Bucks 2024 off-season guide: Draft picks, trade assets, free agents and more
By Dalton Sell
What the Bucks need and who they could get it from
The Milwaukee Bucks need to get younger; there is no other way around it. They struggled mightily against younger, faster and more athletic competition all season long, such as none other than the rival Indiana Pacers. With one of the oldest rosters in the league, that's not too surprising, but now, they must take action to prevent a repeat.
The Bucks should be looking for athletic wings and ball-handers or even athletic ball-handling wings, all of whom should be fairly young. These were two things the Bucks lacked mightily this season, especially against the Indiana Pacers without Giannis Antetokounmpo. If they could stock up on a few this off-season who fit alongside the top stars, it would be a huge boost.
Sorting through the upcoming free agent list, a few names come to mind. Lonnie Walker IV could be useful in providing second-unit athleticism and scoring at a cheap price. Lamar Stevens could be an interesting piece to eye for defensive purposes. Kelly Oubre Jr. would be a perfect get, but he's likely way out of Milwaukee's price range.
If they retain their draft picks, Virginia's Ryan Dunn should be on their radar. The 6-foot-8 guard put on an elite defensive showcase this past season, averaging 2.3 blocks and 1.3 steals per matchup in 34 appearances. He'd give the Bucks a much-needed versatile wing who has the height and length to bother the opposition and play excellent defense.
Trade targets are not as easy to predict, as one can never know who will be available, but the Bucks should have Chicago's Alex Caruso high on their wishlist. He's one of the best perimeter defenders in the business and could undoubtedly make a difference. Perhaps they could dip their toes back in the waters of exploring a deal for Atlanta's Dejounte Murray? Never say never.
Although wings are ball-handlers should be the focus, the Bucks should also look into adding a young piece to their center rotation. Mo Bamba could be an interesting piece if the Bucks were to get him on a team-friendly deal. As our Nathan Marzion highlighted, there are also several eye-catching options in the draft, such as Kel'el Ware and DaRon Holmes.