Giannis has shown a ton of love and respect for Hakeem so other than the Rockets (who we know ain't winning ****) I'll be rooting for Milwaukee. And if they do win, I'll be crediting Hakeem's training 100%.
What gets me is that these top players want their max money, demand their front office do this move and that move, and in the process, use up all their teams assets, cap space and financial flexibility, and then complain that their team isnt good enough.
I mean, you are worth what you are worth. Players have the right to ask for the moon and if they're worth it either them or someone else will give it to them. I'm never mad at players for getting what they deserve. It's up to the GM to manage the cap and pick the right players via draft, free agency, or trades. You get what you're worth, let the GM handle everything else, feel free to give your feedback and if he screws things up (whether he listened to you or not) you have the right to complaint things are not going well.
Thats fair. But when your salary and demands are a substantial reason why the team is handcuffed from improving itself, its rather hypocritical to complain about it and demand even more. But lets take this a step further. Maybe such a player is lucky enough to be on a team where the GM and FO made all the right moves. Maybe in such a case, you get your ring and everyone is happy. But most organizations dont make all the right moves. Either due to incompetence or bad luck, this is more the norm than the exception. What happens next is often a trade demand. Lets say you get it and some team mortgages their future to get such player. The cycle starts all over again. This seems to be the reality of things, but is this the only way it can be? The way it has to be?
While the GM has final discretion, sometimes in a business relationship, if both sides play nice (ask for reasonable things), it could extend the longevity of that partnership. Resources are finite, Giannis and few other other guys are locked into expensive deals. An expensive top heavy team by nature has a low floor when injury happens or the top heavy talent(s) go into a slump. GMs are more limited in their options. Is Giannis just simplistically thinking, the GM is not good enough to improve the team. Owner-wise, that team is already heavy into lux tax. Have some accountability if team is not doing as well. As of today, Griffin and Giannis' Bucks are 25th in def rating. If Bucks is starting off their season below expectations, the star player should get some blame, even if his individual stats look good. Giannis is still winning in life with his bank account as he can simply choose not to read people's Internet comments. Some blame pie from the fans is fine.
Jalens form on that last shot is clearly something hes worked on. The ones he missed earlier was his old shooting form. From what I can see anyways
Giannis never demanded a trade. He said he will leave when his contract is done if the Bucks suck. I think that's a fair ask from an impending free agent.
This post was partly speculative of what can happen and just ended up in the Giannis thread. Lots to read tonight. Easy to miss my intended context.
[Giannis Antetokounmpo] “There’s a narrative out there that’s false. I got a bag. But it’s good like this. Keep it on the low. When you get your ass here to Milwaukee, and you get embarrassed, you go back home and start contemplating life. Taking a shower thinking ‘I didn’t know Giannis had a bag.'” Source: reddit
