Bucks owner Haslem expects Giannis Antetokounmpo’s future to be decided before draft

With their new coach Taylor Jenkins in the houseWill the Milwaukee Bucks be able to build a roster that convinces Giannis Antetokounmpo to sign an extension and stay in Milwaukee, or will they trade him this summer (as widely expected around the league)?

Whatever happens, Bucks co-owner Jimmy Haslam wants it to happen soon, before next month’s draft.

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“I just think before the draft is the right time,” Haslam said at Jenkins’ introductory press conference, via the Associated Press. “Because if Giannis plays somewhere else, we have to have a lot of resources. That’s Jon’s choice [Horst, Bucks GM] work to do. And if it’s here, then build the team differently.”

The expectation in league circles has always been exactly that, that any trade would be resolved before this draft. This allows a team trading for Antetokounmpo to include this year’s pick as part of the deal (even if the trade couldn’t be made until the moratorium ends in July). Horst explored the market for Antetokounmpo at the trade deadline but didn’t make a deal, in part because he believed more teams would enter the mix and that better offers would be available in the offseason. That said, since Antetokounmpo now only has one year remaining on his contract (and a player option after that), he has a lot more leverage to get to where he wants to be because he can simply tell a team that he will opt out and not extend with them.

For his part, Antetokounmpo is very happy with the Bucks’ hiring of Jenkins he told Jim Owczarski of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

“I think he’s an incredible person. Obviously he’s an incredible coach… He had an incredible culture at Memphis…

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“I don’t think Milwaukee is just getting a good coach, I think they’re getting a good person. And that’s where it starts. Having a good person around that’s going to be able to set the tone, that’s going to establish the culture and what Milwaukee Bucks basketball means. He’s a really good coach.”

However, when asked about the possibility of being coached by Jenkins…

“We will see.”

Whatever happens, expect the rumors surrounding Antetokounmpo’s future and the trade market to grow louder and louder as we get closer to the June 23 draft.