In the meeting between Milwaukee Bucks ownership and star Giannis Antetokounmpo, ownership confirmed their willingness to spend into the luxury tax to help build a championship supporting cast.
The Bucks payroll will reportedly be close to the proposed $132.7 million luxury tax threshold for 2020-2021, according to Adrian Wojnarowski.
Antetokounmpo had a three-hour lunch with the Bucks co-owner and governor Marc Lasry.
The two sides discussed the season, how the Bucks can improve their roster and there is an agreement that they’ll talk again after Antetokounmpo returns from a vacation.
The 25-year-old will be eligible to sign a super-max extension this offseason worth about $254 million over five years.
Several teams, including the Miami Heat, Toronto Raptors, Los Angeles Clippers and Dallas Mavericks, plan to make cap space for Antetokounmpo, should he become available.
After the Bucks lost in the Eastern Conference semifinals to the Heat, he shut down rumors.
“Some see a wall and go in [another direction]. I plow through it,” Antetokounmpo said. “We just have to get better as a team, individually and get right back at it next season. If winning a championship was easy, everyone would have one. We lost. Everyone saw that we lost. It’s disappointing, but what are we going to do? We’re going to keep working. I’ve got confidence in my teammates.”
