5 Pressing questions Bucks need to answer after the trade deadline
By Tyler Watts
The Milwaukee Bucks are trending in the wrong direction. They have won just three of their last nine games in an all-in season where they traded for Damian Lillard and hired two new head coaches. The Bucks made two minor moves at the trade deadline, including acquiring Patrick Beverley, but was that enough to help them win a championship?
The Bucks have won just two of their first seven games under new head coach Doc Rivers. Their defense is improving, but does Milwaukee have enough talent to win it all? Giannis Antetokounmpo is one of the best players world. Lillard, Brook Lopez, and Khris Middleton give him an outstanding top four, but the NBA is loaded with talent.
The Bucks have questions to answer and some of them will determine their playoff fate. Milwaukee will look to prove themselves and it starts by figuring out how to solve these inquiries.
5. Was acquiring Patrick Beverly enough?
The Bucks made two trades on deadline day. They landed Beverley for Cameron Payne and a second-round draft pick. Milwaukee also traded Robin Lopez for cash to open up a roster spot. The Bucks will be active in the buyout market, but those players do not always make an impact.
They need defense, so targeting a pesky guard who earned the nickname “Mr. 94 Feet” made sense. The 35-year-old is past his prime, but he provides leadership and intensity to go with his D. Beverley made a significant impact in Chicago down the stretch in 2023, and the Bucks hope for that same boost.
Pat Bev was a positive addition, but was it enough to help Milwaukee win a championship? He must become the eighth man in the postseason rotation and consistently knockdown shots to stick. The Bucks still should be searching for pieces because their depth is questionable.