Giannis Antetokounmpo

Forget looking like Mike. Disney+ is seeking someone to echo Antetokounmpo.

The streaming giant is turning the early life of Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo into a film and has begun searching for an actor to portray a young hoops star. On Wednesday, Antetokounmpo joined in on the hunt for his younger self, as well as someone to play older brother Thanasis:

According to a casting call from Walt Disney Studios, the production team is looking for actors who can assume the role of the Greek Freak at 13-15 years old and 15-18 years old. The former part requires actors 5'11" or taller, while the latter calls for an actor who is at least 6'3".

The casting call shows how Antetokounmpo's story will unfold on screen:

"Shorter and not as obviously gifted as Thanasis, Giannis has not yet reached his maturity, and he works extra hard at basketball – always remaining two long steps behind his big brother. Giannis is not afraid of hard work, and he pushes and pushes his body to master the craft of basketball -- until one magic day, something clicks and Giannis morphs from a skinny, inexperienced young boy to an 'AWESOME' young man."

By the time Antetokounmpo joined the NBA in 2013, the No. 15 overall selection stood a slender 6'9", 210 pounds. It might take some extreme method acting to pull off that type of growth spurt on screen. Fortunately, depicting a back-to-back NBA MVP's early days may be enticing enough for a wide swath of actors—or athletes—to try out.

One of the hottest names on the NBA trade market this offseason reportedly isn't up for grabs after all.

While the Milwaukee Bucks are eligible to offer Giannis Antetokounmpo the chance to sign a five-year max extension this offseason, the two-time MVP and defending Defensive Player of the Year may not take them up on it, preferring instead to focus on winning the ultimate prize—an NBA title.

That possibility is how the 25-year-old has ended up in trade rumors after the Bucks' second-round playoff exit, but ESPN's Tim Bontemps reported Monday that the big man won't be available heading into the 2020-21 season:

"Multiple sources have emphatically said Milwaukee will not look to trade Antetokounmpo if he passes on the extension. Instead, the Bucks will try to improve their roster and use the next year to show Antetokounmpo why he should stay. Waiting would give Antetokounmpo maximum leverage over Milwaukee over the next 12 months. If the Bucks are willing to add to their payroll to improve the team—something ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski has reported they are—Milwaukee could chase a significant upgrade in trades (despite being short on prime assets)."

While there's still a wait-and-see element concerning Antetokounmpo's extension, he told Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports in September that he wouldn't be requesting a swap to another team this offseason. 

"It's not happening," he said. "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 this season." 

This report is bad news for the Eastern Conference champion Miami Heat, who were going "all-in" on targeting Anteokounmpo this offseason, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic. 

Even if Miami is out of the running for Antetokounmpo, they have been linked to another valuable asset this offseason—and reportedly have the upper hand in the deal.

ESPN's Brian Windhorst said on his podcast that two-time All-Star Victor Oladipo has been "connected to Miami for months now" (h/t Clay Ferraro of WPLG).

In his return from a ruptured quad tendon that ended his 2018-19 campaign early—his first with the Indiana Pacers—the 28-year-old collected 14.5 points, 3.9 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 0.9 steals while averaging a career-low 27.8 minutes per game this year.

Oladipo, who still has a season left on his contract in Indiana, has openly expressed his desire to be a winner, and the Heat have proved they are capable of that after their run to the NBA Finals.

But while the player may be convinced he has a home in South Beach, his potential suitors are not yet sold on the deal. 

"I'm not sure that the interest from Miami is as high as the interest from Oladipo," Windhorst said.  

Antetokounmpo isn't the only former MVP who is reportedly on the trading block this offseason.

Sean Deveney of Heavy.com noted that the Los Angeles Lakers, fresh off of their NBA Championship, are turning their focus to Detroit Pistons guard Derrick Rose.

Both the Philadelphia 76ers and the Lakers were reportedly targeting the three-time All-Star at the trade deadline, according to Haynes, but nothing came of it. 

However, one general manager told Deveney that following the season, with the Pistons finishing 20-46 and missing the playoffs, the conversation between the 32-year-old and the Lakers could be back on: 

"I think both sides were reluctant when they went into in January, February. I don’t think the Lakers wanted to make a major move because they thought they could do something on the buyout market. And I don’t think the Pistons wanted to make a major move because Derrick was happy there. You know, the Lakers wanted to be involved in case the Clippers got involved or someone else, the Bucks or the Nuggets, whoever. So there was interest but not too serious. Now, everything has shifted a little. Now, they’re both in a position to where a deal is much more likely now."

With the Lakers' backcourt emptying out as Rajon Rondo and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope hit the free-agent market, Rose, who averaged 18.1 points and 5.6 assists in a bench role, could fill the hole left in the L.A. lineup.

Giannis Antetokounmpo will be eligible to sign a supermax contract extension this summer, and more than a few teams will be waiting eagerly to see what he decides to do.

Even if he doesn't sign that deal and instead chooses to become a free agent next year, Tim Bontemps of ESPN reported Monday that the Milwaukee Bucks have no plans to trade the two-time MVP:

"Multiple sources have emphatically said Milwaukee will not look to trade Antetokounmpo if he passes on the extension. Instead, the Bucks will try to improve their roster and use the next year to show Antetokounmpo why he should stay.

"Waiting would give Antetokounmpo maximum leverage over Milwaukee over the next 12 months. If the Bucks are willing to add to their payroll to improve the team—something ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski has reported they are—Milwaukee could chase a significant upgrade in trades (despite being short on prime assets)."

It's clear Milwaukee needs to make some roster changes after being the Eastern Conference's top seed two seasons in a row yet failing to make the NBA Finals. It may be difficult to add a third star alongside the Greek Freak and Khris Middleton, with players like Eric Bledsoe, Brook Lopez, George Hill and Donte DiVincenzo the top assets on the roster.

The Bucks also have the Indiana Pacers' first-round pick in this year's draft and their own 2021 first-round pick as potential trade chips.

For instance, Milwaukee could make the money work in a potential Chris Paul trade by using a combination of those players, but would the Oklahoma City Thunder accept such a package? It's more likely the Thunder would prefer promising young players, draft assets and salary-cap relief (though the market that forms around Paul may dictate those demands).

If Antetokounmpo chooses to hit free agency, it would make the Bucks want to urgently improve their roster. Whether they have the assets to do so is another story.

His decision will affect other teams as well. As Bontemps noted, should Antetokounmpo sign a long-term extension with Milwaukee, it would end the hopes that teams like the Toronto Raptors, Miami Heat and Dallas Mavericks might have of signing him next year. It wouldn't be surprising if the New York Knicks were putting all of their eggs in the Giannis basket as well based on their pursuit of Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving last offseason.

In turn, those teams likely would be more willing to spend short-term money, unencumbered by the need to preserve the cap space they had been earmarking for Antetokounmpo.

His decision will carry weight for a lot of franchises. More than a few teams will remain on high alert, including the Bucks, if he decides to become a free agent next offseason.

There's little doubt that Chris Paul's future will be one of the most intriguing subplots of the NBA offseason. The star point guard seems likely to be traded given the trajectory of the rebuilding Oklahoma City Thunder, with plenty of suitors likely to emerge. 

One of those suitors might just be the champion Los Angeles Lakers. 

"Chris Paul would love to come back to L.A," an Eastern Conference executive told B/R's Eric Pincus. "I know it would be a dream come true for Chris. I know LeBron [James] loves and trusts him, and he would be a good fit."

The executive continued:

"It's a no-brainer to get a third scorer [and playmaker] like Chris. It's a really valid and viable scenario. Will it happen? I don't know, but if I'm the Lakers [or] if I'm LeBron, that's what I go for. They might be able to get a pick back from the Thunder, like [the Miami Heat's 2021 previously acquired by Oklahoma City]."

Granted, for the Lakers to make the money work—Paul is owed $41.3 million next season and has a $44.2 million player option in the 2021-22 campaign, which he assuredly will exercise—they would need to clear out significant salary cap space. As Pincus noted, that could mean dealing five players and a 2020 first-round pick:

Avery Bradley and JaVale McGee would need to opt into their player options for next year to make such a trade work. Bradley, 29, could get more in free agency than the $5 million he's due next year, which perhaps throws a wrench into this possibility. But it's not hard to see how a playmaker like Paul would fit next to James and Anthony Davis.

The Lakers may not be alone in pursuing him, with Pincus reporting that the "the buzz around the league is [the Thunder will] talk to teams like the Milwaukee Bucks or New York Knicks to test the waters."

That isn't the only report linking Paul to the Knicks. And if it happens, don't be shocked if Carmelo Anthony returns to Madison Square Garden, per Marc Berman of the New York Post:

"If point guard Chris Paul makes his way to the Knicks via a trade, sources have said Anthony is likely to want to follow. Anthony and Paul are close friends who dreamed of playing together in the NBA and saw their alliance in Houston end prematurely.

"Both players were represented by Knicks president Leon Rose when he was basketball chief of Creative Artists Agency. A source said Rose is amenable to an Anthony return even without Paul."

Imagine Anthony returning to New York after his exit following then-president Phil Jackson's very public smear campaign against the veteran. It would be quite the reunion now that the Knicks are far removed from the Jackson days.

Knicks fans may not be thrilled with the prospect of reuniting two aging stars at a time when the team probably should be dedicated to a rebuild around younger players like RJ Barrett, Mitchell Robinson and Kevin Knox.

But consider the possibility of the team also making a splash in free agency by signing Fred VanVleet. According to Stefan Bondy of the New York Daily News, "the Knicks, according to sources, are among the other teams with interest" in the free-agent guard.

Imagine a Knicks team built around Paul, VanVleet—yes, they could play together, as VanVleet and Kyle Lowry coexisted quite well with the Toronto Raptors—Anthony, Barrett and Robinson (this assumes Julius Randle would be moved in the CP3 trade alongside other young players and/or picks).

That isn't a championship contender. But it is a core group that could easily snag the No. 8 seed in the Eastern Conference. Should the Knicks be worried about making the playoffs, which would likely lead to an early exit, at the expense of building around younger players?

Probably not. But if Giannis Antetokounmpo hits free agency next summer, you can bet the Knicks will try like hell to sign him. Having the surrounding parts of a potential contender is likely the only way he will be lured away from the Milwaukee Bucks or turn away other, more competent organizations.

All of this, of course, is theoretical. Maybe Paul is traded elsewhere. Maybe VanVleet returns to Toronto and pairs with Pascal Siakam and OG Anunoby on a contender for years to come. Anthony could simply return to the Portland Trail Blazers, with whom he revived his career. And truth be told, the chances of signing Antetokounmpo probably aren't high enough for the Knicks to abandon a more asset-based rebuild.

In truth, they should be using their cap space to nab draft picks and young players in exchange for taking on bad contracts. But hey, they are the Knicks. They were reportedly convinced they were getting Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving last offseason. Don't be surprised if they try to pull off the short-term fix yet again.

During the 2010 offseason, the Miami Heat pulled out all the stops to sign LeBron James and Chris Bosh and retain Dwyane Wade. They're apparently approaching the 2021 with the same mindset as Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo is due to hit free agency.

The Athletic's Shams Charania reported Thursday the Heat are "preparing to go all-in" for Antetokounmpo. However, that pursuit could indirectly impact the status of All-Star center Bam Adebayo:

"Rival teams are monitoring Adebayo's extension situation and the aftereffects if Miami bypasses extending their superstar big man. Miami is preparing to go all in on the pursuit of Milwaukee's two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo in 2021 free agency, sources said. There is a school of thought that salary-wise, waiting on Adebayo's extension would allow for as much space as possible for 2021. But given Adebayo's presence, leadership and meaning to the Heat franchise, this is a straight-forward conversation between team executives and Adebayo's agent, Alex Saratsis: A max extension this offseason or not."

That the Heat would pull out all the stops to land Giannis isn't a surprise. Especially after reaching the NBA Finals, Miami has to be considered a serious contender if the two-time MVP pushes to leave Milwaukee.

The Ringer's Kevin O'Connor reported Oct. 7 that "front office executives around the league believe the Heat have become the league’s top destination for the next star with a wandering eye."

Adebayo's contract status is an example of how the situation is a bit more complex than Miami simply waiting until next offseason and then getting down to business.

Adebayo has improved steadily over each of his first three seasons and took a big leap forward in 2019-20. He averaged 15.9 points, 10.2 rebounds and 1.3 blocks during the regular season. During the playoffs, he was a critical member of Miami's rotation.

The 2017 first-round pick isn't a free agent until 2021, and even then he's still a restricted free agent.

For the 2021-22 season, Adebayo will have a $12.8 million cap hold, per Spotrac, which is far less than he'll probably earn on his next contract. If the Heat wanted to be as pragmatic as possible, waiting to formally offer him an extension is the smart play.

Charania alluded to Miami possibly wanting to send a message to Adebayo and the rest of the league that he's a key piece of the franchise's long-term future. Declining to put a max offer on the table would risk alienating Adebayo.

The Heat have experience in how what appear to be minor moves can have larger consequences. Mike Miller explained in 2014 how him getting amnestied by Miami upset LeBron James, who questioned the impact Miller's departure would have.

Snubbing Adebayo this offseason in order to free up more cap space to chase Antetokounmpo might rock the boat a bit.

It may cost the Golden State Warriors one of the key pieces of their championship core to land Giannis Antetokounmpo in a trade with the Milwaukee Bucks.

On Wednesday, ESPN's Ramona Shelburne told 95.7 The Game's Damon, Ratto & Kolsky (h/t Drew Shiller of NBC Sports) the Warriors have the best trade package of any team should the Bucks explore trading the league MVP. However, she suggested Klay Thompson or Draymond Green may need to be involved:

"[The Warriors] have the best package. People get so upset when I say that, but they do. They have the trade exception, they have (Andrew) Wiggins, they have this year's pick (No. 2 overall), they have next year's Minnesota pick (top-three protected in 2021, unprotected in 2022).

"Maybe you even have to talk about Klay Thompson or Draymond (Green) being in a package like that, too. But they have a great package if it comes down to it."

While trading Antetokounmpo, who is 25 years old and coming off back-to-back MVP seasons, may seem ill-advised for any franchise, there is a scenario where the Bucks may at least explore doing so.

If he turns down the supermax extension this offseason, the possibility that he becomes an unrestricted free agent and leaves the Bucks with nothing to show for it following the 2020-21 campaign is at least something to consider. Trading Antetokounmpo prior to the upcoming season would at least give Milwaukee the opportunity to land a number of noteworthy assets in return.

Antetokounmpo said he is not planning on leaving Milwaukee in September following the team's second-round playoff exit to the Miami Heat.

"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."

Shelburne also said she does not expect the Bucks to trade their superstar.

As for Golden State, losing picks in the next draft or two will not hurt as much as it would for other teams. The team is still in win-now mode after making five straight trips to the NBA Finals from 2015 to 2019 before being riddled with injuries last season, and pairing Antetokounmpo with Stephen Curry, and even just one of Thompson and Green would instantly put it among the title favorites.

The combination of Curry and Antetokounmpo would be a nightmare for opposing defenses. Curry is arguably the best three-point shooter in NBA history and requires defenders to pick him up well beyond the arc, while Antetokounmpo can only be stopped by packing the lane to cut off his drives.

When the Los Angeles Lakers acquired Anthony Davis from the New Orleans Pelicans last summer, their mission was clear: championship or bust.

Mission accomplished.

The Lakers captured the 17th title in their illustrious history after defeating the Miami Heat on Sunday, capping off a historic and unprecedented season.

LeBron James was named Finals MVP, but Davis set the tone early. "The Brow" scored 30-plus points in Games 1 and 2, both L.A. wins, and was a combined +33 for the first two games of the series. Davis' excellence forced Miami to adjust its defense and, in many ways, allowed James to exploit one-on-one matchups and seemingly get into the lane at will.

As a result, Davis earned the first title of his career, the cherry on top of a season where he was the runner-up for the Defensive Player of the Year Award and was also named First Team All-NBA.

Now, Lakers fans can only hope this is the start of a new dynasty in Los Angeles.

James and Davis formed an incomparable duo this season, with both players feeding off one other and demanding greatness. Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports reported LeBron told AD "we've got more work to do" during the celebration in the locker room following L.A.'s triumph in Game 6.

While LeBron was referring to the work on the floor, the work truly begins this winter. Davis has a player option for the 2020-21 season worth just north of $28.7 million, per Spotrac, but he is almost certainly going to opt out in favor of a new deal with L.A.

Bobby Marks of ESPN reported Davis will decline the option but added he is "not going elsewhere." Rather, the question becomes what kind of deal Davis wants.

Marks reported the 27-year-old can earn up to $32.7 million in the first year if he re-signs with the Lakers, but it remains to be seen whether Davis wants a two-year or five-year deal.

A two-year deal would make Davis a free agent in 2022 and the headliner of that class. He would be 29 years old, still in the middle of his basketball prime and likely to earn a lucrative, long-term contract. Not to mention, that is the same year LeBron hits free agency.

However, Davis might elect for a longer deal if he is intent on becoming the new face of the franchise whenever James decides to step away from the game.

Regardless, it appears Davis will be a Laker next year. Anything beyond that remains to be seen, as of yet.

Mavs Eyeing Giannis in 2021   

Giannis Antetokounmpo will not be a free agent until next summer, but teams are already seeing how they might be able to clear cap space to make a run at the "Greek Freak."

The Dallas Mavericks are reportedly among these teams.

Brian Windhorst of ESPN said Tuesday on The Jump the Mavs are looking for Antetokounmpo to be the third star alongside Luka Doncic and Kristaps Porzingis. Windhorst added he does not expect Dallas to be very active this offseason so they can "keep their books clear" and save for Giannis. 

There is a chance Antetokounmpo never makes it to free agency. He will be eligible for a supermax extension with the Milwaukee Bucks this season, and Milwaukee can pay Giannis at a higher annual value than any other team in the league.

But the Bucks are coming off back-to-back playoff disappointments, and their future is somewhat unclear. Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN reported co-owner and governor Marc Lasry pledged to spend into the luxury tax to build around Antetokounmpo. At the same time, the Bucks chose not to match the Indiana Pacers' offer for Malcolm Brogdon last year, raising the question of how far into the tax Lasry is willing to spend.

Dallas would seemingly be an appealing destination for Giannis if he hits the open market. Doncic, in just his second year, cemented his status as one of the best players in the league, and the Mavs also have a combination of floor-spacers and stretch bigs who seemingly complement Antetokounmpo's skill set.

In any case, the Mavericks might simply add on the fringes or use the mid-level exception as they hope to preserve space for next summer.

Gerald Green Hoping for Rockets Reunion   

Veteran swingman Gerald Green dealt with quite a bit of adversity this past season.

Green, who started the year with the Houston Rockets, suffered a broken foot during a preseason game in October. He was later traded to the Denver Nuggets as part of the multiteam trade that sent Robert Covington to Houston. The Nuggets subsequently waived Green, who finished out the year as a free agent.

The 34-year-old is hoping for another shot, and it appears he would welcome a reunion with the Rockets. Kelly Iko of The Athletic reported Green has been "training privately in Houston" while he continues to rehab "in hopes of a Rockets return." 

Green developed as a marquee three-and-D guy for Mike D'Antoni's Rockets in his two years with the team. Of course, D'Antoni is no longer in the fold, and the Rockets have no shortage of wings.

But Green, a Houston native, seems intent on playing close to home, regardless of who the Rockets tab as their next head coach.

All stats obtained via Basketball Reference, unless otherwise noted.

Add the Dallas Mavericks to the list of teams hoping to sign Giannis Antetokounmpo when he becomes a free agent in 2021.

"The Dallas Mavericks are gonna be at the head of the line in pursuing Giannis. They want to have a third star," ESPN's Brian Windhorst said Tuesday on The Jump (h/t RealGM). 

This pursuit could cause them to remain relatively quiet this offseason.

"They want to keep their books clear for 2021," Windhorst said. "I wouldn't expect them to add any major free agents this year. They're going to wait."

The Mavericks already have two top young players in Luka Doncic and Kristaps Porzingis, which was good enough to earn the No. 7 seed in the Western Conference this season.

Doncic is only two years into his career and already has a Rookie of the Year award, an All-Star selection and was first-team All-NBA this season. He averaged 31.0 points, 9.8 rebounds and 8.7 assists per game during the playoffs, fighting the Los Angeles Clippers for six games before losing in the first round.

If the 21-year-old continues to improve, the Mavericks should be a top contender in the West regardless of additions.

Of course, adding Giannis could make the team almost unstoppable in a couple of years.

Antetokounmpo has won the MVP award in each of the past two seasons, adding the Defensive Player of the Year award this year. The problem has been his lack of playoff success with the Milwaukee Bucks, losing before the NBA Finals in each of the last two years.

Going another year without a championship could force the forward to look elsewhere when he becomes a free agent.

Dallas will keep an eye on Giannis, keeping its books open just in case. The Mavericks are currently set to owe more than $8 million each to Porzingis ($31.7M), Doncic ($10.2M), Dwight Powell ($11.1M), Maxi Kleber ($8.8M), Delon Wright ($8.5M) and Seth Curry ($8.2M) in the 2021-22 season.