Bucks rotation after the Lillard trade
The question of how the Bucks fill out the rotation behind the starters is now an open question as well. Not only did they swap out two rotation players for one, but Lillard’s on-ball shot creation is more potent than Jrue Holiday’s, which makes different lineups more viable; it also puts pressure on the Bucks to solve the defensive questions the trade opens up.
Bobby Portis is the biggest lock to play significant minutes off the bench as the backup to both Brook Lopez and Giannis Antetokounmpo; he played 26 minutes per game last season and that number could even increase this year. Jae Crowder and Malik Beasley are very likely to play rotation minutes, at least during the regular season.
The bigger questions open up from there. Do the Bucks play Portis more at the 4, carving out minutes for Robin Lopez? Do AJ Green or Andre Jackson show enough in training camp and preseason to earn consistent roles? Is MarJon Beauchamp ready to roll? The Bucks have saved money by adding a plethora of second-round picks the past few years, but now the bill comes due; are those players ready to step up?
It’s also still possible the Bucks sign another free agent or two to fill out the rotation, or pull off a minor trade for a veteran. Could Kendrick Nunn or George Hill beef up the backcourt? What about Terence Davis or Austin Rivers on the wing? T.J. Warren or JaMychal Green in the frontcourt? The Bucks now have at least one roster spot to play with.
The hard work is done; now they figure out the best way to maximize their new superstar.