Previous Threads:
Spoiler:
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.
