The Milwaukee Bucks are struggling at 9-13 at the moment, after beginning the season 4-1. And it’s somehow getting worse for them: Monday night’s 129-126 loss to the abysmal Washington Wizards might even have been rock bottom. It also might have been the last straw for Giannis Antetokounmpo.
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The Greek Freak has scrubbed his Instagram account of nearly all Bucks-related content after the game. Needless to say, it has sparked the same old storyline around Giannis.
Giannis was one of the main characters of this NBA offseason as fans and talking heads speculated on whether or not he would ask the Bucks to be traded. Giannis has tried to downplay those rumors, but wiping the Bucks from his social media is going to be like blood in the water for those who love NBA drama.
Giannis has spent his entire career in Milwaukee. He helped deliver the city a championship in 2021. But in light of Dame Lillard’s Achilles tear late last season and the fact that the Bucks haven’t won a single playoff series in three years, the rumor mill has been swirling.
Is the social media cleansing a sign that the beginning of the end is here? It’s amazing what losing to the Wizards can do to someone.
The East has been wide open, with many surprising teams jumping up the standings. The Pistons currently lead the way at 17-4, while the Heat, Magic, and Hawks have also been hot. That’s pushed the Bucks down, but it’s also clear that Giannis just doesn’t have enough quality pieces around him to do much more than hover around .500.
Giannis, who is averaging 30.6 points, 10.7 rebounds, and 6.4 assists per game, is under contract this year and next, and has a player option for 2027-28. His $54 million salary this year will need to be matched by any team acquiring him. So it will take more than just a bundle of draft picks to get any deal done.
If Giannis does indeed become available, every team in the league would love to have him. That will make the price astronomical, but some teams really have the assets and the flexibility to make a move for him.
The Knicks have reportedly had their eye on him for years, as have the Warriors. Major names would have to be moved to get a deal done with either of those teams, though.
The Spurs would obviously love to team him up with Victor Wembanyama, while the Hawks could craft a package around Trae Young to pair Giannis with their up-and-coming young core. Though the Thunder are off to a historic 20-1 start, they also have the young players and draft capital to beat any team’s offer if Sam Presti wanted to get crazy.
A player rarely takes the drastic step of scrubbing a team from his social media unless he also intends to force his way out of town. Giannis has been extremely loyal to the Bucks to this point. But it looks like we may be coming to the end of an era.
Don’t be surprised if we find out in the coming days that the Bucks are shopping him at his request.
Giannis is still an MVP-caliber player, so if he does get moved, he could potentially have the power to completely change this year’s playoff race and the balance of power in the league for the next several years. It’s been a fun and interesting NBA season so far, but this new development could really be a game-changer.
