Greek Freak Analyzed

Tag: Roster

  • Most used Bucks’ lineups and what they show

    Most used Bucks’ lineups and what they show

    Came across the chart and it is extremely interesting food for thought. Last season the most used lineup didn’t include Giannis and guess what? It was also one of the most productive line ups!

    The 2024-25 NBA season was a rollercoaster for the Milwaukee Bucks, blending moments of dominance with frustrating inconsistencies. This graphic captures the essence of their on-court strategy by highlighting the team’s most utilised five-man lineups. This image isn’t just a snapshot of player combinations—it’s a window into how the Bucks structured their rotations under head coach Doc Rivers, emphasising spacing, defence, and star power. But beyond the numbers, it raises deeper questions about team dynamics, particularly around superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo. While these lineups posted impressive net ratings during the regular season, the Bucks’ playoff flameout once again spotlighted Giannis’ tendency to prioritise personal milestones over collective success, often to the team’s detriment. Let’s break it down step by step.

    Understanding the Graphic: A Visual Breakdown

    The infographic, titled “Most Used Bucks Lineups” for the 24/25 season, ranks four key five-man units based on minutes played together. Each lineup is presented with player headshots aligned by position—Guard, Guard, Forward, Forward, Center—alongside their shared court time and net rating (a measure of points scored minus points allowed per 100 possessions). The green backdrop and clean design make it easy to digest, but the real story lies in the personnel and performance metrics.

    Here’s a detailed rundown of each lineup, inferred from player appearances, jerseys, and cross-referenced with season stats from reliable sources like NBA.com and Reddit discussions on Bucks rotations:

    1. Damian Lillard (Guard), Gary Trent Jr. (Guard), Khris Middleton (Forward), Giannis Antetokounmpo (Forward), Brook Lopez (Center)
    • Minutes Played: 121
    • Net Rating: +22.2
      This was the Bucks’ go-to starting unit for much of the season, blending Lillard’s elite scoring and playmaking with Trent’s sharpshooting from the perimeter. Middleton provided veteran savvy and spacing, while Giannis dominated the paint and Lopez anchored the defense with his rim protection and outside shooting. The high net rating reflects excellent offensive efficiency (likely around 120+ points per 100 possessions) and solid defense, thanks to Lopez’s blocks and Giannis’ versatility. This group embodied the Bucks’ “championship or bust” aspirations, excelling in transition and half-court sets.
    1. Damian Lillard (Guard), Pat Connaughton (Guard), Taurean Prince (Forward), Giannis Antetokounmpo (Forward), Brook Lopez (Center)
    • Minutes Played: 110
    • Net Rating: +14.5
      A slight variation on the starter-heavy lineup, this unit swapped Trent for Connaughton (a reliable 3-and-D wing) and Middleton for Prince (a versatile forward acquired in the offseason for depth). The result was a more defensive-minded group, with Connaughton’s energy and Prince’s length helping on the boards and in switches. While the net rating dipped slightly from the top lineup, it still indicated strong performance, particularly in games where Middleton rested or dealt with injuries. Offensive rating might have hovered around 115, bolstered by Lillard-Giannis pick-and-rolls.
    1. Damian Lillard (Guard), Gary Trent Jr. (Guard), Taurean Prince (Forward), Khris Middleton (Forward), Brook Lopez (Center)
    • Minutes Played: 80
    • Net Rating: +8.5
      Notably, this is the only lineup in the graphic without Giannis, relying instead on a balanced mix of shooting and defense. Lillard and Trent handled the backcourt, Prince and Middleton provided forward flexibility, and Lopez remained the constant at center. The lower minutes suggest it was used in specific matchups or when Giannis sat, but the net rating—while positive—lagged behind the Giannis-inclusive groups. This could point to better ball movement without Giannis’ ball-dominant style, though the sample size is smaller. Discussions on Reddit highlighted similar bench-heavy units performing well defensively, with ratings around 102 points allowed per 100 possessions.
    1. Gary Trent Jr. (Guard), Pat Connaughton (Guard), Taurean Prince (Forward), Giannis Antetokounmpo (Forward), Bobby Portis (Center)
    • Minutes Played: 57
    • Net Rating: +26.0
      The least used but most efficient of the bunch, this lineup featured a smaller, faster frontcourt with Portis stepping in for Lopez. Trent and Connaughton offered shooting, Prince added switchability, and Giannis thrived in a more open floor. The sky-high net rating screams “small sample success,” likely driven by explosive offense (perhaps 130+ offensive rating) in blowouts or against weaker benches. Portis’ energy and rebounding complemented Giannis perfectly here, making it a potent closing or comeback unit.

    These lineups collectively showcase the Bucks’ strategy: heavy reliance on star talent like Lillard and Giannis, supplemented by role players for shooting and defense. The positive net ratings across the board contributed to a 48-34 regular-season record, good for 5th in the East. However, the varying inclusion of Giannis hints at an underlying issue—while his presence often elevated efficiency, it sometimes came at the cost of team cohesion.

    The Regular Season Mirage: Strong Lineups, But Lingering Concerns

    On paper, these combinations were a recipe for success. The top lineup’s +22.2 net rating rivals championship-calibre units, driven by Giannis’ all-around dominance (averaging 30.4 points, 11.9 rebounds, and 6.5 assists per game). Pairing him with spacers like Lopez and Trent allowed for drive-and-kick opportunities, while defensive anchors kept opponents in check. Midseason analyses praised rotations like the third-most-used group (similar to our #3 here), which boasted a 101.7 defensive rating without Giannis, suggesting the supporting cast could hold its own.

    Yet, cracks appeared. The Bucks cycled through 11 starting lineups early on due to injuries and inconsistencies, with Giannis-centric units dominating minutes but occasionally leading to stagnant offense. Giannis’ high usage rate (often over 35%) meant the ball stuck in his hands, reducing touches for shooters like Middleton and Lillard. This worked in the regular season against lesser competition, but foreshadowed playoff vulnerabilities.

    Why Giannis Falls Short When It Really Counts: Stats Over Substance

    Here’s where the narrative shifts from celebration to scrutiny. Despite gaudy regular-season numbers and lineup efficiencies, the Bucks crashed out in the first round of the 2025 playoffs, losing in five games. Giannis posted monster averages—33.0 points, 15.4 rebounds, and 6.6 assists—but the team faltered. In his final game, he even notched a historic 30/20/10 performance, joining an elite club, yet it came in a loss that ended their season. This pattern isn’t new; it’s a recurring theme in Giannis’ career, where personal accolades mask deeper issues in high-stakes moments.

    Critics argue Giannis prioritizes stats to the team’s detriment, a claim substantiated by infamous incidents like his 2023 stat-padding episode. During a game against the Wizards, Giannis intentionally missed a shot at the rim to grab his own rebound and secure a triple-double, a move slammed as “cheap” and “self-serving” by the New York Post. Such behavior undermines team morale and focus, especially when the Bucks needed every edge in close contests. Videos and analyses highlight how stat-chasing leads to downfall, with Giannis himself acknowledging the pitfalls—yet repeating them.

    In playoffs, this manifests as inefficiency when it matters most. Back in 2020, with the Bucks down 3-0 to the Heat, scrutiny fell on Giannis’ inability to lead despite MVP-caliber play, questioning his clutch gene. Fast-forward to 2025: his stellar stats couldn’t prevent another early exit, partly due to poor decision-making in crunch time. Giannis’ free-throw struggles (around 65% career) force him into hero-ball mode, leading to turnovers and stagnant possessions that hurt lineups reliant on his drives. ESPN reports captured his frustration with team effort post-losses, but insiders note his ball dominance fatigues teammates and limits their involvement. The 2021 championship is looking more and more as a notable freaky exception, maybe even a set up by the NBA to give a smaller franchise a title.

    Compare this to peers like Nikola Jokic, who elevates teams through unselfish play. Giannis’ approach, while yielding All-NBA honours, has coincided with three straight first-round exits post-2021 title (often blamed on injuries, but patterns persist). A shocking stat: Giannis led the league in points but ranked poorly in clutch-time efficiency, with the Bucks posting a negative net rating in fourth quarters of close games. social media posts and forums echo accusations of “stat padding” over team wins, with one user noting how his triple-double hunts mirror Russell Westbrook’s criticised seasons.

    Ultimately, these lineups prove the Bucks have the talent for regular-season success, but Giannis’ stat-focused mindset hampers adaptability in the playoffs. To reclaim contention, he must shift toward team-first basketball—distributing more, trusting rotations, and ditching the padding. Until then, graphics like this will remain bittersweet reminders of untapped potential. Casual fans will suck up the Bucks’ marketing about all the points he scored and records he broke. People that care about the team will wonder why Giannis can’t develop in a meaningful way and how much longer his team mates will have to cover up for his many weaknesses.

  • The New Look Milwaukee Bucks: Why This Team Faces a Tough Climb in the NBA

    The New Look Milwaukee Bucks: Why This Team Faces a Tough Climb in the NBA

    The Milwaukee Bucks have undergone a dramatic transformation, unveiling a “new look” roster with several fresh faces flanking franchise cornerstone Giannis Antetokounmpo. Yet, despite the apparent infusion of talent and athleticism, there are substantial reasons for skepticism when projecting this team’s postseason prospects—most notably due to Giannis’s postseason limitations, the flawed supporting cast, and systemic issues that haven’t been addressed in recent years.

    Projected Starters Breakdown

    PositionPlayerStrengthsConcerns
    PGKevin Porter Jr.Dynamic scorer, fastInconsistent, off-court issues, poor decision-making
    SGGary Trent Jr.Floor spacer, shooterOne-dimensional, streaky, below-average defender
    SFKyle KuzmaVersatile, sizeStreaky, not a true defender or facilitator
    PFGiannis AntetokounmpoAthleticism, rim pressurePlayoff regression, limited shooting, stat-padding
    CMyles TurnerShot-blocker, floor spacerNot a physical rebounder, injury concerns

    Giannis Antetokounmpo: The Superstar With Playoff Flaws

    1. Stagnation and Lack of Adaptation

    Giannis’s regular-season production remains stellar, but the story in the playoffs is increasingly familiar. For several years running, he has faced disciplined defensive schemes, walls, and late-game traps, yet his skill set hasn’t evolved to counter these strategies.

    • Limited Shooting: Giannis’s jump shot, both from mid-range and beyond the arc, remains unreliable. In crunch time, defences dare him to shoot, clogging driving lanes and neutralising his greatest asset: attacking the rim.
    • Playoff Regression: Against elite playoff defences, his efficiency plummets. He posts big numbers but often at the expense of team flow and offensive sustainability.

    2. Inability to Influence Big Games

    • Stat Padding: Critics argue that Giannis’s box scores are often filled against weaker opponents or in blowouts, not when the Bucks desperately need him in competitive, high-stakes situations.
    • Lack of Playmaking Growth: Unlike true playoff risers (Jokic, Curry), Giannis rarely dictates games by elevating teammates. His assists often come as last-resort kickouts, not from genuine orchestration.
    • Poor Late-Game Decision Making: In crunch time, the offence stagnates, often devolving into predictable Giannis isolations, leading to forced shots, turnovers, or missed free throws.

    3. Leadership Questions

    • Does Not Elevate Others: Giannis excels as a relentless worker and force of nature, but he struggles to inspire confidence in role players or help them thrive in the postseason cauldron.
    • Selfish Tendencies: At times, Giannis appears more focused on achieving personal milestones than adapting his game to team needs—a trait that manifests as stubborn drives into packed paints or ignoring better-positioned teammates.

    The Supporting Cast: Talent, But Not Cohesion

    While on paper this roster boasts shooting and length, none of the key starters or bench pieces have a proven track record of excelling deep in the playoffs.

    Starting Five Flaws

    • Kevin Porter Jr.: A talented scorer but erratic and turnover-prone. He lacks the maturity and consistency of a championship-level floor general.
    • Gary Trent Jr. and Kyle Kuzma: While both can shoot, neither is a high-level defender or capable playoff playmaker; both can become black holes offensively.
    • Myles Turner: Great as a spacing big, but not a physical rebounder and often struggles against the top-tier centers in playoff series.

    Bench Unit

    • Cole Anthony, Ryan Rollins: Unproven as reliable playoff guards, especially handling second-unit attacks from powerhouses like Boston or Denver.
    • Bobby Portis, Taurean Prince: Energy guys, but not high-level creators or defenders against elite opposition.
    • AJ Green, Gary Harris, Andre Jackson Jr.: Largely one-dimensional; offer some shooting or defence, but not both—crucial in deep playoff runs.

    Two-Way Players

    This group offers athleticism, but no playoff-tested contributors. Relying on them against NBA’s elite will likely spell disaster.

    Why This Roster Won’t Work Against NBA Elites

    1. Lack of True Playoff Creation

    Without a true point guard or play making wing, the offence will likely bog down into predictable sets. Top teams shut down one-dimensional stars and force others to step up—something neither this Bucks roster nor Giannis has shown the ability to do.

    2. Defensive Holes

    Only Turner is an above-average defender in the starting lineup. The rest, including Kuzma and Porter Jr., have checkered histories and struggle with assignments—fatal when facing teams with multiple scoring options.

    3. No Second Star

    No player on the roster is capable of stepping into a superstar offensive load if Giannis is neutralised. Which he very often is in games that matter. Other title hopefuls feature multiple creators but the Bucks are a one-man show. And that one man has no answers when the going gets tough. All he does is try to look good and then blame his team mates.

    So no, not very “fresh” team or anything new

    The Bucks’ new lineup is a testament to splashy roster overhauls without foundational improvements. With Giannis’s game stagnating, his inability to evolve or truly uplift his teammates, and a cast of starters and bench pieces unproven against top-tier competition, Milwaukee seems destined for another postseason disappointment. Until Giannis adds strategic nuance and the franchise builds a more cohesive two-way roster, the Bucks are unlikely threats to the NBA’s best.

  • Building a Milwaukee Bucks Team? Best without Giannis

    Building a Milwaukee Bucks Team? Best without Giannis

    When thinking about building a dream team around a Milwaukee Bucks player, past or present, the immediate instinct might be to choose Giannis Antetokounmpo, the Greek Freak, whose dominance has defined the franchise’s modern era. However, if forced to look beyond Giannis, one name stands above the rest: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, the legendary center who brought the Bucks their first and only NBA championship in 1971 (until Giannis led the team to another in 2021). Kareem’s unique combination of skill, versatility, and basketball IQ makes him the ideal cornerstone for constructing a championship-caliber team. A quick look at why Kareem would be better and then a dive into why Giannis is really, really bad as a team leader and building block.

    Why Kareem Abdul-Jabbar?

    Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, originally drafted as Lew Alcindor by the Bucks in 1969, was a transformative force in the NBA. Standing at 7’2” with a wingspan that seemed to stretch across the court, Kareem was not just a physical specimen but a skilled technician. His signature skyhook—a virtually unblockable shot delivered with precision—made him a scoring machine. During his six seasons with the Bucks, he averaged 30.4 points, 15.3 rebounds, and 4.3 assists per game, showcasing his ability to dominate both offensively and defensively. His 1971 MVP season, where he led the Bucks to a 66-16 record and a championship alongside Oscar Robertson, cemented his legacy as one of the game’s all-time greats.

    Kareem’s appeal as a team-building centrepiece lies in his versatility. He could score from anywhere, rebound at an elite level, block shots, and facilitate plays with his passing. Unlike many big men of his era, Kareem wasn’t just a post presence; he was a complete player who could adapt to different styles of play. His basketball IQ and leadership also made him a coach’s dream, capable of elevating those around him. Building around Kareem means constructing a roster that maximises his strengths while addressing the few gaps in his game, such as perimeter defence and three-point shooting, which weren’t as critical in his era but are vital in today’s game.

    Why Not Giannis?

    Giannis Antetokounmpo is a phenomenal player, but Kareem’s skill set offers more flexibility in team-building. Giannis thrives in a system with shooters to space the floor, as his limited outside shooting can clog the paint. Kareem, with his mid-range and post game, doesn’t require as much perimeter shooting to be effective, though this roster provides it anyway. Kareem’s defensive presence as a rim protector also gives him an edge over Giannis, whose defensive impact relies more on versatility than anchoring the paint. Finally, Kareem’s proven championship pedigree as the focal point of the 1971 Bucks gives him a slight edge in this hypothetical scenario.

    While Giannis Antetokounmpo is one of the NBA’s most dominant players, having led the Milwaukee Bucks to a championship in 2021, there are arguments why he might not be the ideal cornerstone for building a championship team, particularly when considering his style of play in the context of modern NBA trends. Below is a detailed list of reasons why Giannis’s game may be seen as less compatible with the needs of today’s NBA for constructing a championship roster, though it’s worth noting that these points are relative and don’t negate his elite status.

    1. Limited Outside Shooting

    • Issue: Giannis is not a reliable three-point shooter, with a career three-point percentage of 28.5% (as of the 2024-25 season). His mid-range game is also inconsistent, limiting his ability to stretch the floor.
    • Impact on Team-Building: Modern NBA offenses prioritize spacing to create driving lanes and open three-point opportunities. Giannis’s lack of shooting allows defenses to sag off him, clogging the paint and forcing teammates to carry a heavier load as perimeter shooters. Building around him requires surrounding him with elite shooters (e.g., Khris Middleton, Damian Lillard), which can limit roster flexibility and increase reliance on specific player archetypes.
    • Contrast with Modern Needs: Teams like the Golden State Warriors or Boston Celtics thrive with versatile shooters at every position, including big men like Kevin Durant or Kristaps Porziņģis. Giannis’s inability to shoot forces a more predictable offensive scheme.

    2. Heavy Reliance on Paint Dominance

    • Issue: Giannis’s game is centered on attacking the rim, using his size, speed, and athleticism to overpower defenders. He leads the league in points in the paint but relies heavily on this style.
    • Impact on Team-Building: Defenses can counter Giannis by building a “wall” in the paint, as seen in the 2019 and 2020 playoffs against Toronto and Miami. This strategy dares him to shoot from outside, exposing his weaknesses. To compensate, the team needs strong playmakers and shooters to create space, which can be costly and difficult to sustain across a playoff run.
    • Contrast with Modern Needs: The modern NBA favors offenses that can exploit mismatches through versatile scoring options. Players like Nikola Jokić or Joel Embiid, who can score from the post, mid-range, or beyond the arc, offer more diverse threats that are harder to scheme against.

    3. Limited Playmaking in Half-Court Sets

    • Issue: While Giannis averages around 5-6 assists per game, his playmaking is more effective in transition than in structured half-court offenses. His passing is solid but not at the level of elite facilitators like LeBron James or Jokić.
    • Impact on Team-Building: Building a championship team often requires a primary ball-handler who can orchestrate complex half-court plays, especially in the playoffs when games slow down. Giannis’s limited ability to create for others in tight situations puts pressure on point guards or secondary creators, requiring the team to invest in players like Jrue Holiday or Damian Lillard to handle playmaking duties.
    • Contrast with Modern Needs: Modern championship teams often have big men who double as primary facilitators (e.g., Jokić’s 9+ assists per game or Draymond Green’s high-IQ passing). Giannis’s playmaking, while improved, doesn’t match this level of versatility.

    4. Defensive Versatility Has Limits

    • Issue: Giannis used to be an elite defender, capable of guarding multiple positions and earning All-Defensive honours. However, his rim protection, while strong (1.1 blocks per game career average), is not as dominant as traditional centres like Rudy Gobert or Anthony Davis, and he can struggle against smaller, quicker guards on switches.
    • Impact on Team-Building: In today’s switch-heavy defenses, teams need big men who can either anchor the paint or seamlessly switch onto guards. Giannis excels in help defense and roaming but can be exploited by teams with quick guards or stretch bigs, requiring complementary defenders like Brook Lopez to cover the rim.
    • Contrast with Modern Needs: Players like Bam Adebayo or Draymond Green offer more switchability across all positions, while Giannis’s defensive impact is slightly less flexible in certain matchups, necessitating specific roster constructions to cover his weaknesses.

    5. Free-Throw Shooting Struggles in Clutch Moments

    • Issue: Giannis’s free-throw shooting has been a persistent weakness, with a career average of 64.7%. In high-pressure playoff games, his slow free-throw routine and inconsistent shooting can be exploited, as seen in games where opponents use the “Hack-a-Giannis” strategy.
    • Impact on Team-Building: Championship teams need reliable clutch performers. Giannis’s free-throw woes can lead to late-game liabilities, forcing coaches to adjust strategies or rely on other players in crunch time. This requires a roster with strong closers, which can complicate lineup decisions.
    • Contrast with Modern Needs: Modern NBA stars like Stephen Curry or Kevin Durant are trusted to close games with efficient scoring, including at the free-throw line. Giannis’s struggles in this area limit his reliability in tight situations.

    6. High Usage Rate Limits Teammate Involvement

    • Issue: Giannis’s usage rate is among the league’s highest (32.3% in 2023-24), reflecting his ball-dominant style. While effective, this can reduce touches for teammates and make the offense overly reliant on his production.
    • Impact on Team-Building: Building around Giannis requires players who thrive off-ball, as his drives and post-ups demand the ball. This can limit the effectiveness of other ball-dominant stars unless they adapt (e.g., Lillard’s reduced role in Milwaukee). The team must prioritize role players who don’t need the ball, which can restrict roster diversity.
    • Contrast with Modern Needs: Modern offenses often distribute usage more evenly, with players like Jokić or Luka Dončić creating for others while still scoring. Giannis’s style can sometimes stifle teammate involvement, requiring careful roster construction.

    7. Playoff Predictability

    • Issue: In playoff series, Giannis’s lack of a reliable jump shot and predictable driving style allow elite defensive teams to game-plan against him. Teams like the 2019 Raptors and 2020 Heat successfully limited his impact by crowding the paint and daring him to shoot.
    • Impact on Team-Building: To counter this, the Bucks need elite shooting and secondary creators to punish defensive adjustments. This places a premium on acquiring high-cost talent, which can strain salary caps and limit depth. Without perfect roster construction, Giannis’s game can be neutralized in high-stakes series.
    • Contrast with Modern Needs: Modern playoff success often hinges on unpredictability. Players like Jayson Tatum or Devin Booker, who can score in multiple ways, are harder to scheme against. Giannis’s more one-dimensional scoring profile requires specific countermeasures.

    8. Physical Wear and Tear

    • Issue: Giannis’s physical, high-energy style—relying on explosive drives and defensive hustle—puts significant strain on his body. He’s had injury concerns, like knee issues in the 2021 and 2023 playoffs, which can impact his availability.
    • Impact on Team-Building: Building around Giannis requires a deep roster to compensate for potential injuries, as his absence significantly alters the team’s identity. This demands investment in quality backups, which can be challenging under salary cap constraints.
    • Contrast with Modern Needs: Players with more finesse-based games (e.g., Durant’s jump-shooting or Curry’s off-ball movement) may have less physical wear, allowing for greater durability. Giannis’s style, while dominant, carries long-term risks.

    Giannis Antetokounmpo’s lack of outside shooting, reliance on paint scoring, limited half-court playmaking, and other factors make him a less flexible building block for a championship team in the modern NBA compared to more versatile stars. His style requires a roster heavy on shooters, defenders, and secondary creators, which can limit flexibility and increase costs. These incompatibilities with the spacing, versatility, and unpredictability demanded by today’s game make players like Kareem, with a more adaptable skill set, better anchors for a championship roster.

  • Should Giannis Antetokounmpo go?

    Should Giannis Antetokounmpo go?

    The Bucks are at a crossroads. The team’s championship window is closing faster than anyone wants to admit, and trading Giannis—however unthinkable it once seemed—could be the smartest move Milwaukee makes this decade. Here’s why the Bucks should act now.

    1. The Championship Core Is Aging and Declining

    The Bucks’ 2021 title run relied heavily on Giannis, Brook, Khris Middleton, and Jrue Holiday. Fast forward to 2025, and the supporting cast around Giannis isn’t what it used to be. Middleton and Jrue are gone. The Bucks gambled on Lillard to extend their contention window, but his fit alongside Giannis has been clunky at times, with overlapping skill sets and a lack of perimeter creation beyond Dame’s pull-up game. I have already written why a championship run for the Bucks is no longer on the cards in details here.

    Giannis, at 30 can’t carry the roster. He probably never did, more of a regular season try hard than a playoff player. In more than a decade he has one and only deep playoff run which was probably an extremely lucky fluke. The Bucks’ supporting players—like Brook Lopez (37) and Pat Connaughton (32)—are past their peak, and the team lacks the young, athletic talent needed to keep up with the league’s rising powers like Boston, Denver, or Oklahoma City. Trading Giannis now, while his value is sky-high, could net a haul of young players and picks to rebuild around.

    2. The Eastern Conference Is a Gauntlet

    The East is stacked. The Boston Celtics remain a juggernaut with Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown hitting their primes. The Cleveland Cavaliers are deep and versatile, and teams like the Knicks and Pacers are trending upward. Everyone is making moves and changing things up because, well, they don’t have Giannis who is rather difficult to play around. The Bucks have slipped from their perch atop the conference. Their 2024-25 season has been marred by inconsistent play and a first-round playoff exit last year still stings. Trading Giannis will allow the Bucks to retool and avoid years of first-round exits or play-in mediocrity.

    3. Giannis’ Trade Value has been falling this year

    Giannis’ contract runs through 2027-28 (with a player option in the final year), giving any acquiring team several years of control. Right now, he’s the kind of asset that could fetch a decent price —think multiple All-Star-level players, a slew of first-round picks, and salary filler. Imagine a package from a team like the Miami Heat (Bam Adebayo, Tyler Herro, and picks). But his value is falling fast. Of course I don’t think the Warriors want him and most superstars wouldn’t want to be on a team with Giannis. It also seems as if Giannis is uncoachable.

    If the Bucks wait too long, injuries or an even bigger dip in performance will further erode his value. The NBA is a business, and cashing in on Giannis ensures Milwaukee maximises their return rather than clinging to a fast fading star. There have been many instances this year where Giannis has looked really really bad. Getting shut down easily by Draymond Green or Isiah Hertenstein for example. It feels like most teams now have a defender that can stop Giannis when it counts. Bad 4th quarter performances, there have been plenty. Airballs on national TV. Go through his stats and there is nothing he is doing better than the 2019 season, almost everything has headed downhill. Giannis is a floor spacing nightmare a fact that became very obvious in the different way he was used in the Paris Olympics.

    4. The Bucks’ Future Assets Are Depleted

    The Lillard trade gutted Milwaukee’s draft capital and young talent pool. Giannis demanded it but hadn’t really thought it through. They owe picks to Portland and have few prospects to build around. Without fresh blood, the Bucks risk becoming the post-LeBron Cavaliers, teams that clung to past glory too long without making changes. Trading Giannis could replenish their war chest, giving them the flexibility to pivot toward a new era rather than doubling down on a roster that’s running on fumes.

    A rebuild doesn’t have to mean tanking. With the right trade, Milwaukee could land a young star (like a Chet Holmgren from OKC or an Anthony Edwards from Minnesota, if the stars align) and build a competitive team for the next decade. If only they had traded him right after winning the championship, they could be in the position of OKC!

    5. Giannis Might Want Out Soon Anyway

    Let’s not ignore the elephant in the room: Giannis’ patience could be wearing thin. He’s been vocal about wanting to win, and after the Bucks’ recent struggles, rumours have swirled about his long-term commitment. In 2023, he hinted at leaving if Milwaukee couldn’t contend, saying, “If I don’t feel like we’re moving forward, I’m not the type of guy who’s going to stick around.” If Giannis demands a trade in 2026 or walks as a free agent in 2028, the Bucks could get far less—or nothing at all. I have written that no save can save the Bucks and i mean it. There is no fast fix, only long term.

    Trading him now lets Milwaukee control the narrative and secure assets, rather than risking a messy divorce later. It’s proactive, not reactive.

    6. A Fresh Start Could Benefit Both Sides

    Giannis deserves to chase more rings, and the Bucks deserve a chance to redefine their identity. Sending him to a contender gives him a shot at more hardware. Meanwhile, Milwaukee can shift gears, develop new talent, and avoid the stagnation that plagues small-market teams after their stars fade.

    Sure, some will say, “You don’t trade a top-five player!” And yes, Giannis is the Bucks’ biggest draw—attendance and jersey sales would take a hit. But loyalty can’t trump logic. The Bucks won’t contend with this roster, and keeping Giannis out of sentimentality risks wasting their future. Others might argue the Bucks should retool around him, but with no picks and an aging core, that’s a pipe dream. To be honest despite the marketing hype, Giannis is no longer looking like a top five player. Maybe a regular season top player but he can’t do clutch and that matters when you are chasing rings.

    Trading Giannis Antetokounmpo would be gut-wrenching for Bucks fans. He’s the greatest player in franchise history, a homegrown legend who was part of a title to a city that hadn’t won one in 50 years. But the NBA moves fast, and clinging to the past rarely works. By trading him now—on March 23, 2025, or as soon as the market heats up—the Bucks can secure their future, avoid a slow decline, and give Giannis a chance to keep winning elsewhere. It’s not about giving up; it’s about being smart. The time to act is now.

    I don’t actually think the Bucks will trade him. They can’t get much for him at all anymore. Giannis will prefer to stay and continue the narrative of the rest of the roster being to blame for everything. He will stat pad furiously and break every franchise record, pretend he was being loyal, whereas in fact he is just plain chicken, scared that he will fail wherever else he goes after all the talk about “not joining a superteam” and “doing it the right way”.