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Giannis warned against extension; Warriors floated as dream spot

Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo. Michael McLoone-USA TODAY Sports

Giannis Antetokounmpo warned against Bucks extension; Warriors floated as dream spot

By Vinny Somma | Last updated 8/29/23

Despite being eligible for a contract extension next month, Giannis Antetokounmpo has zero intentions to re-sign with the Milwaukee Bucks this summer.

The two-time league MVP made that much clear during a recent interview with Tania Ganguli of The New York Times, adding that he prioritizes winning championships over spending his career with the same team.

Yet, even if Antetokounmpo was to once again hoist the Larry O'Brien trophy as a member of the Bucks, FS1's Chris Broussard doesn't believe that should be enough to sway the 28-year-old into inking an extension with Milwaukee.

"I don’t think Giannis should sign an extension with the Bucks. Keep your options open," Broussard said during a recent episode of "First Things First."

Giannis x Steph? "There's no place I'd rather see Giannis playing than with Steph Curry."

— @Chris_Broussard on the possibility of Giannis leaving Milwaukee and why he shouldn't sign an extension with the Bucks, even if they win another title: pic.twitter.com/gfYz9C2ssE
— First Things First (@FTFonFS1) August 25, 2023

Since winning the NBA Finals in 2020-21, the Bucks have taken a notable step back in postseason success, leading to long-term questions surrounding the franchise. Despite back-to-back 50-plus win seasons, the team has failed to advance past the conference semifinals.

Antetokounmpo's co-star in Milwaukee, Khris Middleton, has battled injuries in recent years and is now 32 years old and coming off a season where he endured a 5.0 ppg dip from his 20.1 scoring average in 2021-22.

As for guard Jrue Holiday, he told the "Point Forward" podcast in April that he plans to seriously consider retirement at the end of his current contract, which will expire at the end of 2024-25.

While Antetokounmpo remains under contract for two more years, the possibility that he hits the 2025 free-agent market already has the NBA landscape buzzing.

On Monday, NBA insider Marc Stein reported that the Los Angeles Lakers and New York Knicks are "already being mentioned as franchises presumed to interest Antetokounmpo" if he leaves the Bucks.

The Lakers and Knicks are potential landing spots for Giannis Antetokounmpo if he leaves Milwaukee

“The Lakers and the Knicks are already being mentioned as franchises presumed to interest Antetokounmpo down the road if he does decide to move on from Milwaukee, which just made… pic.twitter.com/EPZ8UsNLwd
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) August 28, 2023

While other teams are sure to poke around the Antetokounmpo market if he becomes available, Broussard believes a move to the Bay Area would be the perfect destination for the seven-time All-Star.

“He and Steph, is that even possible?" Broussard asked the "First Things First" panel. “But there this no place I’d rather see Giannis playing than with Steph Curry because I think it would be so awesome to see those two together.”

By the time Antetokounmpo is eligible to hit free agency, Curry would be 37 years old and entering his 17th year with the Warriors, dimming the intrigue of the two pairing up just a tad.

Still, Golden State has amassed an immense amount of intriguing young talent in recent years. If players such as Jonathan Kuminga and Moses Moody pan out, they could become logical chips in a sign-and-trade scenario involving Antetokounmpo.

While it may be a farfetched scenario, Curry passing the torch to Antetokounmpo would prolong the Warriors title window throughout the end of the decade.

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