Just last week, it seemed like the rest of the season might be a quiet one for the Milwaukee Bucks when it came to shaking up the roster or coaching staff.
Well, things changed pretty quickly. Over the last few days, the Bucks have been involved in a handful of rumors and underwent a massive personnel change. That said, let us look at all of the rumblings in the rumor mill right now that involve the Milwaukee Bucks.
What's next for the Bucks after firing Adrian Griffin? Rivers? Atkinson?
The Bucks shocked the NBA world on Tuesday by firing former coach Adrian Griffin just over halfway into his first season at the helm. However, it's seemingly something that has been brewing for a while.
Per insider Marc Stein (subscription required), a well-respected source told him that if Terry Stotts, a former assistant who left Milwaukee's coaching staff just before the season began due to a rumored disagreement with Griffin, were still on the staff, he'd be the current head coach.
According to TNT and Bleacher Report insider Chris Haynes, Bucks front office personnel, including GM Jon Horst, had been tuning into practices and shootarounds more closely lately. This reportedly raised the eyebrows of some players and members of the coaching staff. Behind the scenes, it was clear that something like this could take shape.
Griffin had reportedly lost the locker room. Haynes mentioned how players complained about roles, touches, and chemistry while also questioning the schemes on both sides of the ball. Things were simply not clicking, and the front office clearly felt like it was time to take things in a new direction.
Now, the team needs a new head coach. For now, Joe Prunty will serve as the interim, which marks the second time this has happened to him. He was the interim head coach for Milwaukee after they let go of Jaron Kidd several years ago. However, he's not expected to remain in that position, as the Bucks have a handful of targets in mind.
The man currently in the driver's seat is Doc Rivers, per Haynes and several other widely-reported NBA sources. Haynes, in particular, mentioned that Rivers may have a leg up over other candidates due to his past history of coaching star players, including Paul Piece, Ray Allen, Kevin Garnett, and many other household names in today's game, like Paul George, Kawhi Leonard, and Joel Embiid.
Per Haynes, other names on the shortlist of candidates include Jeff Van Gundy and Nate McMillian. The Athletic's Shams Charania, Sam Amick, and Eric Nehm (subscription required) have reported that Kenny Atkinson is also in the mix. It's worth noting that the trio mentioned Atkinson being the top choice for Milwaukee if they were unable to pry Rivers away from ESPN and ABC.
The latest update is that the Bucks and Rivers are working toward a deal, but there is no agreement in place at this time, per Haynes.
UPDATE: There is indeed an agreement. Doc Rivers is in. ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski has reported that Dave Joerger is a high-level assistant under consideration to join Rivers' staff in Milwaukee.
Do the Bucks have a legitimate shot at trading for Dejounte Murray? Who else might be on their radar?
Before all of this chaos regarding the coach took place, the big news involving the Bucks was their rumored interest in trading for Dejounte Murray of the Atlanta Hawks. Murray is currently among the top players remaining on the trade market, and it seems inevitable that he will be moved in the coming weeks. Do the Bucks have a legitimate chance to get him? It's not off the table.
On a recent episode of the #thisleague UNCUT podcast, Haynes and Stein, who host together, spoke about Milwaukee's interest in making a move before the deadline, calling their mindset "aggressive." Even though the Hawks are rumored to want two first-rounders for Murray, something the Bucks don't have, that has not stopped them from trying to acquire the guard.
Haynes believes Milwaukee could aim to flip some of their current players to land the necessary draft capital to please Atlanta. Perhaps the Bucks could rope in another team to hypothetically take on the contract of say, Bobby Portis, to send more draft capital to Atlanta. The pathway to getting Murray on the Bucks will not be easy, but the front office is clearly looking at scenarios to make it happen.
For now, Milwaukee's interest in Murray is seemingly exploratory, but it could intensify at any moment. If the Bucks are somehow able to pull off a trade for Murray after having acquired Damian Lillard over the summer, no one should ever question Jon Horst's ability to make things happen upstairs. It's all about the waiting game right now, as the deadline isn't until February 8.
On that same podcast episode, the pair mentioned players like Dorian Finney-Smith, Alex Caruso, Matisse Thybulle, and Bruce Brown as players who could make sense as trade targets for the Bucks. Any of those names would make for good additions to strengthen this team's point of attack defense, but it seems like the Bucks are eyeing the biggest fish on the market right now.
Could the Bucks bring back an old friend via the buyout market?
After being dealt to the LA Clippers in the James Harden trade earlier this season, P.J. Tucker has fallen out of their rotation entirely. There's an excellent chance he gets moved before the deadline. Yet, with an $11.5 million salary, a contender likely will not take him on. It's more likely that he gets dealt to a rebuilding team who can afford the salary, which may lead to a buyout.
This was the exact scenario floated recently by Yahoo Sports' NBA insider Jake Fischer, who said the Washington Wizards could be a legitimate suitor for Tucker. Washington would almost certainly be willing to offer him a buyout to become a free agent. In that case, Fischer has said that Milwaukee and Phoenix would be legitimate landing sports for the veteran forward.
Tucker would indeed be a good fit for the Bucks on some level. Though he may not be the player he once was, he can still provide leadership, toughness, and perhaps some defense when called upon. On a buyout, bringing him aboard would be incredibly low-risk.
First, to get Tucker, the Bucks would have to clear a roster spot. This is more than likely to happen in a trade of their own, whether it's for Murray or someone else. Given how much money they have tied up, Milwaukee is unlikely to cut a player to make room for Tucker.
When it comes to buyout, fans should know that under new rules, the Bucks cannot bring in a player who made more than the mid-level exception due to them being over the tax line, per Kurt Helin of NBC Sports. The example he gave was Kyle Lowry, who was just traded to the Charlotte Hornets and is not likely to stick around. Bucks fans can cross him off the wish list.
What are the Milwaukee Bucks offering in trades?
The Milwaukee Bucks do not have the richest amount of assets, but the front office is working with what they have right now to make a move regardless.
According to a new report from Fischer, the Bucks are gauging the value of their 2024 second-round pick from Portland. Fischer says that there are front offices who think that pick can be more valuable than a late first due to it not being bound to a rookie-scale and that it carries lower tax implications, per Fischer. That could be a huge asset for Milwaukee.
Elsewhere, Milwaukee is reportedly seeing what a package of Cameron Payne and Pat Connaughton could get them. Fischer mentions Matisse Thybulle and P.J. Tucker as reasonable targets. The former would be an excellent addition for the Bucks. A deal of Payne, Connaughton, and that Portland pick, which would ironically head back to Portland, would be a great move.
Fischer mentioned that Alex Caruso would be a dream addition for Milwaukee, but with Chicago in the market for multiple first-round picks for him, it's unlikely to happen.
It's eye-catching that Fischer did not mention anything about the Bucks potentially shopping Portis. Obviously, if they are going after someone with a hefty salary like Murray, they'd have to include the big man to keep the Big 4 together, but they could keep him in most other scenarios. He should be on the block if the Milwaukee Bucks can get an upgrade.
Stay tuned for more Milwaukee Bucks analysis.