The Milwaukee Bucks pushed all their chips into the middle of the table as they landed Damian Lillard in a blockbuster three-team trade.
The Bucks were under some pressure to act and make a move as Giannis Antetokounmpo has been transparent about his choice not to sign an extension this season.
Milwaukee flamed out in the first round of the 2023 NBA playoffs against the Miami Heat who were also heavily linked to Lillard, but with the star point guard on the roster they’ve now shifted the balance of power in the Eastern Conference.
Acquiring Lillard isn’t only a good move for the Bucks franchise but also a way to show Antetokounmpo that they’re committed to building a championship team around him.
Antetokounmpo and Lillard make up arguably the best duo in the league, but the Bucks superstar could still choose to wait until next year to sign an extension.
According to Bobby Marks of ESPN, there are several reasons why Antetokounmpo is better off waiting, via SiriusXM NBA Radio.
Now that the Milwaukee Bucks have traded for Damian Lillard, will Giannis sign long-term?@BobbyMarks42 tells @BGeltzNBA and @VinceGoodwill some of the potential reasons for the hold up. pic.twitter.com/Q9Lwzc33Pr
— SiriusXM NBA Radio (@SiriusXMNBA) September 30, 2023
Marks notes that if Antetokounmpo were to wait, he’d be able to extend for more years and money, securing his future even more.
The former NBA GM also said that there could be situations this season that work against the Bucks and that could give Antetokounmpo pause.
As of now, though, Antetokounmpo has shown no public signs of being disgruntled and pairing up with Lillard should give him some extra motivation.
Even with the regular season still a few weeks away, it’s hard not to feel like Milwaukee is going to make some real noise this year.
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Gilbert Arenas Reveals Damian Lillard’s Feelings About Bucks Trade
