The Milwaukee Bucks have been NBA title contenders, on a minimum of some stage, for the previous seven seasons, courting to their 60-win season in 2018-19. This qualifies as an outsized window within the trendy period, the place repeater taxes and aprons have been put in to make this form of run an actual problem.
However most significantly, they received a championship in 2021 and validated the whole lot and everybody. Having mentioned that, they’ve misplaced steam. They’ve exited within the first spherical of the playoffs in three consecutive years and have not made it previous the second spherical for the reason that title run. They’ve traded their first-round decide or its swap rights for the following six years and traded their second-round choice for the following six years, hampering their capability to restock the roster.
Over the previous 4 years, they’ve paid about $940 million in salaries and luxurious taxes and received one playoff collection. In April, their probabilities had been submarined by Damian Lillard’s devastating torn left Achilles. The Bucks can pay him $54 million subsequent season unsure how a lot he’ll be capable of contribute.
There’s a lot in these three paragraphs. They do not cry out for sustaining the established order. Their franchise participant, Giannis Antetokounmpo, is totally conscious of the scenario however has not taken any motion.
The Bucks really feel as if they’ve come to a crossroads: proceed to construct round Antetokounmpo regardless of their challenges or search for a brand new manner ahead. Here is a have a look at each paths.
— Brian Windhorst
Leap to a bit:
Milwaukee’s choices this summer season
Three trades to construct round Giannis
Giannis to: HOU | TOR | SA | DET | GS
What can the Bucks do that summer season?
Practically eight years in the past, then-Cleveland Cavaliers GM David Griffin made a press release concerning LeBron James that resonates with the Bucks and Antetokounmpo.
“You are mainly charged with the legacy of Babe Ruth, and it is our duty to permit that legacy to develop and evolve,” Griffin advised The Vertical. “So it is virtually like a sacred belief that the child provides you. He is so good, in his personal proper, by himself, that he form of mandates you must be a title contender simply by his presence alone … and should you do not capitalize on the years he has left, then disgrace on us.”
The identical philosophy applies to Bucks GM Jon Horst this offseason.
It could be simple for the Bucks to place Antetokounmpo on the commerce market, particularly in gentle of Lillard’s Achilles damage and consecutive losses within the first spherical. Nonetheless, sources confirmed to ESPN that Milwaukee can be aggressively exploring choices in free company and trades to complement Antetokounmpo.
Because of the Khris Middleton-Kyle Kuzma swap earlier than the February commerce deadline, the Bucks can use the $14.1 million nontax midlevel exception to signal free agent Gary Trent Jr. or a short lived guard alternative for Lillard. Additionally they have the $5.1 million biannual exception accessible. It’s unlikely that Milwaukee can retain free agent Brook Lopez, Bobby Portis and in addition use each exceptions.
The Kuzma deal has additionally given the Bucks flexibility to make use of greater than 100% of the traded participant exception (taking again extra wage) and combination contracts in a commerce.
Pulling off a commerce that impacts the roster presents an issue as a result of 79% of the Bucks salaries are owed to Antetokounmpo, Lillard and Kuzma. The lone sizable contract is Pat Connaughton’s $9.4 million expiring wage. Due to a rule within the CBA, Milwaukee will not be allowed to connect contracts of AJ Inexperienced, Chris Livingston, Andre Jackson Jr. and Tyler Smith to Connaughton and produce again a participant incomes $25 million. To offset that rule, Milwaukee may add Lopez or Portis (if his participant possibility is declined) in a sign-and-trade.
— Bobby Marks
Three trades to construct round Giannis
Milwaukee Bucks get:
Wendell Carter Jr.
Ayo Dosunmu
Jett Howard
Orlando Magic get:
Pat Connaughton
Jalen Smith
Jevon Carter
2031 first-round decide
2032 first-round decide swap (with Milwaukee)
Chicago Bulls get:
Kyle Kuzma
Andre Jackson Jr.
2031 second-round decide
Greater than any group within the league, the Bucks needs to be able to become involved if a few of these golf equipment start trimming wage and parting methods with gifted gamers. One that will be an ideal match, notably if the Bucks do not convey again Lopez: Kristaps Porzingis from Boston. It is troublesome to think about the groups understanding a deal, however remember that Jrue Vacation discovered his option to Boston after Milwaukee dealt him to the Portland Path Blazers initially.
With reference to the proposed deal above, this is able to clearly be fairly a big gamble to get out from beneath the Kuzma deal, on condition that it might basically empty Milwaukee’s draft cabinet. Nevertheless it additionally solutions some rapid questions for the Bucks by way of who holds down Lillard’s spot whereas he rehabs and who replaces the growing older, free agent Lopez within the center. Milwaukee’s protection improves — maybe significantly — with these strikes, making the membership youthful and giving it extra upside.
Chicago, more likely to hand ball handler Josh Giddey an enormous deal this summer season, could be high-quality getting a return for Dosunmu as his deal will get nearer to winding down. And Orlando components methods with Carter (handing the reins to Goga Bitadze) however will get again some draft capital after paying handsomely, to the tune of 4 first-rounders and a swap, to accumulate Desmond Bane from Memphis earlier this week.
— Chris Herring
Milwaukee Bucks get:
Cameron Johnson
Brooklyn Nets get:
Kyle Kuzma
2031 first-round decide
2032 first-round decide swap
Given the Bucks’ extraordinarily restricted sources, who’s the most effective present participant they might conceivably add to assist Giannis in a win-now posture? Johnson has by no means been an All-Star, however he is made immense strides in Brooklyn. At all times an amazing shooter (39% profession on 3-pointers), he has develop into an completed multi-level scorer who may attempt to fill the Middleton-shaped gap on Milwaukee’s perimeter.
Would the Nets do that deal? It is a pretty gentle return for buying and selling Johnson — a sexy commerce goal across the league — whereas taking again Kuzma’s contract. However the Bucks’ unprotected 2031 and 2032 picks could be so engaging that Brooklyn would go for it. Antetokounmpo can be pushing 37 years previous at that time and maybe gone from Milwaukee totally. The Nets may additionally worth holding a few of Milwaukee’s draft capital for a future situation by which they attempt to commerce for Antetokounmpo and would be capable of provide the Bucks their picks again.
— Zach Kram
Milwaukee Bucks will get:
Bradley Beal
Royce O’Neale
2025 first-round decide (No. 29)
Phoenix Suns get:
Pat Connaughton
Damian Lillard
On paper, there’s logic to a swap of Beal for Lillard. The Bucks had been linked to Beal in the course of the season, when it might have meant constructing a bundle across the now-departed Middleton and getting nothing out of Lillard’s $54 million wage whereas he recovers from Achilles surgical procedure may not be tenable.
Beal, who would wish to waive his no-trade clause to make the deal work, may match higher in Milwaukee than he has with the Suns, getting extra alternatives to deal with the ball and spacing the ground for Antetokounmpo in a manner Lillard wasn’t as comfy doing. The Bucks additionally win the undercard right here, including wing depth with O’Neale in a swap that is essential to keep away from hard-capping Phoenix on the decrease luxurious tax apron and getting a late first-rounder to make use of upgrading the remainder of the roster.
If the Suns are prepared to maneuver on from Beal, ready for Lillard’s return may not appear so dangerous. And if he is ready to return at one thing near his All-Star kind at age 35, Lillard can be a greater match alongside Devin Booker within the Phoenix backcourt. Nonetheless, it is unlikely the 2 sides will agree on how far more priceless Lillard is whereas injured than Beal.
— Kevin Pelton
5 trades for Giannis
Houston Rockets get:
Giannis Antetokounmpo
Pat Connaughton
Milwaukee Bucks get:
Alperen Sengun
Cam Whitmore
Reed Sheppard
Jock Landale
2025 first-round decide (No. 10)
2027 first-round decide (by way of Phoenix)
2028 first-round decide
Greater than every other membership that held home-court benefit to start the playoffs, No. 2-seeded Houston desperately wants extra offense. Between their backside 5 3-point try fee and Jalen Inexperienced’s inconsistency as a scorer — he exploded for 38 factors in Recreation 2 in opposition to the Warriors however scored 12 factors or fewer within the different six contests throughout that first-round matchup — the Rockets must manufacture simpler scores.
Sure, Sengun is an All-Star who will be the hub of a good offense, and he has a better ceiling as he continues to enhance. However Antetokounmpo, a two-time league MVP in his prime, is elite sufficient to be the No. 1 possibility for any membership’s offensive assault.
This would possibly fall proper inside a candy spot, relying on the place your fandom lies. Should you’re a Rockets fan, you doubtless hate the considered parting with Sengun. However the want for an enormous because the offensive hub — even one with the playmaking chops of Sengun — lessens significantly if Giannis joins the roster.
Past that, should you had to decide on one younger star to incorporate between Sengun and two-way standout Amen Thompson, Sengun could be the popular selection, if solely due to their contracts. Along with his extension starting this coming season, Sengun is because of earn virtually $34 million in 2025-26, whereas Thompson will get rather less than $10 million.
That may give the Rockets extra flexibility in remaking the roster (one with Thompson, Fred VanVleet, Inexperienced, Dillon Brooks, Jabari Smith Jr., Tari Eason and others) round Giannis over the following couple years.
— Herring
Toronto Raptors get:
Giannis Antetokounmpo
Milwaukee Bucks get:
Scottie Barnes
Gradey Dick
Ochai Agbaji
2025 first-round decide (No. 9)
2029 first-round decide
2031 first-round decide
Antetokounmpo and Raptors president Masai Ujiri go manner again, and Ujiri has by no means been shy about taking huge swings for stars. Toronto’s latest strikes, together with buying and selling for and increasing Brandon Ingram, counsel Ujiri desires to leap again into rivalry sooner reasonably than later — and in a depleted Japanese Convention discipline, including Giannis may make that occur.
Given his youth and upside, Toronto’s Barnes could possibly be essentially the most engaging present participant accessible to the Bucks in a commerce. That is essential as a result of the Bucks owe so many future picks to different groups that they haven’t any incentive to tank.
In 2023, the Suns traded Mikal Bridges, Cam Johnson, Jae Crowder, 4 first-round picks and one swap to Brooklyn for Kevin Durant. That is the mannequin from which we’re constructing this commerce: one rising star (Barnes), one younger shooter with potential (Dick), a 3rd wing and an analogous — however lesser, as a result of Barnes is extra completed than Bridges — assortment of picks that despatched Durant to Phoenix.
With this deal, the Raptors would enhance by slotting Antetokounmpo into Barnes’ spot of their rotation, whereas the Bucks would be capable of begin constructing a younger core of Barnes, Dick and the No. 9 decide on this yr’s draft. The opposite picks headed to Milwaukee can be concentrated towards the tip of the utmost seven-year buying and selling window, so Milwaukee would not must depend on picks from a group led by Giannis in his prime, which might be extra more likely to come on the finish of the primary spherical.
— Kram
San Antonio Spurs get:
Giannis Antetokounmpo
Milwaukee Bucks get:
Harrison Barnes
Keldon Johnson
Jeremy Sochan
2025 first-round decide (No. 2)
2026 first-round decide (higher of Atlanta and San Antonio)
2028 first-round decide (higher of Boston and San Antonio)
2030 first-round decide (higher of Dallas, Minnesota and San Antonio)
2031 first-round swap (Milwaukee’s for higher of Sacramento’s and San Antonio)
Earlier than lacking the ultimate third of final season as a consequence of deep vein thrombosis, Victor Wembanyama had established himself as a top-10 participant at age 21. Pairing him with an All-NBA first-team decide in his prime would give San Antonio a core adequate to contend now, and the match between Wembanyama — who prefers to play on the perimeter — and Antetokounmpo’s energy recreation is right.
I take into account this because the NBA model of an NFL group loading up round a star quarterback on a rookie deal, benefiting from his low-cost wage so as to add premier expertise.
Even after dealing for De’Aaron Fox, the Spurs are well-positioned to construct an Antetokounmpo provide round picks based mostly on the mixture of transferring as much as No. 2 within the lottery and future swaps. As an alternative of counting on San Antonio picks more likely to come on the finish of the spherical, the Bucks would be capable of guess on quite a lot of groups bottoming out.
Specifically, the 2030 first-rounder appears to be like particularly priceless as a result of it is the most effective of three groups — albeit with top-one safety on the swap with the Timberwolves. Milwaukee additionally will get a latest lottery decide in Sochan and gamers who may hold the group aggressive.
— Pelton
Detroit Pistons get:
Giannis Antetokounmpo
Milwaukee Bucks get:
Tobias Harris
Jaden Ivey
Isaiah Stewart
2027 first-round decide
2029 first-round decide
2031 first-round decide
With the Cavaliers and Celtics up in opposition to the restrictive second apron and certain needing to chop wage (and Boston with out the rehabbing Jayson Tatum), and the Knicks present process modifications of their very own, the contending class of the East is as open as it has been shortly. The Pistons, making their first playoff look in six years, regarded evenly matched with New York in a extremely aggressive first spherical. Including a participant of Antetokounmpo’s ilk would velocity up the timeline but additionally give All-NBA guard Cade Cunningham and the Pistons an actual shot within the East sooner reasonably than later.
Milwaukee would possibly hesitate in making a deal inside its division and would possibly in the end wish to swing larger than this. However Ivey, nonetheless simply 23 and coming off a season that was much more environment friendly than his first two, has proven actual, palpable flashes. Stewart is 24, and is a rugged rebounder able to larger minutes than what he at the moment receives alongside fellow teenager Jalen Duren.
And the veteran Harris, nonetheless simply 32, was strong for the Pistons — notably on protection — all through Detroit’s playoff run. It could be sufficient for the Bucks to stay aggressive, with an opportunity for Ivey to realize stardom as he enters his prime.
— Herring
Golden State Warriors get:
Giannis Antetokounmpo
Los Angeles Lakers get:
Draymond Inexperienced
Daniel Gafford
Dallas Mavericks get:
Gabe Vincent
2031 first-round decide (by way of L.A. Lakers)
2025 second-round decide (No. 41)
Milwaukee Bucks get:
Austin Reaves
Brandin Podziemski
Jonathan Kuminga (by way of sign-and-trade)
Trayce Jackson-Davis
Maxi Kleber
2029 first-round decide (by way of Warriors)
2031 first-round decide (by way of Golden State)
2030 first-round swap (with L.A. Lakers)
The Warriors are virtually at all times within the combine for stars, and after buying and selling for Jimmy Butler III in February, they might take a good larger swing this summer season to maximise the rest of Stephen Curry’s prolonged prime. If Antetokounmpo requests a commerce to Golden State, the Warriors may merely reroute Butler, whose wage is an ideal match. However the Warriors may additionally construct an identical bundle round Inexperienced and a bunch of younger gamers, so let’s get really wild with a blockbuster four-team proposal.
The Warriors would sacrifice depth to assemble a star-studded huge three of Curry, Antetokounmpo and Butler. The Lakers would steadiness their roster by turning Reaves into Inexperienced — who has been concerned in Lakers rumors up to now — and Gafford, enhancing their protection and including a rim-running middle who’s a confirmed match with Luka Doncic. The Mavericks would commerce from a place of energy (middle) so as to add a future first and level guard assist throughout Kyrie Irving’s absence. And the Bucks would seize an assortment of promising younger gamers and future picks in return for his or her star.
— Kram
