NBA – A renowned insider takes a stand on the Giannis case: “If I were him, I’d consider a trade here”

Par Pierre-Andréa Fraile | Journaliste sportif

Faced with the Bucks’ difficulties and bleak future prospects, Giannis Antetokounmpo could be packing his bags this summer. And according to a well-known American journalist, he would do well to target a very specific destination.

At the end of a championship-winning 2020-21 season, he looked set to spend his entire NBA career with the same team. The same was true two years later, when he signed a 3-year, $186 million contract extension to 2028. However, all these signals have since been rendered obsolete by Milwaukee’s dismal results.

Since their triumph, the Bucks have never reached even the Eastern Conference Finals. Worse still, they have been eliminated in the first round of the playoffs three times in a row. All this despite a squad built to play at the top level, and whose long-term prospects are rather worrying. All of which justifies the recent rumours of the Greek Freak’s departure.

An insider’s unexpected advice for Giannis Antetokounmpo

Having been prematurely eliminated from the title race in the last four seasons, Antetokounmpo is now wondering about his future in Milwaukee. It remains to be seen whether these doubts will eventually give rise to a transfer request, and if so, which destinations might appeal to him. Brian Windhorst took a stand on this issue on the set of NBA Today on Tuesday, and surprised some:

Brian Windhorst: Let’s not forget that Giannis is going to have some influence in this deal. Regardless of whether he wants to stay in Milwaukee or be traded, he’s going to have a say in where he goes. And even though there’s a lot of talk about Texas, where San Antonio may seem tempting, if I were in his shoes, I’d consider a trade in the Eastern Conference. Especially after what’s happened in the last few hours.

When most of the league’s superstars have rallied around the Western Conference in recent years, Giannis would do better to continue his journey in the East, according to Windhorst. The Cavaliers’ recent elimination and the Celtics’ dismal situation bear witness to this. The Greek would do well to take advantage of this to enjoy an easier path to the Larry O’Brien Trophy.

The timing seemss perfect, as several Eastern Conference franchises are said to be (very) intrigued by his profile. The Nets, for example, have been rumoured to be among his main suitors for some weeks now. Not to mention another of the conference’s top teams to keep an eye on.