Milwaukee Bucks: What Winning The Title Really Means For The NBA
The 2020-21 NBA season is a wrap and for the Milwaukee Bucks, it ended the way they wanted. However, for the NBA as a business, it could not have ended any worse. Yes, Giannis Antetokounmpo and crew deserved the title but what this offseason and the next may bring is something the NBA is not ready for or needs.
Giannas is a two-time MVP, A Defensive Player of the Year winner, and now a champion. To make things worse, he’s only 26 years old. So why is this a problem for the NBA?
For starters, at the beginning of the year, there were rumors that Giannis may look to force his way out of the small market that the Bucks play in. Khris Middleton was struggling, Brook Lopez was past his prime, and the bench was not producing. But then the playoffs arrived and everything clicked. While the argument will still come that the Bucks struggled with a weakened Brooklyn Nets team, the fact still remains that they will hold the title of NBA Champion heading into the offseason.
While this offseason did not yield any big names for the Milwaukee Bucks, there was really no need to take a big gamble with the roster as the Lakers did with Russell Westbrook and Carmelo Anthony. The Bucks are the defending champs and there is no need to chase anyone. Besides, their cap space was not free agent-friendly.
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Think about the level of competition, especially in the Eastern Conference. The Philadelphia 76ers are in disarray. The Miami Heat will go as far as Jimmy Butler takes them, and the Nets are an injury away from another disappointment.
The NBA has been a hotbed for Super Teams lately. The Miami Heat formed their team to win a title. The Boston Celtics did the same, and so did the Los Angeles Lakers. The Golden State Warriors built their team from the draft aside from Kevin Durant but even their pre-Durant title came against an injured Cavaliers’ team.
But these Milwaukee Bucks are young and they won without the foundation of Hall of Fame players. Now, all eyes will be on free agents as they will have another team to look at other than the Lakers, Clippers, and Nets. A small-market team ended the season as the best in the league. What player didn’t take notice?
Worst of all, what agent didn’t take notice?
For a player searching to win a title, he could take less money much as Carmelo Anthony did with the Lakers this offseason. This is what the Bucks winning a title means for the NBA. To see new blood celebrate is always good but as a business, Adam Silver must be kicking himself.
This is exactly what the NBA is afraid of. The Nets, Clippers, and Lakers are already in big market cities and are expected to draw top interest from free agents any offseason. Now you add in the Milwaukee Bucks, and who wouldn’t want to play for a team that could become the next NBA dynasty?
Mark has been covering Sports and Entertainment for the past six years. His work has been featured on Bleacher Report, ESPN, Fox Sports, Teen Vogue, and many other websites.
