Giannis Antetokounmpo will be the most talked-about NBA superstar this season. Even if he's not playing and the trade deadline is still months away, all eyes are set on Wisconsin and the former Finals MVP.
Antetokounmpo is reportedly mulling his future with the organization. And, even though he reached out to his teammates to urge them to stay focused on the task at hand amid all the turmoil, his potential trade request will be the biggest storyline of the season, and it's not particularly close.
The Bucks have no rush to trade him. And, according to NBA insider Jake Fischer, they're not even going to entertain the idea unless he explicitly requests a trade. As such, this will probably turn into a 'staring contest.'
The Bucks are in a 'staring contest' with Giannis Antetokounmpo
“A lead executive told me they’re framing it as a ‘staring contest’ where the Bucks are doubling down, tripling down, and saying that they are not going to entertain any incoming trade inquiry or interest for Giannis until Giannis asks out?” Fischer said.
Giannis hasn't been shy about his frustrations with the team's direction and present. Nevertheless, he hasn't formally said that he wants to leave, even though he's reportedly considering all of his options:
“The reality is, Giannis ain’t asking out either,” Fischer added. “So until this staring contest breaks, or one of these sides blinks, for now, Milwaukee is calling other teams and messaging that they are looking to be buyers right now.”
The fact of the matter is that Giannis doesn't have a no-trade clause in his contract. As such, he shouldn't get a say in whether he's traded or not, much less in his preferred trade destinations.
Of course, that doesn't mean that the Bucks can't choose to do right by him and grant him his wish to play for a championship contender, provided that the said team is willing to meet their demands for his services.
As one of the best two-way players in the game and one of the faces of the league, the Bucks need to make sure to squeeze until the last ounce of trade value for their superstar.
They can also make one last shot at appeasing him by acquiring another All-Star before the trade deadline. But at 11-6 and in tenth place in the Eastern Conference, this team might actually be better off just blowing things up and focusing on rebuilding.