Post-Mortem: 2021-22 Milwaukee Bucks

[Myth]

Really just need Middleton back. I mean he’s a big time scorer for them

This. Celtics were able to pack the paint without him and that ultimately may have been the difference.

[JujitsuFlip]

Fire Bud, offense and defense was trash.

[MrGoat]

The main question is Bud. He was on the verge of being fired last year had Durant just stepped an inch or two back and he may have just re heated his seat. The Middleton injury hurt, but Middleton isn't Giannis and Boston was missing Williams. They may need to do a minor shake up to avoid the treadmill

[ken6199]

https://www.nba.com/stats/players/isolation/?sort=PPP&dir=1&SeasonType=Regular%20Season&TypeGrouping=defensive&PerMode=Totals&CF=POSS*GE*75
https://www.nba.com/stats/players/isolation/?sort=FG_PCT&dir=1&SeasonType=Regular%20Season&TypeGrouping=defensive&PerMode=Totals&CF=POSS*GE*75

One interesting stat. Kris Middleton, while widely considered as an elite though very unathletic defender, ranks bottom 3 in ISO against in 21-22 regular seson. He is amongst the players like Tyler Herro, Duncan Robinson, Julius Randle.

What's up with his ISO defense?

[R-DAWG]

Injury fortune has always been important in winning titles, and it's becoming even more important recently. The Bucks benefitted from this last year and were hurt by it this year. That doesn't mean last year's title wasn't legit, or that this year's won't be legit just because no one beat a fully healthy Bucks team. At this point that's just the way things are.

At this point the challenge is keeping credible depth as the core gets older and more expensive (losing Tucker over finances hurt). In a year or two as Holiday and eventually Middleton drop off they'll have bigger problems as I don't see how they bring in new talent to cover for that.

This offseason the simple stay the course with moves around the edges offseason is the clear plan, hopefully with owners willing to pay some more luxury tax money during the short time they have before falling away from short-list title contender status.

I don't think it's fair to criticize the Bucks ownership for not spending money. They did have the 5th highest payroll in the league and paid close to $60MM in luxury tax. But I think it's fair to look at HOW they spent money. They finished the season with Serge Ibaka, Grayson Allen and George Hill making a combined $17.7MM. Had they instead kept PJ Tucker for the $7MM Miami is paying him, and instead of acquiring Grayson Allen waited for Donte DeVenchenzio to get back healthy, they could have used the full taxpyer MLE and saved about $400k in payroll + tax payments in the process. George Hill gave the Bucks the kind of production you get out of minimum slots and Ibaka was non factor.

Your point about the window being tied to Holiday (who turns 32 next month)/Middleton (who turns 31 this summer) is well taken, so Milwaukee needs to continue be all-in around Giannis and this core. The window is open now and it might not be for much longer. And right now run out a healthy Giannis, Middelton, Holiday and Brook Lopez and you have a shot against anyone. But will Giannis want to stay around in a few years when these guys are old and the Pelicans control all of Milwaukee's draft capital?

It's important to resign both Bobby Portis and Pat Connington - but are good bench players and the Bucks can't replace them if they were to leave.

The problem position is neither Grayson Allen or Connington are starting caliber shooting guards (and they are redundant off the bench as neither is big enough to play SF or a good enough ballhandler to be the backup PG). George Hill also has more value as an expiring contract. Allen's 2 year, mid level deal likely can be flipped - i get his attitude is an issue but he's a young guy coming off a season where he shot 40% from 3 on a contract that many teams can absorb. So I would be looking to see what the combination of Allen/Hill could bring back in a trade - which allows you to bring back about $16.7MM in salary - potentially attaching a 2022 1st. The real target would be to get a 3 and D wing, although most teams in the league are looking for the same thing. Depending on how much ownership is willing to spend, Serge Ibaka could be signed and traded for outgoing salary purposes.

Would Evan Fournier from the Knicks be a fit for Allen/Ibaka in a sign and trade while Milwaukee keeps their 2022 pick? Is the 2022 pick enough to grab Gary Trent Jr from the Raptors or Norm Powell from the Clippers?

They also need to hit with the taxpyer mid level and get someone who gives you above minimum level production. The last 2 years signing DJ Augustine and George Hill haven't worked out - but Bobby Portis on the bi-annual sure did.

You really need 8 guys you trust in playoff games and the Bucks currently have 6 in the Big 3 plus Lopez, Connington and Portis. The taxpayer mid level should add a 7th guy to this mix. And if they can utilize the movable contracts and limited draft assets they have to add an 8th guy they will be right back in the thick of things next season.

[LightTheBeam]

This team needs to get some of those ring chasing 3/4s that are so important in today's NBA. Maybe even another go to scorer off the bench although Middleton would have definitely helped that a ton.

Id look to go more modern and move on from Brook Lopez.

[zimpy27]

I think they have to do some thing this offseason to refresh a bit. I'd consider moving Middleton.

[otmshank1]

Do people really think PJ Tucker would have made a difference in this series? Y’all are delusional

[tonyreyes123]

Bucks have peaked as is tbh. Fire Bud and try to go after Dame

[hugepatsfan]

What levels are they willing to push payroll to?

Bobby Portis has a player option for $4.6M. Connaughton has a player option for $5.7M. I could see either of them garnering full MLE offers of $10.3M if they opt out. If MIL gave both of them that (using bird rights) you're looking at $10.3M in payroll increase.

Spotrac has them at $160.3M right now. If Portis and PatC get their raises, that goes up to $170.6M. Their 1st rounder will be $2.5M. A tax payers MLE would be $6.3M. So that brings you up to $179.4M. That's about $30M into the luxury tax. And some are suggesting taking more money back in a Hill/Allen trade.

[shotsquatch]

If it ain't broke, don't fix it. Bucks sleepwalked to the 2nd seed, then took a tough series to seven games while missing their second best offensive player.

Injuries ended their season. It happens. I'll be rooting for Giannis again next year.

[celtxman]

Bucks have peaked as is tbh. Fire Bud and try to go after Dame

That would be scary, but is there a realistic way to get Lillard?
Bring the band back, Middleton is healthy and a couple of tweaks and they stay in the championship hunt.

[vinnymate]

Do people really think PJ Tucker would have made a difference in this series? Y’all are delusional

Yeh for sure.

Toughness, defense, leadership, coaching and efficient shooting. PJ Tucker is shooting 48% from 3 in the playoffs this year. Based on how the Bucks shot from 3 in the series, he would of been very useful.

He would of allowed you guys to switch more over playing the limited drop defense. Even if Bud was resistant to doing it, I'm sure PJ Tucker would of been in his ear about it.

[radeonboy]

Bud was so close to getting fired last year. He got saved by Giannis. But Bud needs to go.

[Pachinko_]

We're good, run it back.

I would entertain the thought of a coaching change but the coaching rotation in the NBA seems closed and locked with the same retreads. The Top 3 players in the world are international, but for some reason the NBA thinks that top coaches can only come from the 4% of the global population that is the USA. It's a boys club, they're all friends of friends.

One day some organisation will see the light and understand that Euro coaches are simply better, a massive unexplored mine. When that happens there will be another gold rush in this copycat league. First 3-4 teams will get the best.

Until then stick with Bud or don't stick with Bud, whatever.

[Pachinko_]

Do people really think PJ Tucker would have made a difference in this series? Y’all are delusional

Yeh for sure.

Toughness, defense, leadership, coaching and efficient shooting. PJ Tucker is shooting 48% from 3 in the playoffs this year. Based on how the Bucks shot from 3 in the series, he would of been very useful.

He would of allowed you guys to switch more over playing the limited drop defense. Even if Bud was resistant to doing it, I'm sure PJ Tucker would of been in his ear about it.

Have you ever seen Tucker create his own 3 point shot or take a 3 when not open? That is why the Bucks shot like that in this series, because they can't do that. Neither can PJ. If he's gonna stand in the corner waiting to chuck a wide open 3 we already got a bunch of guys who can do that.

[brettski]

I think the Bucks need a new coach or a change in assistant coaches.

Head coach - who is out there to replace Bud with that will 100% improve them???

Assistant coaches - assuming no one stands out for head coach then ones that maybe can drum into Bud that he needs to change things up. I think last year Tucker's biggest value was he called out the coach when the system needed tweaking in the playoffs. Need a few vocal elder statement types that will rock the boat and light a fire under players and coaches alike.

Hopefully the ring chaser types that went to LA and Brooklyn see how that worked out and pick the real contenders next year.

[giberish]

Do people really think PJ Tucker would have made a difference in this series? Y’all are delusional

Yeh for sure.

Toughness, defense, leadership, coaching and efficient shooting. PJ Tucker is shooting 48% from 3 in the playoffs this year. Based on how the Bucks shot from 3 in the series, he would of been very useful.

He would of allowed you guys to switch more over playing the limited drop defense. Even if Bud was resistant to doing it, I'm sure PJ Tucker would of been in his ear about it.

Have you ever seen Tucker create his own 3 point shot or take a 3 when not open? That is why the Bucks shot like that in this series, because they can't do that. Neither can PJ. If he's gonna stand in the corner waiting to chuck a wide open 3 we already got a bunch of guys who can do that.

He would have been an extra defensive option on Tatum, rather than running minutes with Hill on Tatum. Obviously he doesn't help cover for Middleton's missing offense-creation.

[Pachinko_]

He would have been an extra defensive option on Tatum, rather than running minutes with Hill on Tatum. Obviously he doesn't help cover for Middleton's missing offense-creation.

He probably wouldn't even play much.
The best defensive option for Tatum is always Middleton for a variety of reasons, but he was out.
PJ started for us last year by accident when Divicenco went down and PJ was the only guy we had left who looked like a shooting guard (if you squint hard enough)
After that we got a couple of actual shooting guards and we let him go. Between Giannis/Portis/Khris we never really had minutes for another forward, before Divicenzo went down PJ was like 9th or 10th in minutes or something like that. Miami is different, PJ fits much better there and happy for him that he got paid and playing well for them.

What I'm trying to say is: we could've kept him, but I'm fairly certain Bud wouldn't play him. Finishing last year he wanted to add point guards and shooting guards, thats where the big roster holes were

[BaffLer]

Just run it back. Middleton was the missing piece for the series.

Sure, you can fire Bud, but who's available? Just keep him, pray for health, and make another run at a title.