Milwaukee Bucks: Offseason of uncertainty looms large

The Milwaukee Bucks are entering what could be the most crucial offseason in franchise history with plenty of questions to address.

Following another early postseason exit, there are many dire questions surrounding the Milwaukee Bucks heading into the offseason.

The most prominent involves Giannis Antetokounmpo, of course, who is eligible to sign a supermax extension worth north of $200 million. With back-to-back MVP awards, a Defensive Player of the Year, four All-Star nominations, and much more under his belt at just 25-years-old, the Greek Freak is a generational talent.

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Whether Giannis decides to sign that extension or not could rely on the front office’s shoulder and the type of moves they make this offseason. It is clear that Antetokounmpo needs some bolstered support surrounding him, and with owners pledging to spend big, it appears Milwaukee will do their best to keep him happy.

Exactly what kind of moves that might entail remains a mystery as well.

Oklahoma City Thunder point guard Chris Paul appeared to be the most likely candidate given Milwaukee’s desire to upgrade at the position, but they reportedly are not very high on him whatsoever. Paul’s hefty $85 million salary over the next two years is certainly a viable reason for their hesitation, but perhaps some persuasion could change their minds.

If the team is out on Paul entirely, who could be on their radar? It is another question hanging over the franchise like a black cloud this offseason as they look to bring aboard more star-power.

Even looking at some in-house situations, the Bucks will have a handful of rotation players eligible to hit free agency this offseason. Wesley Matthews, Pat Connaughton, and Kyle Korver are three of Milwaukee’s potential eight impending free-agents, all guys who contributed in considerable roles this season. All three will certainly have interest around the league and could depart depending on the circumstances, leaving the team with some vacancies to fill.

There is no genuine idea of what will happen with any of the team’s free-agents aside from Marvin Williams, who retired as soon as the season ended. This predicament only adds to the unpredictability of the Milwaukee Bucks this offseason as they try to puzzle together a championship-caliber roster.

While there are plenty of uncertainties surrounding the Milwaukee Bucks, not everything is up in the air.

The biggest news of them all is that Giannis Antetokounmpo will return to the Milwaukee Bucks to at least play out the final year of his contract, refuting any notion that he would request a trade this offseason. That assurance puts the front office on the clock to get busy this offseason and make their best pitch for the Greek Freak to sign long-term before next season begins.

Head coach Mike Budenholzer will also return despite some questionable calls in this year’s postseason. However, with back-to-back seasons with the best record in the regular season, any talk of firing Bud never seemed legitimate from an organizational standpoint.

With recent reports indicating that the league is targeting December 1st for free agency and a start to next season somewhere between January and February, the clock is ticking for Milwaukee.

This offseason will unquestionably be a nerve-racking one given everything that is at stake given the franchise’s future, and it is up to the Milwaukee Bucks to control their own destiny.