NBA Notebook: Giannis' future with Bucks in doubt?

The NBA never sleeps, so there is plenty to discuss around the Association again this week.

We take you through all the news of note in this week's edition of NBA Notebook.

Could Giannis leave for greener pastures?

In an interview with GQ, Giannis Antetoukounmpo raised some eyebrows this week, when his comments made some begin to doubt his future in Milwaukee. The interview is worth reading in full, but the key quote for our purposes is as follows:

“What’s the next challenge? The next challenge might not be here.”

It’s not that he doesn’t love Milwaukee, he said. But he was always wary of things becoming too easy.

“Me and my family chose to stay in this city that we all love and has taken care of us — for now,” Giannis said. “In two years, that might change. I’m being totally honest with you."

His agent began damage control, but what Giannis said is what matters. It may be that he is simply voicing the natural restlessness that accompanies achieving everything he has set out to do at such a young age.

But if Giannis is looking to win again and keep winning, the Bucks might not have the long-term upside as a basketball team that he’s looking for.

Jrue Holiday and Brook Lopez are on the wrong side of the aging curve, and the Bucks have few avenues to improve. 

After Giannis signed a supermax extension, it seemed the books were closed on Antetokounmpo ever playing for another team, but Giannis is clearly leaving his options open.

Dave Joerger steps away for cancer treatment

The NBA community was shocked and saddened this week when it was reported that Philadelphia 76ers assistant coach Dave Joerger would be stepping away from the team for several weeks to treat cancer in his head and neck.

Joerger announced his diagnosis publicly in an effort to encourage more people to get regular examinations, as early detection significantly increases the chance of a positive outcome.

I’ll join everyone else in wishing coach Joerger a full and speedy recovery.

Cunningham rounds into form

Unfortunate news came from Cleveland on Tuesday morning. After leaving a Monday game against the Boston Celtics, rookie phenom Evan Mobley had an MRI and will now miss two to four weeks with a right elbow sprain.

At the same time, Cade Cunningham has begun to dust off the cobwebs, after he missed the early season with an ankle injury.

After a few rusty shooting performances, Cunningham is demonstrating why he was the No. 1 overall pick in such a loaded draft this year.

Not only is he turning his shooting around (though it’s still not where I expect it to be by year's end), he’s making all the little effort plays that have endeared him to evaluators since his high school days.

Cade is a natural leader and lives for the big moments, but he never forces the issue, even when he started his NBA career in such a slump.

He is already one of the most clutch players in the NBA this season. 

Cunningham is currently 7-of-9 on clutch shooting possessions, and he scored or assisted on 10 straight possessions to lead the Detroit Pistons over the Indiana Pacers in their last game.

Cunningham at +300 for Rookie of the Year is looking mighty tasty.

Luke Walton on the hot seat

According to a report by Sam Amick and Shams Charania at The Athletic, Sacramento Kings coach Luke Walton is on the hot seat.

Evidently, Kings ownership has playoff expectations for the long-struggling franchise, but with a 6-9 start, the Kings sit outside the play-in tournament at 12th.

The Kings own the longest playoff drought in the NBA at 15 seasons and will own the all-time record for such a drought, if they fail to make the postseason again this year.

This is Walton’s third year at the helm in Sacramento, and it’s hard to point at an element of the job that he’s particularly adept at.

Given the success that so many teams near the bottom of the ladder have had recently by hiring the likes of Monty Williams, Tom Thibodeau, or even Wes Unseld Jr. this year, the Kings should strongly consider making a change.

But they shouldn’t base their decision on whether or not the Kings happen to win a few less games this month than they’d like.

Staples Center renamed to Crypto.com Arena

Is nothing sacred? 

News that the home arena of the Los Angeles Lakers (and for now the Los Angeles Clippers) is being renamed the Crypto.com Arena was met with a mixture of scorn and amusement earlier this week.

The deal is only one of many that NBA teams have forged with various cryptocurrency enterprises in the past year, but valued at $700 million over 20 years, this is by far the biggest deal of its kind.

While the name sounds incredibly garish at first blush, there is nothing iconic about “Staples Center” either, and at least “The Crypt” can be a functional go-to nickname.