The Giannis crisis has arrived
The question is whether it's a crisis with an interregnum or not.
The question is whether it's a crisis with an interregnum or not.
Good morning. Let's basketball.
Giannis Antetokounmpo is eligible to sign an extension in October ahead of becoming a free agent in July 2027. If there's any indication Giannis won't sign the extension, the Milwaukee Bucks will almost assuredly try to trade him as early as possible to net the biggest package available.
The Bucks already talked to the Knicks over the summer about a potential trade, but there was nothing there. There's probably still nothing there, though, unless Giannis is adamant that he wants to be in New York and the Bucks are forced to take Karl-Anthony Towns or can figure out a multi-team deal. I don't know, like this with Milwaukee somehow their own pick owned by Atlanta back, too?
Meanwhile, amid all the new trade flutters, Giannis left three minutes into Wednesday's game with a non-contact lower leg injury.
That was a weird looking injury even by the standards of weird lower leg injuries. MRI on Thursday. If this is a serious injury that costs Giannis months or, heavens forbid, the season, that will color the trade market – less priority on getting Antetokounmpo to challenge Oklahoma City this season – but not kill it. This is Giannis Antetokounmpo, the third best player in the world. If this is just a more minor injury, then there's a chance with the Bucks messing around in the play-in range that he just doesn't play again until a trade is made.
There's also the possibility that if Giannis really is set on the Knicks that New York simply says that they don't want to shred the roster midseason with the East so wide open and tell the Bucks to come back in June. They risk losing Giannis to another franchise who might convince him he should sign the extension there instead of waiting for the Knicks. But it might be a risk the Knicks are willing to take. The counterpoint there is that the odds of New York beating Oklahoma City in the Finals with the current team feels infinitesimally small. The odds go up with Giannis provided the fit works out and Mike Brown can adjust on the fly.
The Clippers Tell Their Side
Seeing the backlash unfold after sending Chris Paul packing during what would have been his farewell season, the Clippers leaked all the reasons why he had to go.
