Giannis Antetokounmpo addresses Bucks trade rumors and opens up on influence to join East contender

Kevin McCormick

Giannis Antetokounmpo addresses Bucks trade rumors and opens up on influence to join East contender image

As the offseason rolls along, one of the main underlying stories in the NBA is Giannis Antetokounmpo's future with the Milwaukee Bucks.

Many anxiously wait to see if he's going to remain loyal to the franchise that drafted him or look to broaden his horizons elsewhere. Based on some recent comments by the former MVP, changing teams seems unlikely at the moment. 

Giannis has made it known he wants to compete for another championship, which is something that hasn't been in the cards for the Bucks. Milwaukee was victim to another premature exit this past postseason, getting eliminated in the first round. Seeing that he's still playing at an MVP level, many believe Giannis should depart in hopes of chasing another title while he's still at his apex. 

Recently, Giannis sat down with viral streamer iShowSpeed. The two discussed a lot, including his future in the NBA. Giannis admitted that people have attempted to push him in the direction of playing in New York. 

"A lot of people have tried to convince me to go and play there and stuff," Giannis said. 

However, when put on the spot about leaving the Bucks, Giannis admitted he still has a close bond with Milwaukee. 

"Probably, we'll see," he responded when asked if he's staying in Milwaukee. "I love Milwaukee." 

Though they've gone to great lengths to do so, the Bucks have made some upgrades to the roster. Their biggest splash was signing Myles Turner to a four-year deal in free agency. This did come at a price, as the Bucks had to waive-and-stretch Damian Lillard to make things work financially. 

Given the current state of the Eastern Conference, the Bucks have a shot to be in the mix next season. However, guys like Turner and Kyle Kuzma will have to prove they can be viable running mates for Giannis. If this new-look roster isn't able to hold its own, the homegrown superstar might have to actually start considering a change of scenery.  

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Kevin McCormick

Kevin McCormick is a freelance writer with The Sporting News. Since graduating from Holy Family University with a degree in Sports Management-Marketing, he has gone on to build a career in sports writing. He primarily covers the NBA but has experience writing about women's professional basketball. Over the years, Kevin has written bylines for 97.3 ESPN, ClutchPoints, Sports Illustrated/On SI and Sportskeeda.