It is weird to be watching the NBA Playoffs and not see Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks featured. The league is changing, and the reigning champions, the OKC Thunder, are teaching the Bucks a valuable lesson of how to be so dominant. Depth is the key to the league now, not trading for big names.
Bucks should follow in Thunder's footsteps
In Game 1 of the Thunder's Western Conference Semifinals matchup with the LA Lakers, they won by 18 points with 10 players all hitting the double-digit mark for minutes played. The trend has always been for teams to shorten their rotations when the postseason arrives, but the title holders don't do that thanks to their sheer strength in depth.
One area where they thrive is in the wing positions. They made a move for Alex Caruso before the 2024-25 season, and that panned out perfectly for them, moving on from the young, talented prospect Josh Giddey.
Caruso added to a long list of wings that can play defense and hit shots when called upon. With that ability to throw a variety of defenders at opposing wings, it has led to them being a top-five defense once again, as well as possessing the league's best offense.
OKC does have the luxury of having the reigning MVP and likely 2025-26 MVP in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, but the Bucks have Giannis. Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren are STILL on their rookie contracts until next season, yet both are All-Star-caliber players, something the Bucks haven't managed in some time.
Granted, the Thunder ransacked the Clippers of their draft capital in the Shai deal, along with Sam Presti accumulating picks elsewhere. It would be hard for the Bucks to replicate this, but they should be looking to bolster the roster rather than hoping another big trade can push them back atop the NBA.
Bucks depth building can start this summer
Taylor Jenkins is in as the new head coach, and the roster needs reconstruction following a dismal season. The front office's first port of call is the NBA Draft. OKC and even last season's runners-up, the Indiana Pacers, have shown that building out through the draft, while players on their rookie deals can lead to success.
Where the Bucks go with that pick is a different question. They have a number of holes in the rotation, and in recent years have taken young, high upside prospects that aren't quite ready to be thrown straight into the rotation. Going for an experienced wing like Yaxel Lendeborg could be a move they make this year, should he be available, but they still need help in the backcourt.
In Ousmane Dieng, they have a castoff from the Thunder, showing how strong their roster is after his impressive spell with the Bucks. They need to make sure they re-sign Frenchman as he has shown so much potential and his versatility is not something that should be looked over too easily.
These are just starting points for the Bucks that they can tackle this summer. OKC has been utterly dominant for three seasons, but before that, they were building for many years to get to this point, where they are the team to beat.
It won't be a full rebuild, nor should it be, for the Bucks whilst Giannis is in town. Financially, they don't have the rookie scale deals right now, along with Damian Lillard's contract on the books, so it will take time, but building out the depth of a roster is clearly the recipe for success in the current NBA.
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