It has been a summer of change for the Milwaukee Bucks, as they parted ways with their franchise superstar and look to a new era with a plethora of young talent. Bleacher Report's Andy Bailey released his offseason grades, giving the Bucks a B. A fair, middling grade headlined by exciting talent in the building, contrasted by one strange contract. Yet, the team is far from being done as they remain alive in the Peyton Watson chase.
Positive Bucks offseason grade knocked back by one move
Trading away Giannis Antetokounmpo was always going to be a huge shift for the Bucks. People question their decision to move him in 2026 instead of 2025, but overall, the return they got is promising. Tyler Herro returns to Wisconsin as an All-Star-level scorer, and the Bucks may extend him if they feel he will be part of the team moving forward.
Ke'lel Ware is the blue-chip prospect the Bucks were hoping to get in return, and he could be in for a breakout year in a new setting. Jaime Jaquez Jr. was the runner-up in Sixth Man of the Year voting, and Kasparas Jakucionis is an exciting guard coming off a solid rookie season. Factor in rookies Brayden Burries and Nate Ament, both of whom showed great flashes already in Summer League, and it feels like a very positive summer for the Bucks, all things considered.
However, the big knock on the summer is the contract handed to Gary Trent Jr. The veteran signed a four-year, $64 million deal so stunning that the league is investigating how the guard landed that contract and whether there is some form of cap circumvention carried over from previous seasons.
The Bucks are building, and the 'B' grade would have been higher if it weren't for the Trent contract, but they still have a couple of things on their agenda.
Bucks are far from done this offseason
Recently, all eyes have turned towards Denver Nuggets forward Peyton Watson, with the Bucks reportedly among the frontrunners to acquire him. Their trade exception puts them in a position to absorb unwanted contracts to aid the Nuggets, something other teams cannot offer right now.
If that deal doesn't come, the Bucks still have moves to make. Sitting at 17 standard contracts, Milwaukee has to move at least two players to reach the maximum 15 on the roster.
Small moves may be on the cards that don't change much about how the summer is viewed, but veterans Kyle Kuzma and Myles Turner can certainly help teams now, and there has been no shortage of rumors surrounding their futures. Bringing in further draft capital for a team that had close to none heading into June sets the team up for an even brighter future.
Considering the franchise moved on from its greatest-ever player this summer, it feels like a positive Bucks offseason; they know what direction to move in. Whether it pays off will be answered in the coming years, and the further moves before the season starts may increase the optimism.
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