It will be a busy offseason for the Milwaukee Bucks. Several players will be leaving as free agents, while some youngsters will be hoping for a big summer to cement their place on next season's roster.
There were so many issues for the Bucks in the postseason. Their frontcourt couldn't handle the athleticism of the Indiana Pacers, while veteran wing Taurean Prince was unplayable at times.
In the regular season, Prince had been a regular and reliable figure for Milwaukee, shooting 43.9 percent from 3-point range. However, the playoffs have seen him plummet his stock, having failed to score a point in four games while shooting 2-of-9 (22.2 percent) from deep.
The Bucks may not have much financial flexibility, but they have a ready-made replacement for Prince in their ranks. He currently faces a huge offseason that will determine his future in the NBA.
Bucks forward faces a do-or-die offseason to prove deal was worth it
Chris Livingston was the final pick in the 2023 NBA Draft and secured himself a historic $7.7 million deal with the Bucks. This was the largest ever deal for the final pick of the draft, with the first two years guaranteed. So far, it has not paid dividends. The wing has featured in just 42 total NBA games, averaging less than five minutes and struggling to make an impact.
As a team, the Milwaukee Bucks have struggled in recent seasons with the athleticism and youthfulness of opposing teams. Livingston is exactly what they have needed but has failed to make his mark, spending most of his two years in the G-League. He is a 6-foot-6 wing that provides a big body, and in college, showed his versatility defensively.
If he can show his growth on both ends of the floor, Livingston is the perfect player for the Bucks. Against the Pacers, they struggled to contain Tyrese Haliburton and allowed him to pick apart the defense. Livingston possesses the size and athleticism to defend both guards and wings, as well as the ability to switch defensively.
Similar to Andre Jackson Jr., Livingston's offensive game is not brilliant, as he averaged 6.3 points in college and shot just 30.5 percent from deep. The deal he was offered made it seem like the Bucks had full faith in his growth. Now two years in, this is a huge offseason for Livingston. Otherwise, he will join a long list of unsuccessful Milwaukee Bucks draft picks.
We know the Bucks' player development has never been great (outside of Giannis Antetokounmpo), so this offseason, they need Livingston and Jackson to continue working hard and show why they should be a big part of the roster moving forward. Damian Lillard's injury leaves the offense very short-handed; that is where the role players and youngsters need to help.
It is a make-or-break offseason for Livingston. It will determine his future in the NBA, but he is a ready-made replacement for Prince. He just needs to show it. If Prince doesn't return in free agency, which seems likely, Livingston may have an opportunity to showcase his talent.
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