Bucks have already delivered a max extension offer to Giannis Antetokounmpo

With the Bucks acquiring Lillard, there’s a belief that the likelihood of Antetokounmpo remaining with the Bucks long-term has now increased, according to rival NBA front office members who spoke with HoopsHype. “At the end of the day, the Bucks got better and improved their title chances, and I’m a humongous Holiday fan,” an NBA scout told HoopsHype. “Milwaukee’s perimeter defense got worse, but what Dame will give them offensively will be much better. I think Dame’s been overburdened with ball-handling in Portland, and so was Giannis in Milwaukee during critical playoff moments. Now, you have two guys who can handle the ball and create for themselves at pivotal times to win big games. Dame will get shots off the ball he hasn’t gotten before when he’s playing off Giannis.” -via HoopsHype / September 28, 2023

Antetokounmpo became extension-eligible last week for up to three years, projected at $177.5 million. He has until the day before the regular season starts to sign it, but there’s a good chance he won’t. If he waits until next year, he could add an additional year for a total of four years, projected at $245.5 million. While he might wait to extend until next summer, the acquisition of Lillard certainly increases the chances that he will. -via HoopsHype / September 28, 2023

In the end, it was some cold business, as acquiring Lillard meant sending Jrue Holiday – a much-loved and respected foundational piece of the 2022 title team – to Portland without so much as a farewell dinner. “It’s self-preservation,” was how one rival executive described it. “You either have to appease Giannis or he leaves, and you get fired.” -via SportsNet / September 28, 2023