The stage was set this season for the Milwaukee Bucks to make some serious noise in the playoffs and even go on a run to the NBA Finals however in the end, their campaign came to a disappointing end. After posting the NBA’s best regular season mark and cruising through the first two rounds in the playoffs, the Bucks would lose four straight in the conference finals to the Toronto Raptors after opening the series with a 2-0 edge.
Franchise centerpiece and MVP-favorite Giannis Antetokounmpo was kept under wraps in the final few games but now with the season in the rearview, the attention turns towards his looming free agency. While Antetokounmpo still has another year under contract, Milwaukee must start planning ahead of time, especially with him now being eligible for the richest supermax contract in NBA history after another All-NBA appearance.
But something that could heavily affect how Antetokounmpo handles his free agency is how the Bucks bounce back from last season’s disappointing ending. According to ESPN’s Malika Andrews, Giannis’ decision will largely be based on Milwaukee’s level of success in 2020.
…He is all about winning. In more concrete terms, a source close to Antetokounmpo said that getting to the NBA Finals is not just an ambition, it could tip the scales as he weighs his contractual future.
And if they can reach the NBA Finals next season, the Bucks can improve their chances of signing Antetokounmpo to the supermax in the summer of 2020.
This was a prime chance for Giannis Antetokounmpo and his Bucks to make an NBA Finals run but they obviously came up short. Milwaukee had constructed an excellent roster around Antetokounmpo and it may be hard to duplicate last year’s success.
The Bucks also have some pressing matters to address this coming summer with the contracts of starters Brook Lopez, Khris Middleton and Malcolm Brogdon all coming off the books. Next year will be integral for the future of the Bucks franchise, and it all starts with retaining their key pieces in free agency this offseason.
