The Bucks are off to a sluggish begin this season and NBA executives are quietly hoping that the 2022 champs will crash and burn, as a result of it could imply that Giannis Antetokounmpo can be up for grabs.
“Groups are circling — and hopeful,” one Western Convention crew govt told CBS Sports.
A prime govt of a crew that might be within the combine for the Greek Freak mentioned, “I wouldn’t be stunned if it occurred by the commerce deadline.”
An Jap Convention govt has been listening to the whispers and says Giannis’ most popular locations could be the Nets and the Warmth.
The Thunder is a crew that can also be risk, given the quantity of draft capital the franchise would have the ability to present the Bucks with.
“I haven’t heard them talked about, however yeah, in case you’re Milwaukee you would possibly simply go, ‘I don’t give a f— what you need. If you would like out, we’re getting the very best deal we will.’ And Oklahoma Metropolis might positively supply a very good one,” the Jap Convention govt mentioned.
One other drama which will trigger Giannis to exit stage left is how a lot pull Doc Rivers is gaining on the franchise, a lot in order that he’s “already gained over the proprietor sufficient that he’s now the important thing voice in basketball choices,” CBS says.
“They inform me it’s as much as Doc now, that they’re going to attend 20 video games after which see what Doc needs,” mentioned one particular person acquainted with the Bucks’ front-office inner-workings. “It sounds prefer it’s a large number.”
Antetokounmpo himself has even helped gas the rumors. A few weeks again he alluded to being traded if this yr goes stomach up.
“If we don’t win this yr, would you get fired?” the Bucks star requested a staffer, through The Athletic. “Do you’ve gotten it behind your thoughts, like, ‘(What) if this yr doesn’t go properly?’ Yeah, if we don’t win a championship, I would get traded. Yeah, that is the job we dwell. That is the world we’re residing in. It’s all people.”
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