In an attempt to change up their roster this summer, the Milwaukee Bucks stole Myles Turner from the rival Indiana Pacers. Doing so aligns with Milwaukee's new strategy of piecing together a roster full of contributors from top to bottom, a strategy Turner's former coach, Rick Carlisle, recently discussed becoming the new norm in the NBA during a sitdown with Basketball, She Wrote's Caitlin Cooper.
"The NBA game has now become a play hard league. It's not just being top heavy with stars. Roster construction is changing. It's become more important to have more good players than be top heavy with two or three great players that get all the touches.”
The Milwaukee Bucks embark on a new journey with a new philosophy
It's clear that the days of relying on top-heavy rosters are over. For years, it was something the Bucks relied on heavily. Between Giannis Antetokounmpo, Khris Middleton, Eric Bledsoe, Jrue Holiday, and Damian Lillard, the Milwaukee Bucks have had plenty of star-studded rosters in recent memory. It worked once, but there were always glaring flaws due to roster weak points elsewhere.
Oftentimes, it was a lack of depth or other reliable options that hurt Milwaukee. When Eric Bledsoe struggled in the NBA Playoffs, the Bucks lacked a clear third option. When Khris Middleton got hurt in 2022, no one else stepped up to the plate. When Jrue Holiday struggled offensively, no one else did their part to pick up the slack. If someone at the top was out of order, the team simply crumbled.
There's a reason Indiana was in the NBA Finals last season. Tyrese Haliburton and Pascal Siakam were the clear-cut stars, but they didn't always have to do the heavy lifting. Myles Turner was a menace on the defensive end and could score. Andrew Nembhard was a lethal two-way force. Aaron Nesmith, Obi Toppin, and Bennedict Mathurin were energetic wings any team would love to have.
Until Tyrese Haliburton tore his Achilles in Game 7 of the NBA Finals, the Pacers had few weak spots. Now, the Milwaukee Bucks are trying to do the same.
In addition to signing Myles Turner, who is a perfect Brook Lopez replacement, the Milwaukee Bucks surrounded Giannis Antetokounmpo with high-energy athletes who can take some of the load off of his shoulders on both ends. Sure, none of the players might not be as recognizable as Lillard or other names, but the hope is that the workload can be more widespread than on just two or three players.
Like Indiana, it all started with lowering the age of the roster, and the Bucks did that, as the oldest player on the roster is 31-year-old Taurean Prince. Spreading out the workload doesn't guarantee success for Milwaukee next season, but just like Indiana this past year, it gives them a good shot.
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