The Bucks at a Crossroads: Rebuild or Continuity with Giannis?
The Milwaukee Bucks, for the last seven seasons, have been NBA title contenders. However, after winning the championship in 2021, the team has lost momentum, suffering early playoff eliminations. Damian Lillard’s recent injury and financial implications further complicate the situation. Giannis Antetokounmpo, the Bucks star, is aware of the situation. The team faces a crucial decision: continue building around Antetokounmpo or seek a new direction.Milwaukee Options for Summer
The Bucks’ general manager, Jon Horst, faces a situation similar to the one David Griffin faced with LeBron James in Cleveland. Horst’s responsibility is to maximize Antetokounmpo’s legacy, seeking options to keep the team as a contender. Despite the difficulties, the Bucks will aggressively explore options in free agency and potential trades to complement Antetokounmpo. Due to the negotiation of Khris Middleton and Kyle Kuzma, the Bucks can use the non-taxpayer mid-level exception of $14.1 million to sign a free agent, such as Gary Trent Jr., or look for a temporary replacement for Lillard. In addition, they have the biennial exception of $5.1 million. However, it is unlikely that they will be able to retain Brook Lopez and Bobby Portis, and at the same time use both exceptions. The Kuzma deal gives them flexibility to use more than 100% of the traded player exception and add contracts in a trade. The biggest challenge for the Bucks is that 79% of their payroll is committed to Antetokounmpo, Lillard, and Kuzma. The only considerable contract is Pat Connaughton’s, with a salary of $9.4 million. A CBA rule prevents Milwaukee from combining the contracts of players like AJ Green, Chris Livingston, Andre Jackson Jr., and Tyler Smith to bring in a player earning $25 million. To mitigate this, they could include Lopez or Portis (if he doesn’t exercise his player option) in a “sign-and-trade”.Possible Transfer Scenarios
Here are some trade scenarios that could reshape the Bucks’ roster:Trade 1: Milwaukee Bucks, Orlando Magic, and Chicago Bulls
Milwaukee Bucks receives: Wendell Carter Jr., Ayo Dosunmu, Jett Howard
Chicago Bulls receive: Kyle Kuzma, Andre Jackson Jr., 2031 second-round pick.
This agreement could help the Bucks reinforce their roster with young and versatile players, while the Magic and the Bulls would obtain assets for the future.Trade 2: Milwaukee Bucks and Brooklyn Nets
Milwaukee Bucks receives: Cameron Johnson
Brooklyn Nets receive: Kyle Kuzma, 2031 first-round pick, 2032 first-round pick swap. This trade could bring the Bucks a quality scorer like Cameron Johnson, while the Nets would get draft assets in return.Trade 3: Milwaukee Bucks and Phoenix Suns
Milwaukee Bucks receives: Bradley Beal, Royce O’Neale, 2025 first-round pick (No. 29)Phoenix Suns receive: Pat Connaughton, Damian Lillard
This trade could be a direct swap of Lillard for Beal, with the addition of O’Neale to strengthen the Bucks’ roster. The Suns would have to assess whether Lillard is a better option once he recovers from his injury.Trade 4: Milwaukee Bucks and Houston Rockets
Houston Rockets receive: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Pat Connaughton
Milwaukee Bucks receive: Alperen Sengun, Cam Whitmore, Reed Sheppard, Jock Landale, 2025 first-round pick (No. 10), 2027 first-round pick (via Phoenix), 2028 first-round pick
This bold move would involve Giannis’s departure, but in return, the Bucks would receive a large amount of young talent and draft picks, beginning a new era of rebuilding.Trade 5: Milwaukee Bucks and Toronto Raptors
Toronto Raptors receive: Giannis AntetokounmpoMilwaukee Bucks receive: Scottie Barnes, Gradey Dick, Ochai Agbaji, 2025 first-round pick (No. 9), 2029 and 2031 first-round picks. This trade would allow the Raptors to compete immediately with the addition of Giannis, while the Bucks would begin a rebuild with Barnes and multiple draft picks.Trade 6: Milwaukee Bucks and San Antonio Spurs
San Antonio Spurs receive: Giannis Antetokounmpo
Milwaukee Bucks receive: Harrison Barnes, Keldon Johnson, Jeremy Sochan, 2025 first-round pick (No. 2), 2026 first-round pick (better of Atlanta and San Antonio), 2028 first-round pick (better of Boston and San Antonio), 2030 first-round pick (better of Dallas, Minnesota and San Antonio), 2031 first-round pick swap (Milwaukee for better of Sacramento and San Antonio).
The Spurs, led by Victor Wembanyama, would form an elite pairing with Giannis, while the Bucks would begin a massive rebuild with several draft picks and young players.Trade 7: Milwaukee Bucks and Detroit Pistons
Detroit Pistons receive: Giannis Antetokounmpo
Milwaukee Bucks receive: Tobias Harris, Jaden Ivey, Isaiah Stewart, 2027 first-round pick, 2029 first-round pick, 2031 first-round pick.
The Pistons, looking to compete in the East, would acquire Giannis, while the Bucks would add young talent and draft picks for a fresh start.Trade 8: Golden State Warriors, Los Angeles Lakers, Dallas Mavericks, and Milwaukee Bucks
Golden State Warriors get: Giannis AntetokounmpoLos Angeles Lakers receive: Draymond Green, Daniel GaffordDallas Mavericks receive: Gabe Vincent, 2031 first-round pick (via L.A. Lakers), 2025 second-round pick (No. 41)Milwaukee Bucks receive: Austin Reaves, Brandin Podziemski, Jonathan Kuminga (via sign-and-trade), Trayce Jackson-Davis, Maxi Kleber, 2029 first-round pick (via Warriors), 2031 first-round pick (via Golden State), 2030 first-round pick swap (with L.A. Lakers)
This complex four-team deal would see the Warriors form an All-Star trio with Curry, Antetokounmpo, and Butler, while the Bucks would receive a large number of young players and draft picks to rebuild. The future of the Milwaukee Bucks is uncertain. The decisions they make this summer will determine the team’s course in the coming years.
