Milwaukee Bucks may still benefit from shifting Eastern Conference landscape
By Adam McGee
As the Milwaukee Bucks prepare for an offseason of uncertainty, they’re not alone in facing such challenges in the Eastern Conference.
Since the Milwaukee Bucks’ season wrapped up with an Eastern Conference Finals defeat, the focus surrounding the team has, understandably, shifted immediately to the offseason.
With three starters and two high profile reserves potentially set to hit the open market, the Bucks certainly face a challenge if they’re retain the team that delivered such an excellent and promising season this year.
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What’s important not to lose in those discussions, though, is the fact the Bucks aren’t alone in that regard.
The Eastern Conference’s top-4 teams are also facing major uncertainty in the weeks ahead, and in comparison, Milwaukee may even have the upper hand.
As other fanbases are forced to wait nervously as the rumor mill starts to turn, the Bucks at least have the reassurance of having had most of their key players publicly state their desire to return to the team next season.
The Toronto Raptors have had no such indication from Kawhi Leonard, although logic would suggest the chances of him remaining in Canada improve by the day considering the Raptors’ current 2-1 Finals lead.
The Boston Celtics may once have gotten what seemed like a cast iron commitment from Kyrie Irving, but he has since walked that back many times over the course of the season, creating a very uncomfortable wait for Danny Ainge and Co.
Meanwhile, in Philadelphia, the futures of Jimmy Butler and Tobias Harris are by no means certain either. Do both players want to come back? Do the Sixers want both to come back or would they rather explore other options that could make for a better long term fit?
A stark reminder of just how the Eastern Conference could change this summer arrived on Thursday, with the first notable trade of the summer period.
The Brooklyn Nets sent Allen Crabbe, the 17th pick in this year’s draft, and a 2020 lottery protected first to the Atlanta Hawks, in exchange for Taurean Prince and a 2021 second round pick. There’s a case to be made that Prince makes for a meaningful upgrade over Crabbe, but that will likely just serve as a bonus for Brooklyn.
The clear intent of this deal was to open up cap space in an attempt to make a major splash over the next month or so. According to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN, Brooklyn’s current dream is a lofty one, but it isn’t entirely out of the realm of possibility at present:
"“Boston guard Kyrie Irving — who is expected to become a free agent — and Brooklyn have a strong mutual interest, league sources told ESPN. The Nets have $46 million in salary-cap space to sign two maximum-contract free agents. Brooklyn’s dream scenario is to lure Irving and Golden State’s Kevin Durant to the franchise, league sources said.”"
Brooklyn landing both Irving and Durant would lead to the emergence of an all new threat at the top of the East, but would do so while dealing a major blow to the Celtics.
To continue using the Nets as an example, even if they were to only sign Irving of that two, it would create another very good team, but perhaps while still leaving Brooklyn a tier below the Bucks, and forcing Boston into joining that same grouping.
The Knicks are also hoping to land a major free agent or two, making them equally capable of taking a significant step forward while also detracting from some of Milwaukee’s current, biggest rivals.
The prospect of an Anthony Davis trade also acts as a significant variable in the shape of next year’s Eastern Conference, illustrating just how many moving pieces there are at present.
Next. Milwaukee Bucks: Best option remains retaining key free agents. dark
If the Bucks can do their part in bringing back their core players, they’re assured to be good. In an Eastern Conference that could be drastically changed again by that point, though, it’s not impossible that they can even come out of the summer comparatively better off than they were this season.