News broke on Wednesday, a mere eight days before the NBA’s trade deadline, that “Giannis Antetokounmpo is ready for a new home,” and his Milwaukee Bucks “are starting to listen” to “aggressive offers” from “several teams,” according to ESPN’s Shams Charania.
The two-time NBA MVP might actually, reportedly, be available?!?!
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Lots of people have THOUGHTS. Among them was a 35-year-old Jae Crowder, who played parts of two seasons as Antetokounmpo’s teammate on the Bucks in 2022-23 and 2023-24.
Crowder pointed to Jan. 23, 2024, two years ago this week, when the Bucks fired head coach Adrian Griffin, as “what started the avalanche” to Antetokounmpo’s inevitable exit.
He is not … (entirely) wrong.
The Bucks were 30-13 at the time, though they were a mess. Assistant coach Terry Stotts had resigned following an alleged verbal altercation with Griffin, and Antetokounmpo, just as today, was not happy with his team’s effort. “There was no pride,” he said. Milwaukee adjusted its defensive scheme midseason, reverting to principles installed under previous coach Mike Budenholzer, and a general consensus, honestly: Griffin was in over his head.
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At least one person, Crowder, disagrees, and he was in that locker room.
The Bucks finished the 2023-24 season 49-33, posting a 19-20 record under Rivers. They lost in the first round of the playoffs to the Indiana Pacers, just as they had to the Miami Heat under Budenholzer a year earlier. They were no better in the 2024-25 campaign, going 48-34 and losing in the opening round (again to the Pacers). And they are 18-27 this season.
It really has been an avalanche.
Of course, we would be remiss if we did not mention that the Bucks did not re-sign Crowder at the end of the 2023-24 season, and he has not played in the NBA this year.
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Also, Damian Lillard tore his Achilles last season. That was kind of a big deal, as was the oft-injured Khris Middleton aging into his mid-30s. Injuries happen. People age. Both Lillard and Middleton have been jettisoned in favor of younger, worse players. Teams devolve.
Or, as Crowder suggested, there is one single incident that precipitated this saga.
You be the judge.
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