3 reasons the Bucks shouldn’t worry about Warriors pursuit of Giannis
The Supermax
The Milwaukee Bucks have one trump card up their sleeve, and it’s the supermax contract that they can offer Giannis. At that time of signing, Giannis’ contract could become the richest in NBA history.
The supermax is meant to keep players in small markets by allowing the team that originally drafted the player to give them a perk no other team can offer. Giannis, in Milwaukee, is the exact type of scenario for which the supermax was created.
“Officially known as the “Designated Veteran Player Extension,” this rule allows teams to re-sign qualified players to maximum five-year contracts worth up to 35 percent of the salary cap with eight percent escalation in each subsequent year,” NBC Sports’ Keely Diven wrote.
While COVID-19 could damage the salary cap, Giannis is still a year from being able to sign it anyway. That said, that type of money, while Giannis also make over $25 million, could be a difference-maker and something the Bucks would offer the young star with ease.
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Giannis could easily leave Milwaukee. He may also be traded. Both are unlikely, and for the reasons listed above, the Bucks shouldn’t be worried Giannis demands a trade or immediately leaves once able to. If he does, it’ll likely be a tough decision for him.