The Milwaukee Bucks are a lesser team when Giannis Antetokounmpo isn't on the floor. Water is wet. While that has always been the case in Milwaukee, the Bucks are particularly feeling it this season as they struggle to string together wins. Doc Rivers has not yet found a lineup that works well enough to give Giannis a breather and feel comfortable about leaving that group out there.
If the Bucks don't get it figured out sooner or later, they will risk burning Giannis out just to keep their heads above water. If the current core keeps struggling, it might result in a trade.
Bucks can't quite crack the code without Giannis
It's no surprise that Milwaukee's strongest lineups statistically feature Giannis. The Bucks have had five lineups log at least 15 minutes this season. The three highest-rated feature the Greek Freak, led by their current starting group of Ryan Rollins, AJ Green, Kyle Kuzma, Turner, and Antetokounmpo, which boasts a net rating of 46. When he sits, though, it's a different story.
Milwaukee's best Giannis-less lineup consists of Taurean Prince, Bobby Portis, Kyle Kuzma, Cole Anthony, and Amir Coffey. The net rating? -10.8. How about the only other Antetokounmpo-less unit of Kuzma, Turner, Gary Trent Jr., Rollins, and Green? -21.1. Ouch. Teams can have a dropoff when the superstar player catches a breath, but these numbers are drastic.
Unless the Milwaukee Bucks suddenly strike gold and can find a five-man unit that can put up a fight with Antetokounmpo, catching his breath, they might have to look externally. Everyone knows how aggressive Jon Horst, Milwaukee's award-winning general manager, is every year, and that will hold true this season, with it feeling like a make-or-break year for Antetokounmpo's future with the team.
Horst probably won't swing a trade for another star, but a lesser, more affordable name could make plenty of sense. A wing capable of putting up points while also holding their own defensively could go a long way for this team. Currently, they just do not have many go-to players outside of Giannis.
In years past, the Bucks could turn to Khris Middleton, Jrue Holiday, or Damian Lillard to lead the way when Giannis sat. This year, the roster is built around Giannis with complementary players rather than fellow stars. The strategy has shown glimpses of brilliance, but there have been no shortage of times when it's also been tough to watch -- a recent, stomach-churning 119-95 loss to the Lakers fits.
While he wouldn't fix this issue entirely, it does hurt that Kevin Porter Jr. has played only nine minutes this season. Many believed he would be Milwaukee's second scoring option behind the Greek Freak this season, but injuries have prevented that from taking place so far. Yet, the Bucks can't bank on his return fixing this issue on arrival. They very well may need more.
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