The Milwaukee Bucks have seen a complete turnaround this season. From struggling to find a footing to finishing the 5th seed in the Eastern Conference, boasting a 48-34 season, their journey would force a conversation. A significant factor in this change of trajectory has been none other than their two superstars, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard. The duo has helped their team secure a place in this season’s playoffs. However, the job is not done yet. In fact, the real test for Milwaukee begins now. They’ll be facing a familiar foe in the first round of the playoffs. The Bucks will lock horns with the Indiana Pacers yet again. But they’ll have Giannis this time around, unlike last season. However, they’ll be without Lillard. But unlike before, the stakes are pretty high for Milwaukee. Can they make it?
That’s because if they crash out this early in two consecutive seasons, major consequences are to follow. And if reports are to be believed, several teams are eyeing Giannis Antetokounmpo if things don’t work out for the Bucks this season. Any guesses who is leading the charge to land the Greek Freak? Yes! The Brooklyn Nets. Giannis has been on Sean Marks’s radar for quite some time now. The Nets’ GM has reportedly made the Milwaukee star his priority this summer. He wants Giannis to be at the center of this Brooklyn rebuild and is ready to pull the trigger this summer.
According to Brian Lewis of the New York Post, the Nets’ GM, Sean Marks, is going all-or-nothing for Giannis. “Multiple league personnel that have spoken with The Post say Giannis Antetokounmpo has been and remains Plan A for the Nets. If Antetokounmpo gets traded elsewhere this summer, that may make GM Sean Marks’ path simple, tanking for another year and building through the lottery.” He stated. If this wasn’t assuring enough, Sean Marks himself has expressed his feelings for the team’s trade policy for the rebuild they’ve been eyeing. “If you’re going after max-level talent, they’ve got to automatically and absolutely change the trajectory of your team. This can’t be ‘Well, let’s go get this and lock ourselves into being a six or seven seed.’” Marks stated in an interview.
Sean Marks on hunting:
“If you’re going after max-level talent, they’ve got to automatically and absolutely change the trajectory of your team. This can’t be ‘well, let’s go get this and lock ourselves into being a six or seven seed.
Thoughts? There were reports of Giannis… pic.twitter.com/NcrZV7o9qW
— NetsKingdom (@NetsKingdomAJ) April 14, 2025
The Brooklyn Nets’ GM has finally broken his silence on his team’s trade plans during the offseason. The Nets wrapped up their season with a 26-56 record and have more than enough capital to hunt for a superstar like Giannis Antetokounmpo. However, will Giannis move away from Milwaukee? That’s the biggest question. The Milwaukee Bucks’ stand is pretty clear on this matter: They’ll only trade Giannis if he asks for it. Apart from that, there’s no reason for them to ship their franchise player, who drives their entire business. We have to wait and watch how this trade develops over the offseason. Meanwhile, a former NBA player is suggesting Milwaukee make a massive decision on their other star, Damian Lillard.
Marcus Morris says Milwaukee should part ways with Damian Lillard
This is Damian Lillard’s second year playing in Milwaukee alongside Giannis Antetokounmpo. The duo couldn’t get past the first round of the playoffs last season despite having pretty high expectations at the start of the season. They had a shaky start to the 2024-25 season as well. However, the duo has managed to secure the situation and is now very well-positioned to finally achieve something. While they face the same Indiana Pacers team that knocked them out last season, the odds are in Milwaukee’s favor. This comes despite Lillard being out with a blood clot issue. Still, if they go out crashing, former NBA player Marcus Morris thinks it might be time to call the project quits.
Marcus Morris says Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard should leave Milwaukee and join Miami if the Bucks lose in the first round
( @FirstTake )pic.twitter.com/J4ZBUSSIEu
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) April 14, 2025
While on ESPN’s show First Take, Morris suggested that not just Damian Lillard but also Giannis Antetokounmpo should leave Milwaukee. “If I’m Giannis and we don’t get past this first round. I think I’m going to I think I’m going to sunny sunny sunny sunny Miami. Listen, it’s wide open over there. You can start something new. It’s a really big market. You know it’s wide open, right? And you talk about Dame as well, like both of them somehow slide to a new team in Miami.” Morris stated. Well, in theory, it sounds like a great deal for Miami, which has recently gotten rid of a disgruntled Jimmy Butler. However, we all have the same question as Stephen A. Smith: “How?”
There will be a lot of questions to answer if Milwaukee loses in the first round in back-to-back seasons. This time, a bit more, given they have a long momentum with them, and are coming to the playoffs with an 8-2 record in their last 10 appearances. Moreover, a trade might also be in the cards. But both Dame and Giannis go to Miami? Seems unlikely. But Morris thinks otherwise. He believes Giannis wants to win, and if that’s not happening in Milwaukee, he will be looking for other options. Meanwhile, from Smith’s POV, it’s far-fetched that Milwaukee let both Giannis and Dame walk away so easily. The duo is the reason people come to watch the Bucks. Moreover, their entire business is dependent on these two pillars. So trading them away after an early exit from the playoffs doesn’t feel right.
The post Nets GM Breaks Silence on Giannis Antetokounmpo Trade Rumors as Bucks Urged to Make Drastic Damian Lillard Decision appeared first on EssentiallySports.
