Report: Giannis’s Future With Bucks Tied to One Player

There's been a lot of talk of late about Giannis Antetokounmpo's future, and whether he'll re-sign with the Milwaukee Bucks before his current contract expires. Giannis himself has made it clear that it's no slam dunk he stays. 

The latest report, from ESPN NBA Insiders Zach Lowe and Bobby Marks on The Lowe Post podcast, is that whether the Greek Freak decides to re-up in Milwaukee depends a lot on what happens with one of his key running mates, Jrue Holiday. The two-way, two-time All-Star guard is eligible for an extension this February. You can bet that Giannis will be keeping a close eye on how the Bucks handle that situation, according to Lowe and Marks. 

Holiday will earn $35M this coming season, and then has a player option for $37.3M that he can opt out of for the following year. He's coming off his second All-Star campaign, averaging 19.3 points, 7.4 assists, 5.1 rebounds, 1.2 steals and 38.4% shooting from three. Not to mention his elite, lock-down defense. 

But Holiday will be 34 after the 2023-24 campaign, and it's certainly no sure thing that the Bucks will offer any kind of long-term deal, at least. Perhaps a shorter, 2-or-3-year, high AAV contract will be enough to keep Holiday (and Giannis) happy? 

The Bucks, the 2021 Champs, were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs this past spring, and are entering a new era with a new head coach in Adrian Griffin. 

There's clearly a lot at stake for Milwaukee this season, and it should be fascinating to watch what develops.

"It's a day-by-day world, as far as the temperature of Giannis (is concerned)," said Marks. 

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