Once the season concludes and an NBA champion is decided, the Milwaukee Bucks will officially kick off what should be an interesting off-season.
Unlike last off-season and even mid-season, there likely will not be many blockbuster surprises, but the team will have the tools to make some moves. Following this season's early playoff departure, it's clear that there are several areas that need to be tweaked on this roster. That said, let us highlight a few items on the Milwaukee Bucks' off-season to-do list.
No. 1 - Shop almost everyone in trades
The Milwaukee Bucks could very well approach this off-season with the idea that their early exit was due to injuries and that they could run it back next season. They shouldn't. Even when they're healthy, it's clear that this roster has some holes. To patch some of those holes, which will be discussed in the coming sections, players will have to be shopped in trades.
It seems safe to say that the Big 3 of Giannis Antetokounmpo, Damian Lillard and Khris Middleton will be safe from trade conversations. The front office should at least gauge the value of everyone else to see what their value is on the market or what they may be able to get in return in a trade, especially with the team set to have some draft picks ready to ship out as well.
The two primary trade candidates should be Bobby Portis and Pat Connaughton. Both veterans have decently-sized contracts, which would be needed in deals. Portis just finished top three in the NBA's Sixth Man of the Year running, so he's undeniably got legitimate value, especially if draft capital is in the equation as well.
Brook Lopez should be evaluated as well. While he's proven to be a great fit for the Bucks, there were times this season where it was hard to play him due to his age and dwindling athleticism. With a huge salary of $23 million next season, the Bucks could potentially land a big fish if they were to package him and whatever else was needed.
Ultimately, very few players should be safe from trade discussions.
No. 2 - Add more athleticism and/or youth
Outside of health, arguably Milwaukee's most prominent problem is the roster's lack of athleticism. As one of the oldest teams in the NBA, the Bucks were not the spriest unit in the league this season, and opposing teams oftentimes took advantage of that, blowing by them in transition, fighting much harder on rebounds or just flat-out frying Milwaukee's defenders, who were typically a step behind.
This was all one of the reasons Bucks fans were so persistent about wanting Andre Jackson Jr. to get more time on the floor. Whether he was playing hard defense, blocking shots, throwing down dunks or simply getting back in transition, he proved he could his this team. Now, the team needs to bring in more players who check those boxes.
Andre Jackson Jr. spiked this block. pic.twitter.com/cl2UFHcIEQ
— Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks) April 26, 2024
The Bucks will have several interesting avenues to improve this weakness. They are set to have both a first and second-round pick in the upcoming 2024 NBA Draft, giving them a chance to add two young pieces who could boast athleticism and other tools to help this team. Daron Holmes II from Dayton could be an interesting pick for the Milwaukee Bucks in this regard.
There will also be potential hidden gems littered throughout NBA Free Agency. If Patrick Beverley is out the door, Dennis Smith Jr. could be a nice, athletic fill-in. Lonnie Walker IV could provide a dose of athletic ability on the wing, as could K.J. Martin. They might not be the flashiest names, but they have the tools to help a team that desperately needs a jolt of youth and athleticism soon.
No. 3 - Find versatile defenders
This objective somewhat ties in with the last section, as the Bucks should be on the hunt for versatile defenders who also possess athleticism, especially on the wing. Again, Andre Jackson Jr. could have helped the Bucks out a ton in this regard, but the team primarily relied on veterans like Malik Beasley and Pat Connaughton, two guys who oftentimes could not keep up defensively.
The Milwaukee Bucks need to add a player or two who can take on multiple positions and thrive in a switch-heavy scheme defensively. This player was supposed to be Jae Crowder, which is why they gave up a haul to get him, but that never panned out. This off-season, they have to address the issue, whether it's via the draft, trade or free agency.
Via trade, a few notable names worth keeping an eye on are Dejounte Murray, De'Andre Hunter and Alex Caruso. All of those players could be interested into the lineup and immediately help this team out defensively, shoring up the team's versatility mightily. They may actually have the ammunition to pull off a trade or at least make a competitive offer now compared to mid-season.
The Bucks should especially aim to find someone who could allow the team to go to their smaller lineups with Giannis Antetokounmpo at the five. Again, this was supposed to be Crowder, but that never happened. A versatile power forward with athleticism could work wonders for the Bucks and help unleash one of their deadliest lineup combinations.
It should be a busy off-season in Milwaukee as they aim to fill these roster holes.
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