When a team trades its superstar, they typically enter a rebuild and stop worrying about winning for the next several years. That will not be the case for the Milwaukee Bucks next year. Despite trading Giannis Antetokounmpo, the Bucks want to remain competitive and are still on the hunt for more players who can help them reach that goal, including Denver's Peyton Watson.
Whether they land him or not, playoffs are on the Bucks' mind.
Bucks have no choice but to compete
The Milwaukee Bucks don't own their 2027 first -round pick, as they sent it to New Orleans in the Jrue Holiday trade—still worth it. If they had the pick and were bad next year, the one silver lining would be that they'd be in a better position to land a top pick. That won't be the case. If they are bad, they won't be the ones to reap the rewards. They might as well push for the postseason.
Their current roster reflects this desire. While they have young, raw pieces like Kasparas Jakucionis and Nate Ament, the Bucks roster also houses plenty of win-now pieces in the form of veterans like Tyler Herro, Myles Turner, Kyle Kuzma, and Caris LeVert. If Milwaukee truly wanted to hit reset, they would have likely moved Herro and Turner now to collect more assets. That's not the case.
They are putting together a roster primarily formed around 20 to 26 year olds who can help them make a push. That's why the team reportedly pursuing Watson, per insider Marc Stein (subscription required), makes so much sense. The 23-year-old forward would fit right in with everyone else in this group, growing with them in the coming years while helping them fight for the postseason.
Do the Bucks have an actual shot? Maybe
In a weakened Eastern Conference, the Milwaukee Bucks have a shot to surprise many and land in the playoff picture. No one will pick them to finish first, second, or maybe even third, but this team could absolutely work its way into the conversation somewhere if everything breaks right for them after an eventful summer.
They have an overlooked coach in Taylor Jenkins, who should bring the best out of all of the young talent, capable veterans like Herro and Turner, two-way guards in Ryan Rollins and Kevin Porter Jr., a rising rookie phenom in Brayden Burries, and plenty more assets to make a splash. Adding Watson would make them all the more dangerous, but even without him, this team wants to make noise.
Stay tuned for more Milwaukee Bucks analysis.
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