Coming into the off-season, the Milwaukee Bucks had very limited financial mobility to improve their roster, suggesting a trade would be the best way to make significant improvements. Fast forward to mid-July, and they've had a stellar off-season, adding three of the best veteran minimum free agents possible, all of which complement the roster and have skill sets that Bucks were looking to add.
Gary Trent Jr. is the latest signing, as the former Toronto Raptor was wanted by multiple contending teams but settled on a one-year deal with the Bucks to reunite in the backourt with Damian Lillard. This takes Milwaukee's roster to 15 players and three two-way players. There is the potential of a trade still happening, but the Bucks look to have filled their vacant shooting guard role with a top signing. Let's take a look at the depth chart as it stands.
The Milwaukee Bucks' current depth chart after Gary Trent Jr. signing
Point guard - Damian Lillard, Delon Wright, AJ Johnson, Ryan Rollins (Two-way)
Shooting guard - Gary Trent Jr., Pat Connaughton, AJ Green, Andre Jackson Jr., Stanley Umude (Two-way)
Small forward - Khris Middleton, Taurean Prince, MarJon Beauchamp, Chris Livingston, Jaylin Galloway (Two-way)
Power forward - Giannis Antetokounmpo, Tyler Smith
Center - Brook Lopez, Bobby Portis
With Malik Beasley signing with the Detroit Pistons and Patrick Beverley heading over to Israel, Milwaukee needed to fill open spots in the backcourt, and what they have managed to do is in fact upgrade that spot. Trent's ability to shot create is exactly what the Bucks need at the two spot, as he reunites with Lillard, and they will be deadly. Delon Wright adds much needed defensive backcourt help and is a solid ball-handler that very rarely turns it over.
There is the potential for Trent to come off the bench and Middleton moves to shooting guard and Taurean Prince plays small forward. The versatility of the roster now allows Doc Rivers to move around his pieces more and try figure what combiantions work well in different scenarios. All three free agent signings in Wright, Prince and Trent are flexible and bring effort across multiple positions that could expose the flaws of opposing teams.
Adding Trent also brings down the average age of the roster, with him being just 25 years old, along with the plethora of other young talent that will be hoping to work their way into the rotation. Last season, we saw Andre Jackson Jr. fight his way into a bench role along with A.J. Green. AJ Johnson has been showing flashes in Summer League of what he can bring to the table, but it is likely he will be spending a lot of time learning from Lillard and Wright.
The frontcourt looks a little light right now, but again, there is versatility with Prince and Livingston being able to play at power forward if Rivers wants to try a small-ball lineup. If the Bucks were to make a move to bolster that area, it would likely be one of the shooting guards or small forwards getting traded away due to the slight logjam at those positions.
Milwaukee is still reportedly conducting a workout for players in Las Vegas this week, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic (subscription required). How the Trent signing impacts this only time will tell.
For now, the roster is complete and looks to be in a good position for the 2024-25 season. The Bucks needed to get younger, more atheltic and have the ability to be more versatile defensively. These moves have done that, and getting Trent is the icing on the cake. To get a career 14.3 point per game scorer at 25 years old on a veteran minimum is an absolute steal by the front office.
Stay tuned for more Milwaukee Bucks news and analysis.