4 former Bucks who would’ve turned Milwaukee into title favorites
By Will Eudy
With two weeks remaining in the 2023-24 regular season, the Milwaukee Bucks sit in second place in the Eastern Conference, where they will likely remain when the playoffs begin. Catching the Celtics is mathematically impossible at this point, but it is also relatively unlikely they fall back down to three or below, currently holding a 2.5 game lead over the Cavaliers.
The Bucks' chances of winning a championship this season are going to be low considering they will in all likelihood have to go through the juggernaut Celtics to get there. That is not to say it cannot be done, but it will be a long shot for certain. There are a few players no longer in Milwaukee that would give the team a much higher shot at winning the title if they were still around.
Jrue Holiday
Departing the Bucks last offseason and ironically ending up with the Celtics, Jrue Holiday will forever be cemented in Milwaukee's history books for helping them win their first title in 50 years in summer of 2021. Jrue first joined the Bucks in November 2020 in a trade from the New Orleans Pelicans.
He went on to earn three straight All-Defensive team selections during his time with the team. Holiday was an extremely steady and high-level role player that complemented the skills of Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Having Holiday on this year's Bucks team would have given Milwaukee a significant lift in terms of perimeter defense as well as subtracted what is now one of Boston's most valuable role players.