Bucks rejected Mavs’ overtures for Antetokounmpo
By GERY WOELFEL
When the news broke about the Mavericks trading Luka Doncic to the Lakers, I, like everyone else on the planet, was stunned.
I wondered why the Mavericks would jettison a generational talent like Doncic who, at 25, is theoretically entering the prime of his career.
And I asked myself why did the Mavs receive modest returns. Yes, Anthony Davis is an exceptional talent, but he’ll also turn 32 on March 11. What’s more, he’s chronically injured. He played more than 68 games in a season just three times in his previous 12 seasons.
Davis isn’t likely to reach the 68-game mark this season, either. He’s now sidelined with a strained left adductor. He is reportedly going to be out of action for at least a month.
I became even more baffled about the trade when Nico Harrison, the Mavs president of basketball operations and general manager, said he only targeted Davis and didn’t bother to gauge Doncic’s market value to see if he could have secured a sweeter deal.
What GM in his right mind wouldn’t explore all his options, especially so when you’re talking about arguably one of the three best players in the game?
Well, my curiosity prompted me to contact several NBA sources and garner their feedback on this seismic trade. To my utter surprise, some of those officials flat-out disputed Harrison’s comments that he strictly communicated with just the Lakers.
According to two NBA sources, the Mavs had interactions with at least two other teams besides the Lakers. They claimed the Mavs also had conversations with the Bucks and Timberwolves.
It doesn’t take a genius to figure out which players from those teams would have piqued the Mavs’ interest.
With the Bucks, it was Giannis Antetokounmpo, a two-time MVP who led the Bucks to the NBA title in 2021. Antetokounmpo happens to have a strong rapport with Mavs coach Jason Kidd and his right-hand man, Sean Sweeney.
When Kidd was fired in 2018 after being the Bucks head coach for 3-plus seasons, Antetokounmpo didn’t mince words on his fond feelings for Kidd.
“He’s a big part of my success,’’ Antetokounmpo said then of Kidd. “I love him as a person. I care about him as a person.’’
Antetokounmpo then added, “I was only 18 (when he joined the Bucks). I didn’t even know how the NBA worked.
“He trusted me. He put the ball in my hands. He pushed me to be great.’’
According to one source, the Mavs reached out to the Bucks. But the Bucks made it clear to Mavs they wouldn’t trade Antetokounmpo even though his future with the team is murky.
As for the Timberwolves, it’s only logical that any potential deal between the Mavs and Timberwolves would have included Anthony Edwards, their ascending 23-year-old superstar.
The league sources I contacted regarding the Doncic-Davis declined to divulge specifics of the Mavs talks with the Bucks and Timberwolves, but they were adamant those talks took place.
Some other news and views on the Bucks and the recent crazy trade deadline that saw a record-number 63 players relocated:
- After the Bucks dealt Khris Middleton to the Wizards for Kyle Kuzma, some members of Bucks Nation, predictably, went on social media and bashed Bucks ownership for pinching pennies.
That’s absurd.
The current Bucks ownership group has never been driven to keep player payroll down. In fact, ever since Wes Edens and Marc Lasry purchased the franchise from Herb Kohl in 2014, the Bucks have consistently ranked among the top 10 teams in player payroll.
That’s an amazing commitment for any franchise, much less a “small-market’’ one like Milwaukee. Edens and the rest of the Bucks ownership have made winning and contending for an NBA title a priority. Period.
Bucks fans can criticize the organization for a variety of reasons, particularly those regarding player/coach decisions, but to accuse the owners of being cheap isn’t one of them.
- So, who got the better of the Middleton-Kuzma deal?
From my perspective, it was a winning deal for the Bucks long term but perhaps a losing one short term.
Kuzma, 29, is younger than the 34-year-old Middleton and is indisputably a much healthier and dependable player. Kuzma projects to be a starter and, at the very least, will be a key rotational player going forward.
But while Middleton continues to be plagued by injuries and is clearly on the downside of an outstanding career, there’s still a little fuel in his tank.
If I was running the Bucks operation, I would have retained Middleton and made absolutely sure he was close to 100 percent healthy for the playoffs.
Middleton is still a lethal mid-range and clutch shooter with a wealth of playoff experience that would have been invaluable for the Bucks in postseason.
For those with a short memory, it was just more than a year ago when Middleton showed he can still bring it..
That’s when, in a six-game playoff series against the Pacers, Middleton wasn’t just good but great. He averaged 24.7 points and 9.2 rebounds.
Of course, to have expected Middleton to post those kind of sterling numbers again in postseason this season would be foolish.
But if Antetokounmpo and Dame Lillard stay healthy and play like the stars they are, Middleton wouldn’t have had to carry the load and simply been a nice, complementary cog for a team that hopes to make a deep playoff run.
- A source close to the Wizards told me that, while they were excited to acquire Middleton, they were almost giddy about acquiring AJ Johnson from the Bucks.
The Bucks chose Johnson with the 23rd overall pick in the 2024 draft, but I’m told some player personnel officials in the Wizards organization regarded Johnson as a late lottery selection, or a top 14 pick.
The 20-year-old Johnson didn’t have much of a chance to showcase his talents with the veteran-laden Bucks, but should be given plenty of opportunities to show and grow his game with the rebuilding Wizards.
- Why the Bucks wasted any time in acquiring either Jericho Sims from the Knicks or Kevin Porter Jr. from the Clippers is a head scratcher.
- More than a few NBA officials were surprised the Bucks didn’t move Bobby Portis at the trade deadline.
Portis is a quality sixth man and certainly could have helped a bunch of teams.
Portis has a player option of $13.4 million for next season and you can go to the bank he’ll pass on that. And rightfully so for he is definitely underpaid.
In addition to being properly compensated, there have been whispers Portis is seeking a long-term deal. Sources also added the Bucks had given Mark Bartelstein, Portis’ power agent, permission to contact other teams about a trade.
- The Doncic-Davis trade grabbed all the headlines, but
another deal that could change the state or the NBA was the Kings’ decision to send talented point guard De’Aaron Fox to the Spurs.
Fox is an elite point guard, who is precisely the type of player the Spurs needed to pair with the sensational Victor Wembanyama.
The fact the Spurs were still able to retain promising youngsters like Stephen Castle, Jeremy Sochan and Devin Vassell makes their future look extremely bright.
- Did you notice how the dregs of the Association did little or nothing at the deadline?
And who cold blame them when they may have a crack at the No. 1 pick in the 2025 draft: Cooper Flagg of Duke.
- Kuzma played collegiately at the University of Utah. His head coach was Larry Krystkowiak, the former Bucks forward.
- The Cavs have the best record in the league, and they may be getting even better after pilfering De’Andre Hunter from the Hawks.
After five disappointing seasons in Atlanta, Hunter is enjoying a breakout season. He’s averaging 19 points while shooting 39 percent on treys.
If Hunter acclimates quickly to his new team, the Cavs could be a beast in the playoffs.
Having written that, I still rank the Celtics and Knicks ahead of them in the Eastern Conference.
- Jimmy Butler wanted to be traded to the Suns, but he obviously didn’t get his way.
Bucks guard Damian Lillard can probably relate to that.
While with the Trail Blazers, Lillard sought to be dealt to the Heat. But, according to a source close to the situation, Trail Blazers GM Joe Cronin was hell bent on not letting Lillard or his agent, Aaron Goodwin, dictate Lillard’s future home and sent him to Milwaukee.
- Speaking of Lillard, I’m sue he was disappointed seeing Middleton sent to the Wizars. I was told they had formed a strong bond on and off the court.
- Kuzma is the Bucks’ third-highest-paid player, earning $23.5M this season. Antetokounmpo and Lillard are each collecting $48.7M.
Next season, Lillard will become the highest-paid Bucks player at $58.5M, with Antetokounmpo right behind at $57.6M. Kuzma’s salary dips to $21.4M.
- The NBA is a fluid league; change is constant. But if what I’m hearing is accurate, I offer this advice to Bucks Nation: Buckle up. It could be a wild and crazy ride this summer.
