The Giannis Antetokounmpo trade rumours won’t go away. (Erik Drost)
This week, Phoenix star Devin Booker signed an extension with the highest AAV in NBA history; Chet Holmgren has agreed to a five-year rookie contract extension with the Thunder that could be worth a quarter billion bucks; and the NBA world lost Frank Layden, the first coach to take the Jazz to the playoffs (in 1982-83). Other Fantasy basketball stories we’re following include…
Will the Bucks deal Giannis?
Since winning 58 games two seasons ago, it’s been a downward trajectory for the Milwaukee Bucks. They managed just 49 victories in 2023-24 and had one fewer last season while being sent packing in the first round for the third straight time. That championship season in 2020-21 seems like a distant memory.
Change was needed, especially with news that Damian Lillard (Achilles’ tear) will miss the upcoming season.
And change was indeed the order of the day this summer. Gone is Brook Lopez, who signed with the Clippers as a free agent. He’ll be replaced by Myles Turner, who was signed in free agency – a much bigger fish than the Bucks were expected to reel in to replace Lopez.
Pat Connaughton was also moved out in a trade.
But the biggest move may yet to have occurred as rumours persist that Milwaukee may move on from franchise player Giannis Antetokounmpo, and he’s not exactly pouring cold water on this eventuality when he has the chance (see video below).
Early last season, he proved he can still deliver a monumental performance, and really, his numbers have more or less settled in at a very consistent level the past few year, but one concerning trend is the declining number of points he’s getting at the charity stripe.
In 2021-22, Giannis averaged a career best 8.3 points from the line, but that number has dipped to 7.9 to 7.0 to just 6.5 last season. While his rebounding work and assist numbers (he matched his personal best with 6.5 per game last season) remain strong, the FT scoring is capping his overall offense.
Still, in the playoffs, Antetokounmpo upped that aggressive play, scoring almost nine points per game from the FT line, while also increasing his accuracy.
The Greek Freak remains one of the most unique players in NBA history from a skills perspective. If Milwaukee does decide to move him, the suitors will be lining up around the block. We’re talking about a dude that ranked fifth in win shares despite missing 15 games last season.
Looking for Hope On the Hornets
Back in 2021-22, the Charlotte Hornets finally looked like they were getting somewhere, posting a winning record for the first time in a half dozen years. However, it’s been all downhill since, as they dropped to 27 wins the following season and then 21 before winning a mere 19 last season.
Now it seems like the odds overwhelmingly suggest that this coming season will mark a 10th straight campaign without a playoff appearance.
One glimmer of hope is that PG Tre Mann, acquired at the 2024 trade deadline, will be fully healthy this season after being limited to 13 games with a back injury in 2024-25.
The Hornets obviously like him, re-signing him to a three-year, $24-million deal earlier this month. And why not? Mann was flourishing off the bench for the Hornets before he got hurt, scoring a career best 14.1 PPG despite playing only 24.5 MPG.
When he was originally dealt to Charlotte, we recommended him because he was getting a chance to start. With LaMelo Ball being as injury prone as he is, there’s a high likelihood that Mann will again get the opportunity to run the Hornet offense, making him a very valuable in-season pickup. And if Mann can get his shot back to where it was two seasons ago, he could be a major sleeper.
Also, imagine a scenario in which Charlotte opts to cut bait on the seemingly permanently hurt Ball and move him out in a deal. Mann’s value would soar, and it’s not a crazy idea.
Waiver Wire Pick of the Week
T.J. McConnell, PG, Indiana Pacers (ESPN: 16.1 per cent; CBS: 19 per cent): With news that Tyrese Haliburton (Achilles) is likely to miss most if not all of 2025-26, McConnell bumps up the depth chart to become the top backcourt bench option. A couple of years ago, we identified him as someone capable of producing solid numbers off the bench and it was a brilliant pick as he was lights out down the stretch that season. The following season, McConnell again was productive regardless of having a smaller role and last season he got to the line more often despite seeing even less PT. And sure, he’ll again come off the bench this season, but could be surprisingly productive with the expected boost in minutes. After all, Haliburton finished sixth in win shares last season; that’s a lot of production that will now fall to others. McConnell played under 18 MPG last season, yet still ranked as a top 30 PG, so do the math and think of what he’ll do this season should he get 20-to-25 MPG. Sleeper!
RotoRob Tune of the Day
American rock band Iron Butterfly formed in 1966 and remained active until 2021, taking three breaks of up to three years over that stretch. In 1993, they released a greatest hits package called Light and Heavy: The Best of Iron Butterfly, and from this effort comes “Termination.”