After yet another early exit from the NBA Playoffs, the Milwaukee Bucks will have tough decisions to make this off-season.
It's clear that certain areas of the roster need to be tweaked to put this team in the best position to win and reach their ultimate goals. Luckily for them, they'll have quite a few assets in terms of draft capital, compelling contracts and quality players. That said, let us decide what the Bucks should do with every rostered player for next season.
Giannis Antetokounmpo - Keep, obviously
The Milwaukee Bucks will not be shopping Giannis Antetokounmpo this off-season. Not only did they ink him to a contract extension last off-season, but he's the engine that makes this team go, and their title goals primarily rely on him (look at how this past season panned out). Instead, they will aim to put the necessary pieces around him to better complement him.
Damian Lillard - Keep
The Bucks will almost certainly not pull the plug on the Damian Lillard experiment after one season in Milwaukee. After coming aboard just days before this past season began, Lillard had little time to get to know his teammates in what became an incredibly hectic season. Now, he can spend the summer working with the Bucks and be more prepared for the title hunt next season.
Milwaukee added Lillard to pair him alongside Antetokounmpo and form a lethal duo, but injuries kept them from sharing the court on the biggest stage. Next season, they will aim to stay healthy and make a legitimate run at a title, and rightfully so. Lillard has already talked about how excited he is to get back on the floor as a member of the Milwaukee Bucks in 2024-25.
Khris Middleton - Keep
Warning! Controversy is about to ensue. Following a turbulent regular season that saw him sidelined for significant time with various injuries, many were ready to give up on Khris Middleton entirely. Yet, when they needed him the most, he turned it on in the postseason, showing that he still has some juice left in the tank and can produce at the highest level.
Now, recency bias cannot overshadow Middleton's injuries and time missed. The injury concerns are still there and will carry over into next season. However, it's more likely than not that the Bucks will keep Khris Middleton and bank on him being healthier next year. If he can and the Big 3 can all get on the court together, they could be one of the best trios in all of basketball. It's not a bad idea.
Brook Lopez - Shop, but hear me out
This one is a bit more complicated.
Brook Lopez caught a lot of flack this season for his efforts, as many felt like he took a step back on the defensive end coming off a second-place finish in the Defensive Player of the Year running last season. At 36, he certainly didn't show the same burst as he once did, but this writer would argue that not all of Milwaukee's defensive issues were his fault.
The Bucks have relied heavily on drop coverage defensively over the years, and one of the reasons it worked so well was the litany of perimeter defenders the team had. Former Players like Eric Bledsoe, Jrue Holiday, Wesley Matthews or Jevon Carter could slow down opponents on the perimeter, and if they did happen to get by them, Lopez would be there for a contest or block.
This past season, the Bucks didn't have many solid perimeter defenders, which allowed for opposing scorers to get to the rim as if it were a turnstile at times. That made Lopez's duty much more difficult than when they had players like Holiday or Matthews or both. One could argue that the Bucks should find a way to add more perimeter defenders while keeping Lopez to get the best out of him.
Yet, on the other side of the coin, Lopez is 36 now, and he's set to earn a mammoth of a check worth $23 million next season. If the Bucks were to entertain him in trade talks, that salary could be useful in netting a high-end player with a large deal as well. Moving him would also likely help the Bucks in their quest to get younger, something they know they need to do this off-season.
The idea of trading Brook Lopez is worth at least testing the waters. The front office should see what is out there and what they could possibly get with that hefty expiring contract. If nothing jumps out to them on the market, they should aim to get back to the blueprint of putting defenders around him who could make his life easier in drop coverage.
Bobby Portis - Shop
Bobby Portis was featured heavily in trade rumors this past season, and it legitimately felt like he was going to get dealt. However, they ultimately hung onto him. Now, he'll likely be dangled on the market this off-season, as he's one of the more valuable assets the Milwaukee Bucks have, and his salary of $12.6 million is very tradeable and could be desirable for opposing teams.
Outside of when he's getting ejected from pivotal playoff games, Portis is not among Milwaukee's biggest problems. He actually finished top three in the Sixth Man of the Year running this season. However, if the Bucks want to make a splash, something has to give, which could mean Portis finds himself on another team next season.
Pat Connaughton - Shop
Pat Connaughton seems like the likeliest Milwaukee Buck to be relocated this off-season. Like Portis, he has a very tradeable contract at $9.4 million next season. The Bucks could take back a nice piece in return with that salary and perhaps some draft capital attached. While he's been good in spurts, it was clear this season that Connaughton lost a step, which could impact his future with the team.
One player who should factor into the decision to test Connaughton's market is A.J. Green, who took on a bigger role under Doc Rivers and oftentimes shined. Many would argue that they were more impressed with the sophomore guard's play than they were with Connaughton's production, and at a fraction of the cost, the Bucks may be better off moving Connaughton and using Green in his place.
MarJon Beauchamp - Shop but aim to keep
Many expected MarJon Beauchamp to take a sophomore leap with the Bucks, but instead, he took a major step back and scarcely played. In his exit interview, Doc Rivers said a prominent reason why the youngster didn't play much was because he was oftentimes injured, meaning the coach rarely saw him practice. That makes sense, but when healthy, there is still potential with the 23-year-old.
If opposing teams are looking for young talent, Beauchamp could be a useful asset in any trade. He doesn't have the largest salary, so he doesn't fit the mold of Connaughton or Portis, but with a lack of draft picks, he may be a valuable fill-in. It certainly wouldn't hurt to keep and develop him either, so the Bucks should not flat-out aim to get rid of him.
If a great deal comes around, go for it. If not, keep him and look to mold him into the young, athletic wing defender that this team desperately needs.
A.J. Green - Don't make untouchable but aim to keep
Rather than Beauchamp, A.J. Green was the sophomore who took a big step forward this past season. The undrafted wing showed from time to time that he needed consistent minutes, primarily due to his excellent outside shooting but also with his hustle and eye-catching defense. The Bucks may have an undrafted steal on their hands, and it would make sense for them to keep him and develop him.
Moving Green wouldn't make much sense, as he's on the books for $2 million next season. Unless the Bucks are $2 million short of landing a superstar, they should keep Green. With the Bucks more than likely to lose Malik Beasley and Pat Connaughton potentially on his way out, Green could be a much cheaper alternative who may thrive in extended minutes. He's worth keeping around.
Andre Jackson Jr. - Keep unless it's a game-changer
Of all of Milwaukee's young players, none have much potential than Andre Jackson Jr. The rookie put up his share of flashy performances when given the rare opportunity by providing hustle, playmaking, defense and rebounding. Essentially, he provided all of the things the Bucks lacked down the stretch, which made it puzzling why he didn't play more.
Unless a proven star is within reach, the Milwaukee Bucks should keep Jackson. He's got everything the Bucks need, particularly in the athleticism department, and he's on a team-friendly deal. Trading him would be a head-scratcher. With an off-season to work on his game, Jackson could be ready for a full-time role from the jump in 2024-25.
Chris Livingston - Shop but aim to keep
The Milwaukee Bucks clearly liked what they saw in Chris Livingston when they made him the richest final pick of a draft ever in 2023. However, the 20-year-old forward only averaged 4.3 minutes across 21 appearances, having rarely seen the floor, which was largely expected. It will be fascinating to see what direction the Bucks may go in with him this off-season.
It would make some sense to keep him, as he's another young, lengthy wing on a cheap contract who could potentially help this team. Livingston shouldn't be untouchable, but unless a team really wants to get their hands on him in exchange for a star, Milwaukee shouldn't have much incentive to move him. Like all of the team's youngsters, it wouldn't hurt getting a closer look at them next season.
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