The Milwaukee Bucks are cruising through a largely up-and-down 2025 season with lofty championship aspirations, but one critical question has emerged that so far still remains unanswered: Who is the team’s third option now on the offensive end?
While Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard have firmly established themselves as the focal points of the offense, the Bucks are still searching for a consistent third contributor to complement their star duo.
And with the Bucks often struggling against younger and faster teams, the pattern these days has been that they need both Antetokounmpo and Lillard at their best, along with decent contributions across the board from their bench unit, to secure wins.
Once upon a time, Khris Middleton was the clear answer. His ability to score in isolation, hit clutch shots and play solid two-way basketball made him indispensable during Milwaukee’s 2021 championship run.
But those days seem to be slipping further and further into the rearview mirror with each passing game. Middleton’s offensive output has been inconsistent, and his defensive limitations are becoming harder to ignore as he navigates the tail end of his prime. He’s averaging just 12.5 points per game on 46.3 percent shooting this season—respectable numbers, to be sure, but certainly far from the impact the Milwaukee Bucks will need in a third scoring option.
The coaching staff seems to see this too, as evidenced by their recent decision to relegate the smooth-shooting swingman to a bench role after he struggled the past few games.
So, if not Middleton, then who?
The Bucks bench presents many possible answers
Bobby Portis has long been a fan favorite in Milwaukee, providing energy and scoring punch off the bench. His 13.6 points and 7.9 rebounds per game this season suggest he’s a candidate for the role.
Yet, Bucks fans know that Portis thrives in controlled bursts and against certain matchups, making him less suited to carry a consistent scoring load night after night. He’s a critical piece, but his game is more complementary than foundational. It should also be mentioned that because of his defensive deficiencies, he often gives up as many points as he scores.
Brook Lopez has had a renaissance in Milwaukee, anchoring the team’s defense while also stretching the floor offensively. He’s averaging 12.1 points per game this season and continues to shoot almost 37 percent from beyond the arc. While Lopez’s skill set is invaluable, he’s rarely the type of player to take over a game offensively.
Most of his shots come within the flow of the offense - mostly in the form of catch-and-shoot opportunities from behind the arc or dump-off passes in the dunker area. His contributions are reliable but not explosive enough to fill the void of a true third option, even if we do know how lethal his post game is once he gets it going.
Could someone else step up past the two high-scoring bigs? The Bucks are also evaluating their younger players and role players for potential breakout candidates. AJ Green’s elite 3-point shooting and Andre Jackson Jr.’s defensive versatility have added depth, but neither is ready to step into a consistent scoring role. Meanwhile, veterans like Taurean Prince and Gary Trent Jr. have shown flashes of brilliance but also struggled with streakiness.
If no one on the current roster can stake a claim as the third option, the Bucks might also look to the trade market. Adding a younger, dynamic scorer could be the solution to their lingering offensive inconsistency.
However, Milwaukee’s recent history with deadline deals—such as bringing in Serge Ibaka and Jae Crowder—has yielded mixed results. They can’t afford another misstep, especially with limited assets and a top-heavy roster.
This uncertainty underscores a critical issue for the Milwaukee Bucks: While Giannis and Lillard are more than capable of leading the charge, no team wins a championship without reliable support behind their stars. If Milwaukee can’t find a third option—either internally or through a trade—they risk running out of firepower in a tightly contested playoff series.
The good news? The Milwaukee Bucks have time to figure it out. But with the postseason drawing closer, this question looms larger by the day. Whether the answer comes from Khris Middleton rediscovering his form, Portis or Lopez stepping up or a bold trade move, one thing is clear: the Bucks’ championship hopes depend on finding a solution to their third-option dilemma.
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