Giannis Antetokounmpo, fresh off another early playoff exit with Milwaukee, can – if he chooses – sign a super-max contract with the Bucks this offseason. That contract would be worth roughly $220 million, which is far more than any other team could offer him.
NBA on TNT reporter Jared Greenberg, however, isn’t convinced that Giannis should pull the trigger.
“The whole thought process of designing that super-max was to keep players like Giannis in small markets to incentivize them to stay,” Greenberg explained on Tiki & Tierney. “He has up until the day before next season starters to sign that. Otherwise it comes off the table.”
But why not sign? Why not make as much money as possible?
“If you’re Giannis,” Greenberg said, “even though that money sounds great . . . he could create an incredible amount of leverage to put his foot on the team to say, ‘Hey, listen, how about you prove to me, [owner] Marc Lasry, that you’re willing to spend into the luxury tax, that you’re willing to go above and beyond, to bring in the type of free agents and the type of talent we need?’ There was some questions in past offseasons if Milwaukee was willing to spend all that money.”
The Bucks have finished with the best record in the NBA in each of the last two seasons. Last year, they squandered a 2-0 lead in the Eastern Conference Finals. This year, they won just one game in the second round.
Khris Middleton had some otherworldly moments for Milwaukee, but Giannis clearly needs more help.
“Obviously they’re willing to spend on Giannis, but what abut that supporting cast?” Greenberg asked. “We can talk about all the different players they can add and the type of players, [but] they need to prove [their] commitment to Giannis – that whether it’s this offseason or five offseasons from now, they’re not going to be stingy when it comes to surrounding him with talent.”