The Milwaukee Bucks, once again, were eliminated in the first round of the NBA Playoffs this season. Last year, their opening round loss to the Miami Heat led to head coach Mike Budenholzer being fired and a slew of coaching drama that started before the season and never really went away. While they finally have a head coach they are comfortable moving forward with in Doc Rivers, questions about the makeup of the Bucks’ roster remain.

Milwaukee Bucks Giannis Antetokounmpo
Apr 9, 2024; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) dunks the ball in the third quarter against the Boston Celtics at Fiserv Forum. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports
While Milwaukee needs to figure out the best role players to surround their stars with, the annual tradition of national media members starting trade rumors involving Giannis Antetokounmpo. For years, national analysts have practically begged the Bucks’ superstar to either demand a trade or sign with a bigger market in free agency.

Much to their disappointment, time and again, Giannis has reaffirmed his love for and commitment to the city of Milwaukee and the Bucks’ organization. Numerous times, he has stated that it is his desire to play his entire career in Milwaukee as long as the team remains committed to winning.

Milwaukee Bucks Star Giannis Antetokounmpo Had One of His Best Seasons in 2023-24

Milwaukee Bucks, Giannis AntetokounmpoFeb 4, 2024; Salt Lake City, Utah, USA; Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) dunks the ball during the second half against the Utah Jazz at Delta Center. Mandatory Credit: Chris Nicoll-USA TODAY Sports

Of course, talk is cheap and means nothing without action. Giannis let his pen and his play do the talking for him when it came to questions regarding his future in Milwaukee. After the Bucks landed Damian Lillard in a trade with the Portland Trailblazers, Giannis signed another supermax extension that ties him to the team through the 2027-28 season.

While the Bucks struggled as a team at times in the season, Giannis had one of the best seasons in his career. He averaged 30.4 points, 11.5 rebounds, and 6.5 assists per game. It was the second-straight season in which Giannis averaged 30 points or more, and his 6.5 assists per game was a career-high.

Even more impressively, Giannis became the first player in NBA history to average 30 or more points per game with a true shooting percentage (TS%) of 64% or higher.

No wonder other teams want him, and analysts who love bigger market teams want him out of Milwaukee.

NBA Analyst Believes It Would Be Malpractice for the Milwaukee Bucks to Trade Giannis Antetokounmpo

Milwaukee Bucks, Giannis AntetokounmpoFeb 3, 2024; Dallas, Texas, USA; Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) in action during the game between the Dallas Mavericks and the Milwaukee Bucks at the American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
 

Based on Giannis’ past comments and actions, other teams believing that he will become available for trade any time soon is nothing more than a delusion.

In a recent article on Bleacher Report, NBA analyst Tyler Conway went as far as to say the Bucks would be committing malpractice if they did not try to run it back with Giannis and Lillard again next season:

“It would be borderline malpractice for the Bucks front office to not run things back with Antetokounmpo and Lillard, adjusting their supporting cast as needed. Barring some unforeseen change of heart, it will be at least the summer of 2025 before Bucks fans should worry about Antetokounmpo pushing for a change of scenery.”

Conway also argues that the Bucks never got the chance to really play their fully healthy roster with Rivers as head coach. Indeed, Giannis, Lillard, and Khris Middleton played just six games together after Rivers was hired.

The summer of 2025, of course, is next summer, and Conway suggest Giannis could be looking for a change of scenery at that point.

In order for that to happen, though, the Bucks would have to give up their attempts at being NBA Championship contenders. Given how many resources they have poured into the organization as it is, that is not going to happen.

National talking heads just better get used to the Greek Freak holding court in Milwaukee for a while.

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