This doesn’t stop with Damian Lillard and James Harden. Those two are simply the ones up at the moment, standing astride a ticking clock, plans to promote, and maxed-out contracts.
Others are sure to follow, with wine bottles to push and CDs to sell and a championship to win, for the first or final time. Giannis Antetokounmpo sent coded signals this summer demanding Milwaukee straighten its ship and we didn’t even blink — Giannis!
Antetokounmpo pinching his nose and leaving Milwaukee is not inevitable, bet on him staying, but the Bucks have plenty of time to prepare for worst-case scenario. If both sides determine it a waste to drag Antetokounmpo’s remaining glory years through a failed championship defense, the Bucks could return an all-time haul.
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