Content is not growing on trees right now. ‘The Last Dance’ has been our only source of NBA content for the last month or so. Obviously, those who have jobs writing about the league need to have stories. There is only so much they can do with the morsels of information they get from Adam Silver. A road map appears to be developing with games in August among other things. But there is still a void of content missing for NBA writers. Therefore, a popular topic has been creating content about Giannis Antetokounmpo being traded. In the minds of people writing for the San Francisco Chronicle and Sports Illustrated, Bucks are a G-League team. There is no way the Bucks can keep Giannis according to media types. That seems laughable to them. This ends now, and the Bucks need to speak out.

In a discussion that Ryen Russillo and Bill Simmons had awhile back, they mentioned how teams are using the media to tamper. That is precisely what’s happening with Antetokounmpo’s potential free agency. The Golden State Warriors and Toronto Raptors are utilizing the media as a weapon against the Bucks and Giannis. The media members will deny it, but it happened all over the league in other instances. Antetokounmpo is the latest. And the audacity to think the Bucks would trade a generational superstar who has never requested to leave is fucking absurd. These writers should be embarrassed that they’re putting this content out there only to maintain their relationship with the team.

Truth be told, the credibility of Chris Mannix took a major hit when suggesting Giannis could get traded to Toronto. Mannix called it ‘outlandish’ but as a guy who reports on things and gets scoops, it felt bizarre to include at the end of his version of Monday Morning Quarterback. Sports Illustrated’s editors and the social team led with that story too. In Mannix’s fantasy world, he believed Bucks would not ask for Pascal Siakam. Of course, they would if we’re living in this fantasy. Look at the deals done for Paul George and Anthony Davis. Two guys that wanted out and wouldn’t play for their team. Giannis has not requested that nor even a hint of unhappiness. Yet these guys continue with their garbage.

Alex Lasry, a front office member of the Bucks, and son of Bucks owner Marc Lasry spoke out in favor of the Bucks in the past. But we haven’t seen it with this topic. It would be nice if someone called the media out on their bullshit. Bucks prefer to likely keep their money and not get fined by the league. But this Bravo TV-Esque drama will get to a boiling point where someone – Giannis, Lasry, someone else, needs to address this topic.

Bucks will still be a little brother in the league until they get to the Finals. Even then, it will be marred with an asterisk given this weird season. Cannot wait for the first Giannis bolts from the Milwaukee column after they win the NBA Finals. How many days will it take? Two? Three?

Charlie.