The Milwaukee Bucks probably weren't ever going to trade for Kevin Durant this summer, but given the team's past history of surprise blockbusters, it couldn't be ruled out. Now that Durant has been dealt to Houston, Milwaukee can officially move past the thought of going after another superstar and focus on filling out the roster with adequate depth instead.
Bucks will have to change their ways
When things looked gloomy in the past, general manager Jon Horst made big swings. He traded for Jrue Holiday after a second round playoff exit. He traded for Damian Lillard after an upset as the top seed in the East. What was stopping him from making another swing after the Milwaukee Bucks lost to the Indiana Pacers in the first round again? Well, maybe the new way of the NBA.
As evidenced by the OKC Thunder and Indiana Pacers, two stellar teams who just battled it out in the NBA Finals, depth is king in today's league. Teams can absolutely have stars, such as Pascal Siakam, Tyrese Haliburton, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and Jalen Williams, but they can't do it alone. They need players like Aaron Nesmith, Alex Caruso, and other high-end role players from top to bottom.
That's not something the Milwaukee Bucks have had in recent memory. While the trades for stars have been exciting, depth has become an afterthought in the aftermath, and it's come back to bite the team again and again, especially with injuries ravaging the team. This summer, there is no trade for a superstar that seemingly fixes everything. Only depth can do that.
Would a Kevin Durant and Giannis Antetokounmpo pairing have been fun? Absolutely. Would the Bucks be able to field a contender around them with the NBA's new CBA looming large? That part is another story. This summer, the name of the game must be depth. As tempted as he may have been with the idea of bringing Durant to the 414, Horst seemingly knew this. It's time to change his ways.
This summer, the Milwaukee Bucks must focus on filling out the roster entirely. No weak links. No players who can only play in certain situations. Indiana and OKC didn't have that. They could throw anyone out there and find ways to win games, as improbable as some of them may have seemed. If they want to leap back into contention, the Bucks must do the same this summer.
They simply likely couldn't do that with Antetokounmpo, Durant, and likely Damian Lillard in town.
Stay tuned for more Milwaukee Bucks analysis.