Yahoo Sports senior NBA analyst Kevin O’Connor and NBA contributing writer Tom Haberstroh discuss the looming possibility that the Bucks face when it comes to Giannis’ future with the team. Check out the full conversation on “The Kevin O’Connor Show” and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or wherever you listen.
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Video Transcript
The Bucks have to make a trade.
What are they gonna do?
They’re 18 and 25 this season.
It seems like after every single game, Giannis is saying something that makes waves.
I mean, earlier in the week, it was, “I’ll take it day by day,” with his future team.
After last night’s game, another Bucks loss, Uh, he talked about how the team is playing selfish.
He threw that word out there.
I’d go as far to say the Bucks must trade Giannis.
That’s how bad it’s been lately, Tom, that the Bucks are in a position where maybe they should be the one just to say, “We’re getting a divorce here.”
and we’re gonna shop you now before this offseason,” when he gains more leverage.
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That’s the risk here.
Giannis, this summer, could be an expiring salary because he has a player option for the following year.
And so for Giannis, that final ’26, ’27 year of his salary could be the final year contract.
That’s when he’s gonna have more leverage.
And maybe he’d even have a little bit of leverage now.
I’m sure he would, and I’m sure they’d try to do right by him.
However, the Bucks, if you’re maximizing return, the time is right now.
In my opinion.
And they need to be looking at this situation and deciding, “We’re gonna be the ones to end it instead of waiting for this guy who’s being so wishy-washy about it.
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Am I crazy to even suggest this, that the Bucks should be the ones to end the… End this relationship here?
It’s the most obvious thing, is that we’re headed to a divorce here because of all the comments that he’s had futility of the Milwaukee Bucks.
Th-this is a supporting cast that I have said is the most god-awful supporting cast for a, for a title con- for a, a MVP-caliber player.
Mm-hmm…
In Giannis.
You look at the supporting cast for Jokic, you look at the supporting cast for Luka.
Uh, for SGA, miles, miles better than what you’re seeing from Milwaukee around.
Uh, around, around Giannis.
And part of that is their own doing.
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Look, they did not decide to pull the cord, the rip cord.
When, when Damian Lillard went down.
They decided, You know what?
We’re gonna keep trying to build around Giannis,” but they’re not even in the frickin’ playing picture right now.
We’re so delusional about what the w-the Milwaukee Bucks can be.
It’s nuts to me.
I, I think it’s headed for a divorce.
And we just might as well rip the Band-Aid off now.