NBA Rumors: 'Deafening Rumblings' On a Giannis Antetokounmpo Trade This Summer

The Milwaukee Bucks started out their first-round series against the Indiana Pacers with a loss by 19 points. About the only good thing to say for Bucks fans is that a 3-1 series lead looks more unlikely, which would remove the potential of another Doc Rivers blown 3-1 lead scenario.

But on the down side is the fact that if the Bucks trend closer to an early elimination from these playoffs, we'll be in for a summer of "deafening rumblings" on a Giannis Antetokounmpo trade, per Danny Chau in The Ringer.

He quotes Giannis from an ominous take (for Bucks fans) that he had right after the shocking Luka Doncic trade in February:

When a player believes that he can go to a different team and he believes he can have a chance to win a championship, we cannot crucify the person and say that he’s not loyal and he didn’t do the right thing and he let everybody down. Because history has shown you, you have to do what is best for you and your family. You have to do what’s best, most important to win.

And with the two-time MVP not getting any younger (he's 30 now), yet still at the top of his game, another Bucks crash-and-burn in these playoffs and that just might be Giannis talking about himself.

As Chau notes, with an incredible seven-year run as a Top-4 MVP vote-getter (and two-time winner) and coming off yet another season of averaging 30+ points, nearly 12 rebounds and 6.5 assists, who can blame the Greek Freak if he wants to capitalize on what's left of his prime, and get back to competing for championships?

As Giannis said, "You have to do what's best (for you), most important to WIN."

Chau concludes by writing, "Bucks fans are used to this by now, but there’s no real way to brace for the moment when the present and future finally collide. There’s no way to know just how much longer a monumental talent like Giannis will be around".