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Post Mortem #17 - Milwaukee Bucks

Posted: Wed Apr 30, 2025 1:06 am
by Clav
In dramatic fashion we get our 17th team eliminated, the Milwaukee Bucks, losing 1-4 to Indiana in the EC First Round.

Previous Threads:
Spoiler:
viewtopic.php?f=6&t=2446972 = #1 Jazz
viewtopic.php?f=6&t=2446975 = #2 Pelicans
viewtopic.php?f=6&t=2448649 = #3 Wizards
viewtopic.php?f=6&t=2448862 = #4 Hornets
viewtopic.php?f=6&t=2449618 = #5 Nets
viewtopic.php?f=6&t=2450014 = #6 76ers
viewtopic.php?f=6&t=2450530 = #7 Raptors
viewtopic.php?f=6&t=2451523 = #8 Spurs
viewtopic.php?f=6&t=2451526 = #9 Trail Blazers
viewtopic.php?f=6&t=2452315 = #10 Suns
viewtopic.php?f=6&t=2453731 = #11 Bulls
viewtopic.php?f=6&t=2453839 = #12 Kings
viewtopic.php?f=6&t=2454280 = #13 Hawks
viewtopic.php?f=6&t=2454319 = #14 Mavericks
viewtopic.php?f=6&t=2455816 = #15 Grizzlies
viewtopic.php?f=6&t=2456284 = #16 Heat



Time of death: April 19, 2025
Record at elimination: 48-34 [1-4 in playoffs]
Head coach: Doc Rivers

Contract summary:
https://www.spotrac.com/nba/milwaukee-bucks/yearly

Giannis –3yr/175M remain (final year 62M PO)
Dame – 2yr/110M remain (final year 58M PO) (injured, Achillies)
Kuzma - extension eligible, or 2yr/42M remain
Brook Lopez – UFA
Bobby Portis – 13M PO
Pat Connaughton – 9M PO
Kevin Porter Jr – 2.5M PO
Jericho Sims – UFA
Gary Trent Jr – UFA
Taurean Prince - UFA

Rookie Scale/minimums (varies on 2-4 years remaining):
AJ Green - extension eligible or 2.3M non-guaranteed 1-yr
Andre Jackson Jr - extension eligible or 2yr/5M non-guaranteed
Chris Livingston – extension eligible, or 2yr/5M
Tyler Smith – 3yr remain
Ryan Rollins - RFA

TW
Jamaree Bouyea
Pete Nance
Stanley Umude

Dead-cap – None this season, or future.

25-26 Capspace – 1st apron team, extensions and free agents to decide.

PICKS for 2025 draft:
DET 2nd


A SMALL SEASON REVIEW:
https://www.espn.com/nba/team/schedule/_/name/mil/seasontype/2

Giannis and company fought valiantly but the Pacers just have too many offensive options, losing 1-4 in round one. It was a difficult matchup to begin with, lots of physical play from both midwestern teams. The Bucks with a healthy Middleton and Dame could’ve won, I think, yeah, it’s possible. Yet…the former was hobbled by injuries and traded for Kuzma, the latter had a serious injury in game 4, closing his 2025 season prematurely. Giannis and Gary Trent Jr. had impressive Game 5's, but also, GTJ turned the ball over in the final seconds leading to a series loss.

Lillard’s Achilles injury feels like a fulcrum for this franchise. I have to add, this is really unfortunate as a fan of Giannis and Dame alike – this pairing had potential to make waves. Milwaukee put a lot into acquiring Holiday from NOLA, and that paid off with a sweet title run. However the picks from that deal are still being accounted for and Lillard will have a long recovery in store – meaning that 25-26 will be a Bucks squad with Giannis hard-carrying a non-perfect roster unless Milwaukee makes a huge trade.

Playoffs next seson, that’s a possibility still if Milwaukee keeps Giannis, but the years go by fast, you know what I’m saying? Keeping it all together, maybe using a little cap from not signing Lopez at 25M, this team can be in the EC playoffs. It will take a heroic effort to win the Finals, and it just seems unlikely. Lillard's huge cap hit will weigh down the team's ceiling significantly as he recovers.

On the bright side, there are ways for the Bucks to bring in younger talent with expiring contracts and a handful of UFAs that could be parted with. I'm not sure that's the best play for contention but it could very well pay dividends in a reset year.

So, the big question is – trade the loyal star for a premium package ? Trade Dame to a tanking team and hard-reset roster if at all possible ? Trade pieces like Portis and Kuzma for more depth even if lower ceiling ? There’s not an easy road here. Which one will Milwaukee choose ? They have one second rounder to add to the roster and loads of questions to answer about the roster and coach.

Re: Post Mortem #17 - Milwaukee Bucks

Posted: Wed Apr 30, 2025 1:09 am
by California Gold
Giannis is going elsewhere. Possibly to LA.

Re: Post Mortem #17 - Milwaukee Bucks

Posted: Wed Apr 30, 2025 1:10 am
by CharityStripe34
Glad it took Doc 4 games to play his best lineups.

Sent from my Pixel 8 Pro using RealGM mobile app

Re: Post Mortem #17 - Milwaukee Bucks

Posted: Wed Apr 30, 2025 1:11 am
by Walmart
Fire Doc regardless if they rebuild. Then sure shop Lillard's contract around and try to buy someone low on a bad team like RJ Barrett. Then if they can't get anyone to bite, they have to move on.

Re: Post Mortem #17 - Milwaukee Bucks

Posted: Wed Apr 30, 2025 1:14 am
by DusterBuster
Walmart wrote:Fire Doc regardless if they rebuild. Then sure shop Lillard's contract around and try to buy someone low on a bad team like RJ Barrett. Then if they can't get anyone to bite, they have to move on.


No one is touching that Lillard contract. It’s now near Beal level toxic until it’s in the final year.

Re: Post Mortem #17 - Milwaukee Bucks

Posted: Wed Apr 30, 2025 1:14 am
by MartyConlonOnTheRun
As a bucks fan, Giannis is willing to come back as a point center and putting up crazy stats on a scrappy young team is the best case scenario.

second best is getting a top 3 pick and completely blowing it up. no to compete with some random second tier stars

Re: Post Mortem #17 - Milwaukee Bucks

Posted: Wed Apr 30, 2025 1:15 am
by DusterBuster
CharityStripe34 wrote:Glad it took Doc 4 games to play his best lineups.

Sent from my Pixel 8 Pro using RealGM mobile app


Insane he plays Kuzma that much all series. One bad game, ok… after another consecutive bad game… sit his ass. Giving him 4 games starting and big minutes is stupid. Doc is such a bad coach.

Re: Post Mortem #17 - Milwaukee Bucks

Posted: Wed Apr 30, 2025 1:19 am
by Johnny Tomala
Change, change, worse than expected, declining

Re: Post Mortem #17 - Milwaukee Bucks

Posted: Wed Apr 30, 2025 1:23 am
by Yoshun
You get these threads out quick.

Re: Post Mortem #17 - Milwaukee Bucks

Posted: Wed Apr 30, 2025 1:49 am
by Marvin Martian
While it makes sense logically to trade Giannis, I think Giannis puts up ridiculous MVP numbers in a lost season next year

Re: Post Mortem #17 - Milwaukee Bucks

Posted: Wed Apr 30, 2025 1:54 am
by SlimShady83
Time for Giannis to team up with Luka

Re: Post Mortem #17 - Milwaukee Bucks

Posted: Wed Apr 30, 2025 1:56 am
by SlimShady83
Yoshun wrote:You get these threads out quick.

He already has them up, just needs to copy/paste I bet he has the Magic/Lakers ready next :lol:
and hopefully soon to be Pistons

Re: Post Mortem #17 - Milwaukee Bucks

Posted: Wed Apr 30, 2025 2:04 am
by Clav
SlimShady83 wrote:
Yoshun wrote:You get these threads out quick.

He already has them up, just needs to copy/paste I bet he has the Magic/Lakers ready next :lol:
and hopefully soon to be Pistons



yapp. used to write on a deadline, if I'm on, I got it locked and loaded to post.


I try not to have a life during this time of year, for better or worse 8-)

Re: Post Mortem #17 - Milwaukee Bucks

Posted: Wed Apr 30, 2025 2:17 am
by littlerock2277
Don’t worry bucks fans, raptors will get a top 3 pick this year and trade that pick with Barnes for gianass. Time for a rebuild, get the best package for picks and young players.

Re: Post Mortem #17 - Milwaukee Bucks

Posted: Wed Apr 30, 2025 2:25 am
by Nuntius
Fire the coach. From a cannon.

Re: Post Mortem #17 - Milwaukee Bucks

Posted: Wed Apr 30, 2025 2:27 am
by GiannisAnte34
littlerock2277 wrote:Don’t worry bucks fans, raptors will get a top 3 pick this year and trade that pick with Barnes for gianass. Time for a rebuild, get the best package for picks and young players.


We will take Flagg + Barnes but anything less probably not

Re: Post Mortem #17 - Milwaukee Bucks

Posted: Wed Apr 30, 2025 2:27 am
by Mk0
It'd be all kinds of hilarious for the Bucks to go full rebuild and force Doc to quit instead of firing him.

Re: Post Mortem #17 - Milwaukee Bucks

Posted: Wed Apr 30, 2025 2:32 am
by Karate Diop
GiannisAnte34 wrote:
littlerock2277 wrote:Don’t worry bucks fans, raptors will get a top 3 pick this year and trade that pick with Barnes for gianass. Time for a rebuild, get the best package for picks and young players.


We will take Flagg + Barnes but anything less probably not


Bucks aren't in the driver's seat, they might have to settle for 50 cents on the dollar if / when Giannis asks out...

Re: Post Mortem #17 - Milwaukee Bucks

Posted: Wed Apr 30, 2025 2:41 am
by Nuntius
Karate Diop wrote:
GiannisAnte34 wrote:
littlerock2277 wrote:Don’t worry bucks fans, raptors will get a top 3 pick this year and trade that pick with Barnes for gianass. Time for a rebuild, get the best package for picks and young players.


We will take Flagg + Barnes but anything less probably not


Bucks aren't in the driver's seat, they might have to settle for 50 cents on the dollar if / when Giannis asks out...


Giannis isn't asking out.

Re: Post Mortem #17 - Milwaukee Bucks

Posted: Wed Apr 30, 2025 2:46 am
by xxSnEaKyPxx
Karate Diop wrote:
GiannisAnte34 wrote:
littlerock2277 wrote:Don’t worry bucks fans, raptors will get a top 3 pick this year and trade that pick with Barnes for gianass. Time for a rebuild, get the best package for picks and young players.


We will take Flagg + Barnes but anything less probably not


Bucks aren't in the driver's seat, they might have to settle for 50 cents on the dollar if / when Giannis asks out...

Na, that doesn’t apply to superstars.

If he asked out, which I don’t think he does, but if he did, it would be a massive bidding war for him. No one is going to try to steal him while other teams are bidding more.