The blockbuster Damian Lillard trade happening just days before last season's training camp put the Milwaukee Bucks in a tough spot.
Although they were thrilled to acquire the guard, the trade happening at the last minute altered how the Bucks operated as a team. The roster was built to complement a defensive-minded point guard like Jrue Holiday, but the sudden trade flipped things around completely, as Lillard has always been more of an offensive-oriented guard, and the team suffered because of it.
Now, knowing that Lillard would be leading the way, the Bucks had an offseason to act accordingly to prevent a repeat of last season's roster faults. All things considered, the team did a great job despite the limited resources they had. That said, let us highlight three brand new lineup pairings stemming from these moves that could be useful for the Milwaukee Bucks.
Damian Lillard and Gary Trent Jr.
This will almost inevitable be Milwaukee's new starting backcourt, as part of the free agency pitch to get Gary Trent Jr. in Milwaukee was likely handing him to two-guard job.
On paper, this is one of the most lethal shooting backcourt in the NBA. Lillard is one of the best deep threats the league has ever soon, shooting 37.1 percent on 8.4 3-point attempts per game during his career. Trent doesn't quite have that reputation, but he's still made a name with his shooting, having hit 38.6 percent of his career triples on 6.4 tries per game.
These two will make Milwaukee's spacing dangerous. If teams try to clog the lane to prevent Giannis Antetokounmpo from dominating down low, it would give either of these players more room to shoot from 3-point land. Considering Trent shot an incredible 51.3 percent on his "wide open" 3-pointers while Lillard was at 39.9 percent last season, per NBA.com, teams will likely pay if they are left open.
Yes, there are questions regarding how the defense will hold up in the backcourt. However, there's no denying how the sharpshooting they both bring to the table will elevate this offense. If they can both be at least serviceable defensively, this could be one of the best and most productive backcourts in the entire NBA. It helps that they already have on-court chemistry from their time in Portland.
Damian Lillard and Delon Wright
When Damian Lillard and Gary Trent Jr. aren't on the floor together, it would be wise for the team to pair Lillard with Delon Wright.
Wright offers a more defensive-minded approach at the guard position, as he's always been known as a stout perimeter defender throughout his career. At 6-foot-5, he's taller than most players at his position, which is one of his greatest attributes. Another is versatility, as not only can he match up against various positions, but he can also play both guard positions.
In this pairing, Wright could take the tough defensive assignments while Lillard focuses on producing offensively. This would take significant pressure off of Lillard, who oftentimes had to take challenging matchups defensively while also being tasked with carrying the team offensively this past season. A versatile, defensive-oriented guard will make life much easier for Lillard on the basketball court.
Although Wright isn't the level of shooter of Trent, he's still respectable in that regard, knocking down 35.4 percent of his career triples. In lineups alongside Lillard, he'll get his share of open opportunities, and if he can bury them at a serviceable rate, it would make his fit all the better. With all of the quality looks he will get, there's a good chance Wright could shoot well above his average.
There's plenty to like about the varying playstyles of Gary Trent Jr. and Delon Wright and how they can both offer different things alongside Lillard. Both should see plenty of time alongside the star point guard in 2024-25.
Giannis Antetokounmpo and Taurean Prince
One of the reasons why the Milwaukee Bucks secured the 2021 NBA Championship was due to their versatility, particularly when they put Giannis Antetokounmpo at the center position. That lineup was made possible due to the presence of P.J. Tucker, who played the small-ball power forward role to the best of his abilities. The Bucks have been trying to replace what Tucker brought for years now.
Taurean Prince isn't a carbon copy of P.J. Tucker, but he does check off a lot of the same boxes that could be just what Milwaukee needs to get the best out of these small lineups.
Like Tucker, Prince stands tall at 6-foot-6 and has the chops to defend multiple positions in switching situations, an absolute necessity in these small lineups. On top of that, he's a decent shooter, having hit 37.6 percent of his career triples, which is also a key aspect of what makes this work due to the floor spacing it provides for Antetokounmpo.
The Prince and Antetokounmpo small-ball pairing will be crucial for the Milwaukee Bucks this season. While Brook Lopez is still one of the best rim protectors in the NBA, it's nice to be able to change the lineup up to switch the scheme being utilized. If Prince can play this role, there's no doubt how big of a role he'll have.
Doc Rivers will have no shortage of opens when crafting his various lineups for the Milwaukee Bucks this coming season.
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