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via Getty

via Getty

Chatter surrounding Giannis Antetokounmpo and his impending Super Max contract extension does not seem to die down. In fact, with each passing day that he is coming closer to the deadline, fans of Milwaukee Bucks get more worried that he may leave the state of Wisconsin for good.

Now his longtime barber is adding more fuel to the fire. In a now-deleted Instagram post, he was almost paying tribute to his time in Milwaukee. Eagle-eyed fans spotted the Instagram post and are now assuming that he is not signing the super-max. Posing alongside the ‘Greek-freak’, his barber wrote, “Shout out to my brother, the greatest player in the game right now. Two time consecutive MVP! Love you bro and go do what’s best for your family! I’ve appreciated being with you these past 6 years!”

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Less than 10 days to go for Giannis Antetokounmpo

Giannis has to put pen to paper on the super-max deal by the deadline of December 22 if he wants to seriously prolong his stay with the Bucks. After that, he will no longer be eligible to earn the enormous amount of money that the contract guarantees.

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The 5-year super max deal will pocket him a minimum of $220 million. There’s room to earn more, as it is worth up to 35% of the team’s salary cap. Before the league was affected by the pandemic, there were plans to increase the salary cap. And in the next five years, one can expect it to grow. Hence he could pocket around a league-record $250 Million with this rookie extension.

What if Giannis declines?

via Imago

His current deal expires at the end of the 2020-21 season, after which he will walk out the door as a free agent. Several teams, including the Miami Heat, are already lining up for the superstar.

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The front-office has now done everything to surround Giannis with top talent like Jrue Holiday this offseason. They are leveraging their future here. If Giannis does not intend to sign the super-max, they should trade him away. The Bucks can’t afford to lose the MVP for free. Else they will never have a better shot at winning a title in the near future.