard Victor Oladipo in the summer of 2021.

However, it appears Antetokounmpo is intent on staying in Milwaukee as the team goes back to the drawing board after another early playoff exit.