Milwaukee Bucks Star Giannis Antetokounmpo Sets Sights On 2 Eastern Conference Teams
The Giannis Antetokounmpo saga will be one of the NBA’s biggest stories this offseason. Following another early playoff exit, this season against the Indiana Pacers, the Milwaukee Bucks star is reportedly mulling his options this offseason. Even though Antetokounmpo has not requested a trade from the Bucks, he will be weighing his options this offseason.
A recent report from Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson said the former MVP prefers to stay in the weaker Eastern Conference, and two teams have piqued his interest. Those teams are the Toronto Raptors and Brooklyn Nets. Where will the “Greek Freak” play next season?
Breaking Down the Latest Giannis Antetokounmpo News
It is widely expected that Antetokounmpo will not be a member of the Milwaukee Bucks next season. If he were to ask out, the Houston Rockets and San Antonio Spurs were the two teams viewed as the front-runners for his services. The biggest reason they were viewed as the favorites to land the two-time NBA MVP was their ability to put him in a win-now situation. The Brooklyn Nets and Toronto Raptors are a ways away from winning, even if Antetokounmpo came to town.
The Nets have been a rudderless ship since the trio of Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, and James Harden broke up. Brooklyn has missed the playoffs in two consecutive years and finished with 26 wins this year. It does not seem like that situation would be conducive to landing Antetokounmpo. The only rationale for the MVP wanting to play for the Nets is his intent to play in New York. If that is the case, he is playing for the team with the fewest fans in the NYC Metropolitan Area.
Giannis eyeing the Raptors also threw a wrench into his courtship. Toronto finished with 30 wins but has some talent on its roster. Scottie Barnes, Immanuel Quickley, and RJ Barrett are solid, but it remains to be seen how many of them would remain on the team if they were to acquire Antetokounmpo. It is tough to imagine any trade between the Raptors and Bucks being agreed upon without Barnes included in the transaction. Without Barnes, the Raptors will not be desirable for the all-time great.
Final Thoughts
If Antetokounmpo were to be acquired by the Brooklyn Nets or Toronto Raptors, he would not be in a better position to win an NBA Championship than he was with the Milwaukee Bucks. While the Eastern Conference is inferior to the Western Conference, neither Toronto nor Brooklyn would be the right cities for one of the best players in league history.
