Giannis Antetokounmpo

PF, Milwaukee Bucks

During Giannis Antetokounmpo’s meeting with the Bucks ownership this past Friday, Adrian Wojnarowski reports the owners assured their star player they would be willing to pay the luxury tax next season.

The Bucks ownership has been roundly criticized this season for their unwillingness to go into the luxury tax to re-sign Malcolm Brogdon. The organization will need to prove their commitment to winning if they hope to convince Antetokounmpo to stay in town, and paying the luxury tax would send a convincing message. The Bucks will not be able to retain some solid rotation pieces this off-season without entering into the tax. In particular Ersan Ilyasova and Pat Connaughton likely won’t return to the team next year unless the owners are willing to pay up.

Source: Woj on Twitter