Every single move that the Milwaukee Bucks have made over the past several years has revolved around winning an NBA championship.
To narrow things down, this past year has been an eventful one as the clock seemed to be ticking on the Bucks for many different reasons. After consecutive letdowns in the postseason, 2020-21 was the season that this team needed to break the spell and win it all, which they ultimately did, having rewritten the script. The front office made a slew of moves over the past year to help the franchise reach this glory, but three stand out above the others. With that being said, let us take a look at three decisions made over the past year that helped the Bucks become world champions.
Decisions that helped the Milwaukee Bucks win 2021 NBA title: No. 3 – Trading for P.J. Tucker
Milwaukee’s recent history of mid-season acquisitions has not been too appealing, most notably because of the Nikola Mirotic deal. However, the Bucks looked like they had struck gold when they pulled the trigger on a deal for defensive ace P.J. Tucker back in March. Several contenders across the league had been trying to get their hands on Tucker, and it was the Bucks that thankfully won the sweepstakes.
Although there were some injury issues with Tucker when he first came aboard, that was not an issue because the Bucks were saving him for the postseason. Knowing that they would have to square off against some top-tier talent on the offensive end, having a defensive-minded forward that is as gritty as they come and can guard multiple positions was something this team wanted on their side. Ultimately, that is exactly what happened as Tucker’s defense proved to be crucial all throughout the 2021 playoffs, specifically in round two against the Brooklyn Nets as he hounded Kevin Durant for seven consecutive games.
When starting shooting guard Donte DiVincenzo went down with a season-ending injury in the first round, Tucker gave the Bucks a player that could slide into the lineup immediately. Due to his previous experience in the postseason, Tucker filled the void immediately and played a key role in every series moving forward, oftentimes taking on the most difficult defensive assignment. This trade ultimately turned out to be a massive win for the Bucks, who do not win this title in all likelihood without Tucker’s contributions.
Decisions that helped the Milwaukee Bucks win 2021 NBA title: No. 2 – Trading for Jrue Holiday
Following a devastating defeat in the 2020 playoffs, adding a new point guard was atop the Bucks’ to-do list for the offseason. After scoring the market, the front office agreed on a blockbuster deal with the New Orleans Pelicans for veteran guard Jrue Holiday. Considering that the Bucks traded away Eric Bledsoe, George Hill, three future first round picks, and two pick swaps, many called the deal a massive overpay and that they would come to regret it.
Well, that day never came. Throughout his first season with the Bucks, Holiday proved to be just what the doctor ordered for this team as he was indeed the missing piece to their title aspirations. Although there were some growing pains to begin the year, the guard’s phenomenal two-way play helped him eventually find his footing and have the most efficient season of his career year on the offensive end while fitting seamlessly on defense.
While his regular season was great, it was the playoffs where Holiday truly shined. Although he was far from perfect as there were several brutal performances, Holiday stepped up during the biggest moments and helped the Bucks win their first title in 50 years. He made countless key plays, such as knocking down those triples down the stretch in Game 7 against the Nets and his iconic steal on Devin Booker in Game 5 of the NBA Finals.
For a team that had been haunted by lackluster guard play over the past several years, Holiday was the upgrade that the Bucks needed. Trading away all of those future picks certainly does not look so worrisome now that they won a championship in his first year in town and because of how it influenced the Greek Freak to decide on his future.
Decisions that helped the Milwaukee Bucks win 2021 NBA title: No. 1 – Signing Giannis Antetokounmpo to a supermax extension
Unlike the first two mentions on this list, this one was something that the Bucks had no control over. Management offered Giannis Antetokounmpo the supermax extension the moment he was eligible for it, but it would be up to him to sign it or possibly leave the door open for another year and hold out until the next offseason to decide. Despite failing in back-to-back postseasons, the decision was made, and Antetokounmpo signed the deal just before the season began.
He signed the deal for a handful of reasons. First off, Antetokounmpo had proven to be extremely loyal to Milwaukee, and as long as they were in a position to win, he wanted to stay. Trading for Holiday also helped fit the billing as Antetokounmpo believed that the guard would put the Bucks in a better position to make a run at a title, which proved true in the end. Many ridiculed the move and said that Antetokounmpo would never win in Milwaukee, but that is no longer true less than a year later.
Although the Bucks would have had Antetokounmpo under contract regardless this past season had he not signed the supermax, things might not have played out the same. In the previous two years before the extension, Antetokounmpo and the Bucks were constantly hit with questions regarding the two-time MVP’s future with the team and whether or not he would be on the move elsewhere. Milwaukee’s playoff woes only intensified the narrative that he should leave, and had he not signed the deal before the season, that discussion would have followed the team during the year.
Wanting to avoid that distraction entirely, Antetokounmpo agreed to the deal. Putting the pen to paper silenced any and all speculation that he might leave and helped the Bucks focus solely on basketball. Management would no longer have any sleepless nights thinking about whether or not they had done enough to put the team in the best decision to win. Antetokounmpo was content with the roster, and he was right to believe in it as they would win the 2020-21 title.
Milwaukee’s front office has done a great job of making roster moves over the past few years, and time will tell if they have more tricks up their sleeve in the future.