Giannis Antetokounmpo signed a 5-year supermax extension with the Milwaukee Bucks on Tuesday. The deal is worth a total of worth $228.2 million, making it the largest deal in NBA history.
This is my home, this is my city.. I’m blessed to be able to be a part of the Milwaukee Bucks for the next 5 years. Let’s make these years count. The show goes on, let’s get it. 🤎🙏🏽 pic.twitter.com/895tCBE9RK
— Giannis Antetokounmpo (@Giannis_An34) December 15, 2020
While many speculated that Antetokounmpo would enter free agency next offseason, when the Toronto Raptors would have enough cap space to sign him to a max slot, he instead opted for the safe route, staying with the franchise that drafted him for as much money as possible. This despite the Bucks failing to sign Bogdon Bogdanovich this offseason, who was reportedly Giannis’ No. 1 target.
Masai Ujiri and Co. will need to adapt on the fly. They went through great lengths to ensure that the Raptors had maximum cap flexibility heading into the 2020-21 season when they had hoped to sign Antetokounmpo. They even found a way to fit a clip of them trying to trade for him at the 2013 draft in the most recent episode of “Open Gym.”
Masai Ujiri and Bobby Webster, trying to find a way to draft Giannis Antetokounmpo. It seemingly almost happened. 😳
via @Bell's Open Gym documentary, The Bubble. pic.twitter.com/ENWHb4j3vr
— TSN (@TSN_Sports) December 10, 2020
I will have a piece up tomorrow morning exploring where the Raptors go from here, including some of the options in front of them including extending OG Anunoby, trading for James Harden, and the other free agents that will be available next offseason.
