If Jon Horst has shown anything during his time with the Milwaukee Bucks, it's that he's not afraid to get a little desperate. The general manager has taken big swings consistently - to differing results - over the years, and with Giannis Antetokounmpo on the roster, he has been justified each and every time. With Giannis still in his prime, Horst likely won't stop anytime soon.
Bucks need to stay "desperate" to maximize time with Giannis
Jon Horst is a big-swing taker. Look at the capital he gave up to get Jrue Holiday and Damian Lillard. He gave up five second-round picks to get Jae Crowder. He just agreed to eat dead money over the next five years by waiving Damian Lillard to sign Myles Turner. Win or lose, Horst is making the move he thinks can help this team if it presents itself.
Even if things are quiet in Milwaukee right now, Horst is still alert. If nothing presents itself for the rest of the offseason, he will carry this mindset over into the regular season. If the roster has a clear issue that needs addressing, Horst can tackle it before the 2026 NBA Trade Deadline. One of Milwaukee's most impactful moves of the last decade was the P.J. Tucker trade at the 2021 deadline.
Fueling Milwaukee's next major move will likely be the 2031 first-round pick at their disposal. With so much uncertainty - at least from the outside - about Giannis Antetokounmpo's future with the team, opposing teams are salivating over that selection. If the Milwaukee Bucks can find a major upgrade that involves trading that pick, it's almost guaranteed they'd cough it up in a heartbeat.
Just like with Damian Lillard and Myles Turner, there's a strong chance Milwaukee's next move comes out of left field. Since the Bogdan Bogdanovic debacle in 2020, the Bucks have kept all of their deals close to the chest, keeping fans, insiders, and analysts in the dark. It keeps things exciting, but it also doesn't let the rest of the NBA know what their next move is.
At 30 years old, Giannis Antetokounmpo still has a lot of good basketball left in him. He continues to make it clear that he wants to finish his career in Milwaukee as long as they are committed to chasing another title. Given all of the sizeable swings - oftentimes desperate - Horst has taken, it's clear that it is the case.
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