Bucks sign and waive Alex Antetokounmpo, brother of Giannis, in apparent plan to keep him on G League team

The Milwaukee Bucks have achieved somewhat smartly with two Antetokounmpo brothers on their team in fresh years, so why no longer spring for a 3rd? On Friday, the Bucks signed Alex Antetokounmpo, the youngest of the basketball-playing brothers, best to waive him quickly after. They did this apparently for the sake of maintaining his G League rights, as their NBA roster was once already complete. Now, if Antetokounmpo spends a minimum of 60 days with the Wisconsin Herd (Milwaukee’s G League associate), he’s going to be eligible for an advantage price up to $75,000, in accordance to The Athletic’s Eric Nehm. Antetokounmpo performed 32 video games for the Herd closing season and averaged 5.8 issues in step with sport. 

Giannis Antetokounmpo is a two-time MVP for the Bucks, and Thanasis has been a staple on their bench for the previous a number of years. Factor in Alex’s time with the Herd and just one of the 4 brothers to play skilled basketball, Kostas, has no longer been a member of the Bucks group sooner or later. Kostas particularly gained a championship as a two-way participant for the 2020 Los Angeles Lakers, however now performs in Greece for Panathinaikos.

G League signings hardly have a lot of an affect on NBA teams, however the Bucks are in a fairly distinctive place. Giannis is 2 years clear of unfastened company and has already stated that he does no longer plan to sign an extension with the Bucks this offseason. It due to this fact falls upon Milwaukee to ensure that he is glad going into subsequent offseason, when he’s going to be just a 12 months clear of unfastened company. The perfect manner to do this can be to win any other championship. That is in large part out of Milwaukee’s keep watch over. But signing different Antetokounmpo siblings? That is a extra possible objective, and it is one who different groups have attempted to reflect.

The Lakers have been a number of the groups anticipated to pursue Antetokounmpo if he had grow to be a unfastened agent in 2021, and they’re a team that reportedly pursuits him now. That most probably performed a component in their choice to sign Kostas for the 2019-20 season. Another team that it appears intrigues Giannis? The New York Knicks, who reportedly made a run at Thanasis this offseason.

Milwaukee’s complete roster is constructed round Giannis. A conceivable $75,000 bonus for his brother is a small value to pay to keep him glad. The Bucks nonetheless have so much of paintings to do in the event that they plan to retain their former MVP for the lengthy haul, however it is a great step in that path.