The NBA off-season hasn't even begun, and there have been dozens of updates regarding the future of Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo. However, the latest update by NBA insider Jake Fischer has Giannis staying put in Milwaukee this summer.
Bucks fans certainly hope that Fischer is correct in his assertion that Giannis will stay in Milwaukee going forward. Given that several potential landing spots, including the San Antonio Spurs, Houston Rockets, and Oklahoma City Thunder, seemingly no longer have interest in trading for him, it seems less likely that there will be a blockbuster deal this summer.
Other teams, such as the Brooklyn Nets and Toronto Raptors, will likely still try to trade for him. But the Bucks will almost certainly demand a massive trade haul that few teams will be able to meet. With a smaller than expected trade market for Giannis, Milwaukee could potentially keep their best player.
Can the Milwaukee Bucks keep Giannis Antetokounmpo?
With star Damian Lillard possibly out for most, if not all, of next season, the Bucks will have a hard time building a contender. Especially since Lillard likely won't qualify for a disabled player exception. That would have given them up to $14.1 million to be able to sign or trade for a player or players. Instead, they could look to re-sign several key players.
The Bucks could bring back Gary Trent Jr. and Kevin Porter Jr. By using the $14.1 million mid-level exception, they could give both players a pay raise.
They will also likely run it back with Ryan Rollins, Andre Jackson Jr., Jericho Sims, and AJ Green, since all of their potential contracts will be dirt cheap. Those six players combined with Giannis, Lillard, and Kyle Kuzma would give Milwaukee 10 players for $163.7 million.
They may also sign their second-round pick in this year's draft to a minimum contract and have Pat Connaughton return. That would give them 12 players for roughly $175 million.
The Milwaukee Bucks could run it back next season
Milwaukee would still have enough room under the luxury tax to re-sign Bobby Porter Jr. or Brook Lopez. They could potentially bring back both if they were able to offload Connaughton's $9.4 million expiring contract.
Running it back with mostly the same team minus Lillard probably wouldn't be the most exciting option, but it could result in a different outcome. After all, the Boston Celtics will likely have a gap year, with Jayson Tatum expected to miss all of next season.
They could also trade several starters to try and retool. The Cleveland Cavaliers may also trade an all-star to keep from becoming too expensive. Assuming both teams aren't nearly as good as they were this season, then the East suddenly becomes less daunting for the Bucks.
All things considered, Milwaukee bringing back largely the same roster and giving younger players more opportunities could be a decent strategy. Especially if they have Giannis.