Milwaukee Bucks: 3 biggest needs to address this offseason

3 biggest needs the Milwaukee Bucks need to address this offseason – Playmaking

Among the flurry of rumors surrounding the Bucks in light of their playoff exit, addressing their need for playmakers and skilled ball-handlers stands atop the list.

Another year, another postseason full of offensive struggles for starting point guard Eric Bledsoe. Bledsoe finished his playoff run averaging 11.7 points on .388/.250/.808 shooting splits, along with 5.9 assists and 4.6 rebounds.

It’s one thing for Bledsoe’s shooting deficiencies to rear their ugly head once again, but his inability to take defenders off the dribble and finish at the basket the deeper the Bucks have gone on in the playoffs has totally negated his offensive presence, further sending the Bucks’ offense into a state of disrepair.

It only has reinforced the skepticism surrounding Bledsoe’s fit alongside another non-shooter in Antetokounmpo. And given recent reports about Bledsoe’s expendability in the Bucks’ foundation, it seems that the Bucks recognize that judgment themselves.

Whether the Bucks are successful in upgrading on Bledsoe this offseason, one player alone isn’t enough to fix how easily the Bucks’ offense can be contained in the postseason and that starts with Antetokounmpo on down.

There are certainly ways that the Bucks can make things easier internally with Antetokounmpo and Khris Middleton taking the offensive reins. But having a number of playmakers on the floor like they did over the course of the 2018-19 season is what made their offense so formidable in the first place. A read-and-react offensive system such as the one the Bucks employ under Budenholzer needs players who can both read-and-react, even in the face of defensive pressure.

Upgrading on Bledsoe will surely be the talk of the offseason, but he alone isn’t holding the Bucks back in terms of being make things run smoothly in the biggest moments.