What Did the Bucks’ GM Say About Giannis Antetokounmpo’s Next Contract?
Although the Milwaukee Bucks are coming off of their best season in ages in which Giannis Antetokounmpo was the MVP of the NBA, the current fan and media landscape is always looking forward. Following a recent trend in which several of the league’s highest-profile players have begun uprooting and taking things into their own hands, the Bucks are trying to prevent this before it is an issue and offer Giannis Antetokounmpo the most enticing contract that they can.
Their GM, Jon Horst, recently spoke on the matter quite candidly.
What did Jon Horst say about Giannis Antetokounmpo’s contract?
At a fan panel put on Fox Sports Wisconsin, Horst was asked the state of Giannis Antetokounmpo’s long-term contract, and he did not mince words when answered. Horst pointed out that he was not at liberty to talk about Giannis’s future per the NBA rules, but in an almost comedic turnaround, he did that very thing he said he could not do.
“Giannis, basically a year from now, will be eligible for a supermax extension,” Horst said. “At that time, of course, he’ll be offered a supermax extension.”
The Bucks would be fined $50,000 for Horst’s comments even though it was safe to say what he said was common knowledge for fans, players, and media alike. The team does not want to lose their MVP, however. They do not want to be in the place the Cavaliers have now been twice and the Thunder were when Kevin Durant left.
Giannis has gone from a promising young mid-first round pick to one of the league’s most dominant players. During his MVP season. He put up 27.7 points, 12.5 rebounds, 5.9 assists, 1.5 blocks, and 1.3 steals. He is the height of a center with the skills of a point guard, and if he can add a consistent jumper to his arsenal, he will be even scarier than he was last season.
What is the NBA Supermax contract?
The supermax is a nickname for the “Designated Veteran Player Extension.” Teams who are retaining their players are allowed to give them up 35% of the salary cap with an eight percent rise in pay each season.
The length of the contract varies depending on the length of the players’ career and when the deal is agreed on. Players who have played seven or eight years and have two more years can offer four years, players with the same experience but one year left can be offered five, and players who have eight or nine years can get five years straight up.
The supermax player cannot be traded during the first year, and while the years after can be filled with trade demands and the likes, a supermax could bite a team if the player falls off on the deal and become hard to move. This appears to be the case with John Wall’s deal.
With all of this floating around, there is one question that remains.
Will Giannis Antetokounmpo take the contract?
Giannis Antetokounmpo has some leverage coming into the 2019-20 season. With this being the last year before the Bucks can offer than supermax deal, he can make it known that he expects a contender to be built around him.
Although the Bucks have bolstered their depth and the reigning champion Raptors were likely one-and-done, Giannis will want to make sure that this is sustainable for many years to come. If the Bucks don’t play their cards right they could quickly grow to regret it.
Giannis would be leaving a lot of money on the table by not taking the money on the Supermax, but he could also make up the loss with a shoe deal and other endorsements if he did choose to do so. In the meantime, the Bucks must hope that Giannis still feels the way about Milwaukee that he did back in 2014.
