The Milwaukee Bucks saw their 2023-24 NBA season conclude with a loss to the Indiana Pacers in six games in the first round of the NBA Playoffs.
It's the second straight season Milwaukee has been bounced out in the first round, with health being an incredibly prominent factor in their demise. Now, the Bucks head into the off-season with plenty of question marks that need answering, largely focusing on roster construction and how they can get back to the mountaintop of title contention.
With all of that said, let's dive into a few prominent talking points.
Bucks free agents
Unlike in years past, the Bucks will not have any of their top players set to hit the free agent market, with Giannis Antetokounmpo, Damian Lillard and Khris Middleton all locked up. Pat Connaughton, Bobby Portis and Brook Lopez are all also under contract, so the top half of the roster is essentially set heading into the off-season. Here's a look at the five impending free agents.
Patrick Beverley - The Bucks picked up Patrick Beverley at the trade deadline, and he played solid basketball over the final few months. Milwaukee needed a perimeter defender and a spark, and he delivered both. Of all their free agents, the Bucks should aim to retain Beverley the most, given how well he fits in with this group on the court, especially if they can get him for cheap.
Malik Beasley - It would be shocking if Malik Beasley was back in green next season. He came to the Bucks on a one-year deal, and it was always expected that he'd aim to cash out in 2024 free agency. Given his 3-point shooting, some team with plenty of spending money will throw a big check his way, and he'll likely take it. That team will not be the Milwaukee Bucks.
Jae Crowder - The Jae Crowder trade can now be classified as one of the biggest disappointments of the modern Bucks era. In back-to-back playoff runs, he could hardly get on the floor. Now, it would be stunning if he returned for a third season as he hits free agency. He will likely aim to go elsewhere and earn a shot at more playing time.
Danilo Gallinari - Although he wasn't a difference-maker, Danilo Gallinari showed some glimpses during the Bucks' playoff run. Still, it's not enough for the team to go out of their way to retain him for another year. Gallinari confirmed that he will not be retiring, but it would be surprising if he was back with the Milwaukee Bucks next season.
Thanasis Antetokounmpo - Death, taxes and Thanasis Antetokounmpo returning to the Bucks on a one-year deal. As is tradition, it seems likely that Thanasis could return on a one-year deal worth the veteran minimum. As always, some fans will be outraged, as the 15th man on the roster is quite a hot topic of discussion, but this transaction should be expected.
Bucks draft capital
Unlike in recent years, the Milwaukee Bucks will actually have quite a bit of draft capital to play around with this off-season.
According to ESPN's Bobby Marks, the Bucks hold pick 23 in the first round of the 2024 NBA Draft and will have either 33 or 34 in the second round. That gives them a legitimate shot to add a player or two in the draft with very good value.
Yet, given their title window, the Bucks will also certainly entertain the idea of moving their draft picks if they find a deal worth pursuing. Starting on draft night, they will be eligible to trade their 2024 and 2031 first-round draft picks, and they also have second-round capital at their disposal.
It'll be fascinating to see which direction the Milwaukee Bucks ultimately go here. One may think that the scales would tip in favor of packaging the picks in a trade, but if the team does not find a player on the market they think merits those picks, they could very well just keep them.
Drafting impact players hasn't been Milwaukee's strong suit over the past few years, but perhaps they could find one this time, especially if there is a new leader calling the shots. More on that storyline will come in the coming pages.
Bucks trade assets and candidates
If the Milwaukee Bucks attempt to upgrade their roster via trade this NBA off-season, they will have a decent amount of ammunition at their disposal. Of course, we just went over all of the draft picks they will be able to move, but perhaps the more interesting side of the coin is discussing which players the team could attach them to.
It seems safe to say that the Big 3 of Giannis Antetokounmpo, Damian Lillard and Khris Middleton will all be safe from the trade rumors.
The two players everyone will bring up the most are Bobby Portis and Pat Connaughton. Portis is on the books for $12.7 million next season, while Connaughton is at $9.4 million. Both are those are very tradeable contracts for the Bucks to experiment with. Portis would certainly command more interest, and like they did this past season, the front office will likely gauge his value across the NBA.
Outside of those two, things get interesting. The elephant in the room is Brook Lopez. The big man is set to add $23 million to his career earnings next season, and there are plenty of Bucks fans willing to argue whether or not he's worth that. A mammoth salary like that would allow Milwaukee to net a big fish or at least make some needed tweaks to the roster if they so desire.
The Bucks have a handful of young players on the roster, but they likely wouldn't be a significant part of any trades and instead be throw ins for salary purposes.
Things could get interesting with Portis, Connaughton and Lopez in the coming months, especially with the tradeable draft picks the Milwaukee Bucks can play with.
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.
Bucks storylines to follow
Although it shouldn't be as hectic of an off-season as it was last season with the Bucks moving on from Mike Budenholzer and acquiring Damian Lillard, there is still bound to be some movement that could make for interesting storylines to follow.
1. Jon Horst's future with the Milwaukee Bucks. The Bucks may have a new decision-maker leading the way in the coming months. The Ringer's Kevin O'Connor reported it's a legitimate possibility that the Bucks could lose Horst to the Detroit Pistons this off-season. Horst has been in the chair since he took the role in 2017, so this would be quite a change for Milwaukee.
While Horst has had plenty of success guiding this franchise, helping them bring home the 2021 title, he's also had a few notable blunders. Currently, he's positioned the Bucks to be the oldest team in the league for the past several years, and that needs to change. Perhaps a new leading voice could aim to switch things up and bring a different feel to this roster moving forward.
2. The development of Milwaukee's young players. Next year, the Bucks have Andre Jackson Jr., MarJon Beauchamp, AJ Green and Chris Livingston all under contract. Those are four young guys who could help with the team's desperate need for youth. Given their limited financial flexibility, the team should utilize this group while their contracts are still inexpensive rather than letting them rot.
These four need to be in the gym this summer to prepare for next season. They all have attributes that could help this team even beyond just their youth. It wouldn't be surprising if they all attended Summer League with the Milwaukee Bucks to get legitimate reps under their belt. Whatever they do, their development will be a crucial factor heading into next season.
3. Doc Rivers settling in. After being thrown into the head coaching role mid-season, Doc Rivers will head into the off-season knowing what he has to prepare for. He'll undeniably look to build bonds with his players and develop strategies to get the best product possible next season. He should regularly get together with Giannis Antetokounmpo, Lillard and Middleton to pick their brains and converse.
Stay tuned for more Milwaukee Bucks analysis.