The Milwaukee Bucks started Sunday as the 13th seed in the Eastern Conference. Their game against the Boston Celtics could be a turning point, either helping them get their season back on track or pushing them deeper into trouble.
The Bucks have lost seven of their first nine games. They’re ranked 22nd in defense and 20th in offense. Right now, Milwaukee seems like a team in need of a major reset. This situation has raised concerns around the NBA, with other teams now wondering if Giannis Antetokounmpo could become available for trade.
Marc Stein reported that several teams have already told the Bucks they’re ready to negotiate if Giannis becomes available. However, it’s understood that Giannis would need to ask for a trade for that to happen.
“It is understood quite clearly in 29 other front offices that Antetokounmpo is only ever going to be made available for trade if he pushes for it,” Stein wrote in his SteinLine Newsletter.
“But a handful of teams out there have certainly begun planning for such an eventuality — and, in some cases, have already let the Bucks know that they will be ready to talk trade if team officials ever reach that point — even if Milwaukee has zero interest in such discussions as we speak.”
If the Bucks decide to make changes, Damian Lillard is more likely to be traded than Giannis. Lillard has not had the impact many expected when he joined the team. His partnership with Giannis hasn’t worked out, and his defensive struggles have been a weakness for the Bucks.
However, Giannis is 29 years old, and with his 30th birthday approaching, he’s eager to win more championships while still in his prime. If the Bucks start to rebuild, Giannis might not want to wait around for a long process. That’s when other teams could step in to offer him a new opportunity.
The Bucks haven’t reached that point yet, but if their struggles continue and they keep falling down the Eastern Conference standings, the front office could start to worry. And when that happens, big decisions are likely to follow.
For Bucks fans, the tough reality is that the team’s biggest trade asset could also be one of the franchise’s all-time greatest players.
