The Milwaukee Bucks entered this offseason surrounded by uncertainty. Questions loomed about Giannis Antetokounmpo and whether he’ll stay for another year. After three consecutive first-round playoff exits, the Greek Freak was bound to run out of patience at some point. His primary goal, though, has been relatively straightforward. “I want to win another championship. Legacy is very important for me. You got to play to win,” the Bucks talisman said recently.

Giannis Antetokounmpo’s words to the media have become firmer in the last few weeks. He seems to have already made up his mind, and we’ll tell you why. Before that, though, a viral Shams Charania report this week confirmed that the Knicks made contact with the Bucks over a potential move. It unsurprisingly elicited mixed sentiments from the Milwaukee fan base. One such NBA legend who isn’t happy with the recent turn of events is Charles Barkley.

“You know, it’s interesting how these guys, they feel like they’re entitled to play for the championship every year. As a great player, you should feel like, ‘I’m a great player. If I get any help, we going to win,’ and you got to give Milwaukee Bucks credit,” Barkley said on NBA on ESPN.

“I wish a person loved me as much as the Bucks love Giannis. I really do. They went out and got him Dame Lillard. They went out and got him Myles Turner. They have done everything possible to try to make the Bucks win again. So, the notion that he don’t feel like they’re doing everything in their power, they have done everything. It’s disheartening for me to hear him thinking like, ‘If we don’t win the championship this year, I want to be out of here.’ I hate hearing that,” the hoops legend concluded.

This public criticism from the Hall of Famer underscores the high stakes of the situation. The front office’s decision to stretch and waive Damian Lillard’s contract to create cap space for Myles Turner’s four-year, $108 million contract was a bold, all-in move explicitly designed to appease Giannis Antetokounmpo.

However, Shams Charania’s recent report suggested that the Bucks hadn’t consulted with their ace! And this wasn’t the first time GM Jon Horst went ahead with complete confidence in his plans without keeping Giannis Antetokounmpo informed. All in all, things do not look good, and the Greek Freak’s statement, which could be perceived as a final warning of sorts (subtly), confirms the lack of clarity in the Bucks camp.

Giannis Antetokounmpo’s recent words haven’t made the Bucks’ dire situation any better

Despite the external noise, Giannis has made his immediate priority clear. “I believe in this team. I believe in my teammates. I’m here to lead this team to wherever we can go and it’s definitely going to be hard,” the Bucks star said, showcasing confidence in the current group of players.

But there’s a clock that’s ticking…

“Now, if in six, seven months, I change my mind, I think that’s human too. You’re allowed to make any decision you want,” Giannis clarified.

The trade talks with the Knicks were described as an exclusive negotiating window in August. But it never gained serious momentum. The Bucks reportedly felt the Knicks’ offer was not strong enough, while the New York side believed Giannis Antetokounmpo’s employers were not truly serious about moving their franchise cornerstone.

For the Bucks organization and its fans, the path forward is extremely simple to comprehend. They have to win and continue winning. The caveat, though, is the unbalanced roster. Myles Turner will be Doc Rivers’ X-factor, bringing in solid rim protection. Last season, he finished third in the league with 2.0 blocks per game. Turner’s career-best 39.6% shooting from deep is also commendable, but is this enough support for the Greek Freak to carry his team all the way?

The $113 million from the Lillard contract will now sit as dead money on their salary cap for the next five years… The Bucks have handicapped themselves financially for the rest of Giannis’ prime. While I hope to be proven wrong on this, I really feel that the Milwaukee side has gone all in on a King-seven off suit.