Giannis Antetokounmpo just did the Warriors a massive favor with Bucks latest move
Giannis Antetokounmpo is staying with the Milwaukee Bucks.
That's the prevailing impact of the Milwaukee Bucks' latest signing of his brother Thanasis on Sunday, meaning that the Golden State Warriors and other rivals can for now put an end to their dream of trading for the 2x MVP.
But while some may view this as disappointing news for the Warriors who remain a rung below the absolute top tier in the Western Conference, Giannis' decision to hold faith in the Bucks should actually be seen as a positive.
Giannis Antetokounmpo has done the Warriors a massive favor
First of all, the fact it took his brother's signature to get a definitive answer on Giannis' short-term future proves that the situation in Milwaukee was on a knife's edge after three-straight first-round playoff exits.
So, what if it had fallen the other way? What if Antetokounmpo had actually demanded a trade away from the Bucks this summer? Countless teams would have lined up ready to have a conversation with his management and Milwaukee's front office, with Golden State certain to be among them.
Yet from a trade standpoint, the Warriors weren't really going to be in the best situation to make an offer right now. They could have thrown together Jimmy Butler, Brandin Podziemski and all their draft capital, but giving up the 6x All-Star after his enormous impact at the end of last season wouldn't have been nothing.
Just because Antetokounmpo is now assured of starting the season in Milwaukee, doesn't guarantee that he will end the season in the same spot. If the Bucks don't start in positive fashion, speculation on the future of their franchise star will ramp up once again.
Should there come a time mid-season where Antetokounmpo considers his future again and does actually become available, the Warriors should have far more flexibility in trade conversations assuming they can get Jonathan Kuminga back on a $22-25 million per year contract in the coming weeks.
Instead of having to include Butler in order to match salaries, Golden State could put together Kuminga and Draymond Green, or perhaps Kuminga and the smaller contracts of Moses Moody and Buddy Hield.
This is exactly why the Warriors are remaining patient in their current contract negotiations with Kuminga. They're foreshadowing trade possibilities next February that would require the young forward to be included, and not on a long-term contract that may dissuade the Bucks or another rival team from being interested.
Antetokounmpo would be at the absolute top of these possibilities, with this latest development on Sunday hardly ruling out the thought that he could become available if the Bucks don't show enough signs early in the season.
AFC Notes: J.K. Dobbins, Bo Nix, Broncos, Chargers
Broncos
Bo Nix is entering the second year of his career after his breakout rookie campaign in 2024. Hall of Fame QB Peyton Manning is confident Nix is “made of the right stuff” to continue being a highly successful quarterback.
“Bo is made of the right stuff. He’s a little bit older, carries himself the right way. And all of it should help as he moves forward in his career,” Manning said, via Troy Renck of the Denver Post. “I am just happy that Bo is the established starter. For a number of years, they had quarterback competitions. That’s hard on the receivers, the coaches, the play-caller, and the quarterback. Now, they’ve got their guy.”
Manning thinks Nix showed talent beyond his years as a rookie.
“I just don’t see that as being a big factor for him. Rookie quarterbacks are supposed to struggle, and then the game slows down. But, it sure looked like it slowed down a lot for him last year,” Manning said. “Like with C.J. Stroud, Bo didn’t play like a rookie. … I believe experience is the best teacher, and he got great experience last year.”
Manning added that playing under Sean Payton for a second season should be beneficial for Nix.
“The continuity, more than anything else. There are times when guys go into their second year, and they are going on their third coordinator,” Manning said. “He has an experienced head coach in Sean, who is his play-caller. Having that same voice and verbiage is so critical. We expect Sean to be here for a long time, so Bo will use that to his advantage.”
Broncos
Broncos RB J.K. Dobbins had a resurgence in his career after missing 2022 with a knee injury and 2023 with a torn Achilles. His surgeon, Dr. Neal ElAttrache, said he grew a close relationship with Dobbins and praised him for his perseverance.
“I can’t say enough about him,” ElAttrache said, via Luca Evans of The Denver Post. “I mean, he’s the kind of guy that I would like to have as a friend forever. He’s that kind of person.”
ElAttrache pointed out that damaged ligaments can never return to their previous health, but Dobbins has worked hard on his rehab.
“You never want to expect they’re going to be 22 years old again,” ElAttrache said. “You can’t turn back the clock and go before, when he was that number one (running back) for the Ravens. But, having said that, his performance was still right there.”
Chargers
Chargers DC Jesse Minter still holds on to rejection letters from graduate assistant jobs that he applied to across the country, accumulating 98 in total. Minter said the rejections are a reminder to be grateful for where he is now.
“Because that’s just how I operate,” Minter said, via Daniel Popper of The Athletic. “It’s just that reminder of the joy that it is, the blessing that it is, the opportunity that you have, not to take it for granted and not to ever feel like you’ve arrived.”
Minter said he’s always tried to operate without an ego and build a culture of letting people know their value.
“A lot of coaches have crazy egos, and I think there’s a difference in being confident in yourself and sure of yourself, and then having an ego,” Minter said. “I’ve always tried really, really hard to not have an ego, to really try to build a situation where everybody feels like they have value, where everybody feels like they’re part of the success.”
- Per ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, Chargers RB Najee Harris participated in three-straight practices last week and was cleared for contact on Friday.
