Milwaukee Bucks: 3 reasons it’s time for full-blown panic mode (other than the 0-3 deficit)

Giannis.

This is the one topic the Milwaukee Bucks can’t get away from, and won’t be able to escape until (or unless) he signs an extension in the coming offseason. Without a long-term commitment from Giannis Antetokounmpo, the sword of Damocles hangs over the organization.

While all the speculation regarding his future is media-fueled (and yes, here we are stoking the embers), it’s worth noting that nothing has come out of Antetokounmpo’s camp. Giannis could shut all this talk down with a mere comment but has willfully chosen not to, and that’s worth considering as well.

In 2016, the OKC Thunder lost Kevin Durant in free agency for nothing, and that’s going to be the constant fear the Bucks will linger in with no clear edict from Giannis.

Not much is certain at this point, but with consecutive playoff flameouts and a coach who doesn’t seem interested in making even the slightest adjustment in the postseason, even in the most obvious ways like playing your best players a few more minutes per game, there should be major internal fear. The Bucks may need to take preemptive action in the trade market before the power to act is taken out of their hands.