NBA insider makes bold prediction about Giannis Antetokounmpo, Bucks

Michael Kaskey-Blomain

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NBA insider makes bold prediction about Giannis Antetokounmpo, Bucks image

Giannis Antetokounmpo’s future with the Milwaukee Bucks remains one of the hottest topics in the NBA heading into the trade deadline next week.

Basketball fans everywhere are wondering if the Bucks will trade arguably the best player in franchise history, or if he’ll remain in Milwaukee past the deadline.

NBA insider thinks Giannis Antetokounmpo has played his last game with Milwaukee 

We’ll have to wait and see what happens with the two-time MVP, but at least one person thinks that Antetokounmpo has already played his last game in a Bucks uniform. During a recent appearance on NBA Today, ESPN’s Marc Spears made a bold prediction regarding Antetokounmpo’s future in Milwaukee.

"I think he's [Giannis Antetokounmpo] played his last game in a Bucks uniform,” Spears said, explaining that the Bucks have more to gain by trading Antetokounmpo than by playing him.

“There’s so much benefit from him not playing,” Spears said. “One, you could make a trade for him with Atlanta, and get that piece, that generational piece, maybe the No.1 pick or the No.2 pick. You play him, and they win, it just pushes back their potential pick further, so to me it benefits them to sit him.”

Obviously, this isn’t exactly what Bucks fans want to hear, but it’s a possibility they need to brace themselves for nonetheless.

Antetokounmpo is currently sidelined with a calf injury, and there’s currently no return date in place.

"There's really no timetable," Bucks coach Doc Rivers said of a potential return to game action for Antetokounmpo.

The star forward certainly isn’t going to return prior to the trade deadline on Feb. 5. So, if he’s traded prior to the deadline, Spears’ prediction would be proven correct. However, if he’s still on Milwaukee’s roster on Feb. 6, then both Antetokounmpo and the organization will have to regroup and figure out the next steps forward, both for the current campaign and the long-term.

Antetokounmpo’s future will continue to be the central story in the league for the next week plus until the deadline passes, so stay tuned. 

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