There's no guarantee that the Milwaukee Bucks are done making moves, but it's time to judge their roster as currently constructed.
All 18 players, including 15 on standard contracts and three on two-ways, will be categorized into a tier that best reflects their place on this roster. That said, without wasting more time, let us dive in by first taking a look at the younger, unknown Milwaukee Bucks.
Tier 8 - The unknowns
AJ Johnson, Tyler Smith, Ryan Rollins, Stanley Umude, Anzejs Pasecniks
All of these players pose more question marks than answers. For that very reason, none of them will likely be too involved on the court this coming season.
AJ Johnson and Tyler Smith are the big fish, as they were both recently drafted. Both showed flashes of potential during the Summer League, but at 19, it's hard to imagine either of them breaking into this veteran-oriented rotation anytime soon. This year will be about their development and how much the pair can learn from the veterans and implement that into their respective games.
While they are older than the raw 19-year-olds, the three two-way players likely won't see much time with the Bucks either, as they will be in the G-League with the Wisconsin Herd. There is potential among the group, as Rollins had an impressive Summer League showcase, and Umude has put out plenty of intriguing tape as a 3-and-D wing, but there are still question marks.
Tier 7 - Contributor or trade bait?
Pat Connaughton, MarJon Beauchamp
The Milwaukee Bucks are always scouting the trade market for players who could further bolster their roster. If they are in trade negotiations anytime soon, two players bound to arise in conversations are Pat Connaughton and MarJon Beauchamp, who are on the fence in terms of rotation spots.
Connaughton's $9.4 million salary for the 2024-25 season makes him a prime candidate to be moved, especially considering Milwaukee's limited avenues to improve thanks to the second apron. A decent deal like that could help net the Milwaukee Bucks a solid player in return without shaking up the roster too drastically, perhaps helping them bulk up their somewhat thin frontcourt depth.
The guard simply hasn't looked like himself over the past two seasons. Having used to be a glue guy for this second unit, injuries have seemingly forced him to take a step back. Considering the Bucks employ several potential-filled younger players who bring in far less than Connaughton financially, moving the veteran would be reasonable if they feel like they have proper fill-ins waiting in the wings.
Beauchamp is at a far different point in his career. The former first-round pick just played in his third Summer League, and he didn't put much on tape to provide optimism, struggling mightily. When the wing was drafted in 2022, the hope was that he'd be a nightly contributor for Milwaukee now. Well, it hasn't worked out that way, posing questions about his future with the franchise.
With a $2.7 million salary for this coming season, the odds of getting anything valuable in exchange for Beauchamp are far slimmer than with Connaughton. However, if they feel like this experiment has run its course, perhaps they could aim to flip him for some sort of minimal draft capital. It all depends on how strongly they feel about the young wing as he prepares for year three in Milwaukee.
Tier 6 - Fighting for a rotation spot
AJ Green, Chris Livingston, Andre Jackson Jr.
It seems like one of these three has a chance to become a legitimate rotation player for Milwaukee this coming season.
Of the bunch, AJ Green feels like the likeliest candidate. He played quite a bit under Doc Rivers this past season, having seemingly impressed the veteran coach. The appeal is clear, as Green is one of the best 3-point shooters on the entire roster and has shown glimpses of defensive potential. The undrafted third-year guard becoming a contributor would be a major win for the franchise.
Andre Jackson Jr. also cannot be ignored, as he's arguably the most potential-filled player this team employs. In brief spurts last season, he showed that he could serve as a jack of all trades, doing what the team needed at any point to make an impact. For a team that needs as many athletic perimeter defenders as possible, Jackson certainly has a case to be in the mix.
The wing's individual stock is in a weird spot right now, as even before he suffered a fractured finger, he was having a very quiet Summer League showing. Jackson had an opportunity to show why he deserved to be in the mix for the Bucks, but he didn't. The potential is still there, but he will have to put it on display upon returning from this rehab process.
On the other hand, no Buck raised their stock more in the Summer League than Chris Livingston. The 20-year-old looked confident in every aspect of the game, scoring the ball with force, letting it fly from deep, rebounding like a menace and playing solid defense. Even if he is still raw, there's a chance he could help this team if given the opportunity.
Tier 5 - Certified role players
Taurean Prince, Delon Wright
The Milwaukee Bucks patched two very big roster holes by signing Taurean Prince and Delon Wright to minimum deals in NBA Free Agency. They aren't the flashiest names, but they are two certified role players who will fit nicely in this rotation.
Prince gives the Bucks a lengthy 6-foot-6 forward who will increase their versatility, something this roster lacked mightily in 2023-24. Offensively, he's a strong outside shooter, having hit 37.6 percent of his career triples. Defensively, he has the necessary size and length to guard just about everyone on the court, giving this team another strong defensive presence.
Sticking with the versatility angle, Wright is a 6-foot-5 combo guard who can bring the basketball up the court or play off the ball, so he'll be plugged into various lineup combinations. Defensively, his size will allow him to defend other guards and some smaller forwards. In addition to the defense he brings, the perimeter shot he possesses is solid, so he'll be able to space the floor quite well for the stars.
Both players will be nightly contributors, likely being among the first names to come off of the bench. These could end up becoming two masterful free-agent signings by the Milwaukee Bucks if the two live up to the expectations surrounding them. Already, getting them on minimum deals is a massive win for the franchise.
Tier 4 - Above average contributors
Brook Lopez, Bobby Portis, Gary Trent Jr.
These three Milwaukee Bucks will all be vital cogs this coming season.
Brook Lopez's importance is obvious. He's the defensive menace close to the hoop that provides rim protection like very few other players can. The addition of quality perimeter defenders such as Wright and Prince should only help Lopez further on defense, as those two can slow down offensive players before they get to the hoop, giving the big man more time to get into position - unlike last season.
While his main priority will be defense, Lopez is no stranger to putting the ball in the hoop and scoring points. This coming season, he'll be surrounded by more offensive talent than ever before, so he will have plenty of open looks from long distance. If the big man can keep his 3-point percentage north of the 36 mark, he'll be due for a huge season.
Bobby Portis should also benefit from all of the offensive talent around him, as it will free him up more. Having other capable scorers like Wright and Prince come off the bench alongside him could also take pressure off of Portis' shoulders to carry all of the load offensively in the second unit, something this team lacked last season - and in other past years.
Though has certainly has his shortcomings defensively, there's no denying the talent Portis is on the offensive end when he's in a groove. He's one of the top sixth men in the entire association, and he's proven that he can help this team win at the highest level. The Bucks need his scoring and shooting off of the bench to keep the offense flowing, and this revamped supporting cast should only help him.
A player who will make life easier for both of these players is Gary Trent Jr. He is arguably the biggest steal of NBA Free Agency across the league, as the Bucks landed a surefire 25-year-old starting two guard for the veteran's minimum. He'll fit in seamlessly with this group.
Shooting 38.6 percent from deep on 6.4 attempts per game during his career, Trent will command attention from defenses, putting them in a tough spot. They will be forced to either defend him and leave someone else less covered or give Trent more space to fire. Averaging 14.3 points per game in his career, the Milwaukee Bucks just added another capable scoring threat to beef up the offense.
Tier 3 - The perfect third fiddle
Khris Middleton
The past few years have not been without their challenges for Khris Middleton, as he's been banged up with countless injuries. In fact, he's currently rehabbing from offseason surgery on both ankles, giving him yet another obstacle to overcome on the injury front. Despite his overall production suffering due to these various injuries, he's still no doubt the third-best player on this team.
Middleton showed in the NBA Playoffs that when he's remotely healthy, he's still electric. Although he was playing through a smaller injury, Middleton put the team on his back by averaging 24.7 points, 9.2 rebounds and 4.7 assists in six games against the Indiana Pacers. He still has that clutch gene in him, having hit several big shots as he tried to will this short-handed team to victory.
He's still undoubtedly one of the smoothest scorers the game has the offer, and his facilitating is an underrated aspect of his game as well. Playing behind a pair of superstars and a supporting cast of highly decorated role players, the forward could earn more open looks this season than ever before, setting him up for success.
Middleton simply needs to stay healthy. Hopefully, after getting his ankles cleaned up this offseason, he'll be fully healthy and ready to go by the time camp opens. Luckily, if rehab goes well, all signs point to him being out there when the festivities begin. The Milwaukee Bucks need their third option to be fully healthy to win another NBA title.
Tier 2 - The second star
Damian Lillard
Damian Lillard didn't look like Damian Lillard last season for several reasons. He was dealing with the move away from Portland and family, personal issues, an awkward roster, the inability to train during the offseason because he was waiting to be traded and injuries. This offseason, things are different, and Lillard has been in the gym constantly to bounce back from last season's well-documented woes.
Who Lillard is on the basketball court needs very little introduction. He's one of the best scorers and shooters the game has to offer, and there were glimpses of that in 2023-24 despite everything that was holding him back. With a chance to build chemistry with his teammates and the coaching staff, a luxury he didn't have last offseason, Damian Lillard should be more comfortable this year.
The roster is also more well-constructed than it was last year. Lillard landed in Milwaukee just days before camp began, so the roster was built more for a defensive-minded guard like Jrue Holiday than one of the best scorers in the NBA. Role players like Taurean Prince and Delon Wright can help ease some of the defensive workload off Lillard's shoulders, allowing him to focus more on his offense.
As mentioned in the Middleton section, health will be a factor here as well, as Lillard was banged up in the NBA Playoffs. If everyone can stay healthy, there is no doubt that the Milwaukee Bucks can have a fantastic offense with three top-tier scorers. Milwaukee will certainly be getting a motivated Lillard during the 2024-25 campaign.
Tier 1 - The superstar
Giannis Antetokounmpo
There won't be controversy here. Not only is Giannis Antetokounmpo the best player on the Bucks, but he's also arguably the best player in the entire world. Plenty of people have questioned that last statement over the past few years, but it's largely due to health. This coming season, Antetokounmpo will have an opportunity to snatch the title back for his own.
This past season, Antetokounmpo became the first player in league history to average 30 points on 60 percent field goal shooting. Unfortunately, his dominant season was cut short due to injury, as he didn't play a single game in the postseason. Yet, as he's shown for Greece in the Olympics, he still has his touch without question.
This coming season, there's an argument to be had that Antetokounmpo will be surrounded by more talent than ever before. Having a well-fitted supporting cast could help him take his game up a notch. Of course, having ample time to build chemistry with Damian Lillard will also be beneficial, as the pair now have a better idea of how to coexist and get the best out of each other.
After the past few years have been filled with injuries and playoff shortcomings, there's no doubt that Giannis Antetokounmpo will be motivated to silence the Milwaukee Bucks' doubters in 2024-25.
Stay tuned for more Milwaukee Bucks analysis.