Giannis Antetokounmpo: Will he stay as Bucks rebuild?
The speculation that Giannis Antetokounmpo leaves Milwaukee should be taken with a grain of salt, because he has expressed many times that he wants to stay and retire as a Buck. His upbringing and sense of loyalty would not let him publicly demand a trade like so many marquee players do–and until he’s gone, the Bucks will probably do everything they can to get him some help.
This offseason, they let Damian Lillard go back to Portland, but they acquired key big man Myles Turner from Indiana. Turner will be a huge help to Giannis (think of a “better” Brook Lopez)–a big who can set screens, run, and shoot threes to provide space where the Freak can operate–a key element in the Bucks offense.
Last season, here are the Greek Freak’s stats:
- 30 points per game on 60% shooting (20% on 3s)
- 12 rebounds per game
- 7 assists per game
- 0.9 steals per game
- 1.2 blocks per game
He has played 67 regular season games and was on the floor for 35 out of the maximum 48 minutes per game. These are great, MVP-type numbers for someone entering his 13th season.
For Daily Fantasy Players: HOT! This guy will always get you points. His raw athleticism and physical prowess will still allow him to drop 30 on a 60% clip. You can always make him the captain of your squad and no one will bat an eye. Pick Turner as your vice captain–The Giannis-Myles combo could look great in contests.
For Traditional Fantasy Players: HOT! It doesn’t matter that he is in his 13th season–Giannis has turned 30 years old and he is still expected to perform consistently. It’s always pedal to the metal with him, and he is a very consistent player. He can be a core–a first or second round pick in the draft. Even though he lost Dame Time Lillard and Khris Middleton, he now has former Pacer Myles Turner and a bunch of good shooters and defenders in Cole Antony and Gary Harris.
