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Giannis Antetokounmpo is expected to begin the 2025-26 season with the Milwaukee Bucks, according to sources. However, the current sentiment could change throughout the offseason depending on roster construction and organizational decisions.

General Manager Jon Horst and head coach Doc Rivers have presented ownership with plans to maintain the team's core around Antetokounmpo. The franchise believes it can compete as a top-six Eastern Conference team, particularly if Damian Lillard returns healthy for the playoffs.

Milwaukee faces critical financial decisions regarding Brook Lopez's free agency and Bobby Portis's $13.4 million player option. These moves will significantly impact the team's payroll structure and competitive positioning moving forward.

Sources indicate the Bucks are prepared to enter the luxury tax again after paying over $200 million in penalties during recent seasons. The organization plans to keep its payroll below the $196 million first apron threshold to maintain access to more of the $14 million midlevel exception.

Milwaukee is exploring point guard options to fill in for Lillard during his rehabilitation. Dennis Schroder, Tyus Jones, and Malcolm Brogdon have emerged as candidates. 

The Bucks' offseason maneuvers will provide stakeholders with clarity on the franchise's realistic championship prospects with Antetokounmpo. These decisions could ultimately influence the superstar's long-term commitment to Milwaukee.

Via Brian Windhorst, Tim Bontemps/ESPN

What core?

dkb964 wrote:What core?

Exactly. Lopez is likely gone... KPJ and GTJ were on minimums and definitely will warrant/have earned a promotion... Not sure if MKE could play them.

No draft picks

"particularly if Damian Lillard returns healthy for the playoffs"

imagine Horst and Doc putting this on a PowerPoint and not laughing their asses off.

These guys are afraid to make the tuff decision so they make no decision at all. Doc wants to run it back because he'd be out of a job otherwise, altho he's been successful in the past getting more out of lesser teams, he might be the only person that could benefit here.

This team really is screwed, they just don't have enough of a squad outside of their main guys. What a disaster it would be if Giannis were to get injured, who do they even have that could step in and keep things afloat, they'd free fall to the bottom.

Its the classic case where both player and organization know what needs to be done but they both don't want to look like the bad guy. It's not like they have any way to improve either. Trade the man

What the **** did I just read? What core? Damian Lillard playing next year? Just GTFO, this is fraud. I feel so bad for Giannis being such a doormat for a team without a plan and without the stones to either go all in or trade Giannis.

And how in the ever living **** is Doc Rivers still their coach?

Milwaukee should be trying to get KD (who’s not worth much right now) and Beal (who is negative value but would actually be a great fit) and putting all remaining draft comp on the table. They have one more shot at this thing and they could actually win it all, and they’d still be able to trade Giannis afterward.

Unfortunately, it appears they’re just going to play a fart of a season and then trade him next year.

NUMBERICA wrote:Milwaukee should be trying to get KD (who’s not worth much right now) and Beal (who is negative value but would actually be a great fit) and putting all remaining draft comp on the table. They have one more shot at this thing and they could actually win it all, and they’d still be able to trade Giannis afterward.

Unfortunately, it appears they’re just going to play a fart of a season and then trade him next year.

Not really possible for them to trade for KD or Beal unless the Suns are taking on Lillard's contract.

But they need to restructure their team and add some more value contracts instead of their supposed "core." Instead of giving Lopez a bag, go get Steven Adams for less $. Schroder, Jones, and Brogdon are decent value guard options, and I would also throw Marcus Smart into the mix to lean into the defensive side. While Kuzma is not terrible for them, he's about their only player outside Giannis that can potentially be traded. Trade Kuzma for a scoring wing like DeRozan (or even a more ball dominant guard like CJ McCollum if that was possible some how), but that's about as high as they can swing for in a trade I think.

We all had the same thought at once: "Core?!?"

scrabbarista wrote:We all had the same thought at once: "Core?!?"

I said “What core?!!” out loud even. Then the first post was literally the same thing.

Future Coach wrote:

NUMBERICA wrote:Milwaukee should be trying to get KD (who’s not worth much right now) and Beal (who is negative value but would actually be a great fit) and putting all remaining draft comp on the table. They have one more shot at this thing and they could actually win it all, and they’d still be able to trade Giannis afterward.

Unfortunately, it appears they’re just going to play a fart of a season and then trade him next year.

Not really possible for them to trade for KD or Beal unless the Suns are taking on Lillard's contract.

I’m sure the Jazz would accommodate for some seconds, Tyler Smith, and Ryan Dunn but we’ll never know because it doesn’t seem the Bucks are trying.