The trade is done. As with all things, this era of Bucks basketball has finally come to a slow and painful end. And while the opening salvo is over and done with, Jon Horst and company still have a number of hard decisions to make. In the wake of Giannis Antetokounmpo's departure, the question facing the front office now is this: Who stays, and who goes?
It's time for Milwaukee to finally prioritize youth and development
As this writer has mentioned ad nauseam, one of the biggest pitfalls of this Bucks era is that the front office failed to consider sustainability at every turn. For better or for worse, they indulged Antetokounmpo's almost single-minded desire to compete, and they paid the price for it.
This time around, it's clear who they should keep on the roster, and that's everyone with potential who matches their timeline.
After the season he just had and the ceiling that might still be there, Ryan Rollins should absolutely stay on the roster. After Herro, an argument can be made that he is the best two-way guard on the roster. He's already showing real NBA rotation value after averaging 17.3 points, 5.6 assists, and 4.6 rebounds per game in his first season as a bona fide starter.
Kasparas Jakucionis and Kel'el Ware have the potential to be their point guard and center of the future. Since they were the direct return for Antetokounmpo, they should not only stay on the roster but also start.
AJ Green and Cormac Ryan are two young pieces who still have a wealth of untapped potential. They're cheap and they have skills that every team is looking for. Whether it's to stay relatively competitive or with the intention of trading them down the line, keeping them is the smart option here.
For a time, Andre Jackson Jr. was the team's best perimeter defender. Perhaps Taylor Jenkins, who cultivated similar talents in Dillon Brooks and Jaylen Wells, can unlock something in him with increased opportunities.
Bogoljub Markovic, too, looks much improved after another season in the EuroLeague under his belt. It would also be worth having him back for the Bucks to get a closer look at what they have.
The Bucks already made the hardest move — now it's time to finish the job
The Milwaukee Bucks are no longer championship contenders, and so winning now should be the last thing on their minds. That means win-now players who are older than the roster need to go.
The biggest thing is Tyler Herro, who has already expressed excitement about being back home in the 414. Milwaukee has said they want three first-round selections in this year's draft. They only have two. In all likelihood, Herro, their most tradable asset, is the first to go, perhaps in a package with Kyle Kuzma, who can still help a contending team with his versatility.
Taurean Prince and Gary Harris don't bring the team any closer to winning and will only take minutes away from the young Bucks. There is little point in keeping them around. The same goes for Gary Trent Jr., though some teams looking for shot-creation may still be willing to take a shot on him after the flashes he's shown. Kevin Porter Jr., for his part, has already outplayed his contract at this point and is likely rejecting his player option.
Myles Turner has already attracted attention from the Toronto Raptors, who might be willing to give up further draft assets for his rim-protection and floor-spacing. But other teams are also looking for bigs, which means Jericho Sims should also be on the table, albeit with much less urgency.
And finally, the remaining Antetokounmpo brothers also have no place on the roster any longer.
The Bucks need to be ruthless about how they rebuild going forward. It's time to prioritize youth, development, and sustainability over stockpiling big names. That means using both draft picks at their disposal to get younger while converting their older players into more draft capital.
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