This can't be what superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo had in mind when he decided to stick things out with the Milwaukee Bucks.
At 30 years old, Giannis has precious few years remaining in his prime. That's going to waste on a 9-13 Bucks roster, as Milwaukee has no shot at contending even in the weak and injury-riddled Eastern Conference. In fact, many Bucks fans are now calling for head coach Doc Rivers to be fired following their embarrassing 129-126 loss to the Washington Wizards -- the NBA's bottom feeder.
Unsurprisingly, the Bucks' desperation moves -- acquiring Kyle Kuzma last season and Myles Turner over the summer -- weren't the needle movers Giannis needed. Now, the Bucks have dug themselves a deeper hole as they waived and stretched Damian Lillard's $113 million remaining salary over the next five years -- the largest waive and stretch in NBA history. That's an ideal situation not only for Dame but also for the Portland Trail Blazers.
Bucks' collapse creates win-win scenario for Blazers' future
Blazers general manager Joe Cronin bet against the Bucks' future when he acquired future draft capital as part of the blockbuster Lillard trade, including a 2029 first-round pick and two first-round swaps in 2028 and 2030. That's proving to be perfect timing.
The Blazers' up-and-coming roster continues to make strides each year and will return to playoff relevance by then. Meanwhile, things will only get worse in Milwaukee. This season has exposed their flawed, aging roster -- one with little room for upgrades, with draft capital tied up elsewhere, and a steep financial commitment to a player not even on their team.
From a pure winning standpoint, it's apparent that it's no longer in Giannis' best interest to stay in Milwaukee. Other factors certainly play a role in this tough decision. Giannis is clearly a loyal superstar, judging by the fact that he's still in Milwaukee when no one would've blamed him if he left this summer, especially after the Lillard pairing didn't work out. It remains to be seen what he ultimately decides to do, but this has become a win-win scenario for Portland.
If nothing changes, the pick swaps will still likely convey with the two teams trending in entirely opposite directions. That's extremely valuable in itself. But if Giannis does request out, it quietly puts Portland in the driver's seat as they hold the key to the sweepstakes.
Landing Giannis would be a pipe dream, but one that has become relatively more likely after adding his former teammates Jrue Holiday and Lillard this offseason. If they could package the Bucks' draft capital with young assets like Scoot Henderson, the Blazers may have just enough to be considered a dark horse. And even if the Giannis dream doesn't work out, it still leaves Portland in an enviable spot as a facilitator.
Regardless of how this unfolds, the Bucks' recent struggles have created a scenario in which the Blazers are set to benefit in a significant way.