Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks have developed a pattern regarding team composition. Every few years, Antetokounmpo quietly exerts some pressure. The Bucks, eager to retain their superstar, then make a significant move through trade or free agency. Once content, Antetokounmpo proceeds to sign a contract extension.
This dynamic unfolded in 2020 when Antetokounmpo was a year away from free agency, and many teams were preparing salary cap space to pursue him. The Bucks traded for Jrue Holiday, leading to Antetokounmpo`s extension. They subsequently won a championship in 2021. The same scenario recurred in 2023. Antetokounmpo grew restless, openly suggesting a potential departure from Milwaukee. The Bucks responded by trading for Damian Lillard, and Antetokounmpo signed another extension.
However, the partnership with Lillard did not prove as successful. The duo never quite reached the level required for championship contention, and injuries led to early exits in the first round of the past two postseasons. With Lillard dealing with an Achilles injury and Antetokounmpo evaluating his options, the Bucks took a significant step on Tuesday: they waived and stretched Lillard`s contract to create the necessary cap space to sign Myles Turner directly. Reports indicate Antetokounmpo and Turner wanted to play together, and the team facilitated the move.
A key difference between the Turner acquisition and the trades for Lillard and Holiday is that Turner, while a valuable player, isn`t an All-Star like the others. More importantly, Antetokounmpo is not eligible for a contract extension this offseason, unlike in 2020 and 2023. While the Bucks may have temporarily prevented an immediate trade request, they haven`t extended their official control over him. Therefore, the timeline remains unchanged from before free agency. If the Bucks are determined to avoid proactively rebuilding by trading Antetokounmpo themselves, their objective is clear: build a team strong enough to convince Antetokounmpo to sign an extension next offseason.
Adding Turner is a positive initial step. Few centers in the NBA complement Antetokounmpo well, but Turner is one of them. His perimeter shooting provides valuable spacing alongside the two-time MVP, and their combined presence should create a formidable defensive duo protecting the paint. This mirrors the role Brook Lopez played for much of Antetokounmpo`s career, but with Lopez a 37-year-old free agent, Milwaukee needed a younger option, which they secured.
However, filling the center position alone is far from sufficient. At their peak, the Bucks also featured star-level talent in the backcourt (Holiday, then Lillard) and at small forward (Khris Middleton before injuries). The current roster lacks such proven impact players outside of the frontcourt trio of Antetokounmpo, Turner, and the re-signed Bobby Portis. Numerous questions remain. Do the Bucks have reliable guards who can consistently score? Re-signing Gary Trent Jr. and Kevin Porter Jr. helps, but they are currently bench contributors. What about perimeter defense? Andre Jackson Jr. offers some, but they likely need stronger options to compete effectively even in a less dominant Eastern Conference.
The Bucks still possess some assets, though not many. Their first-round draft picks in 2031 and 2032 are available. One can be traded outright, the other via swap rights. These future draft assets hold more value than might be immediately apparent. Given Antetokounmpo`s age and physically demanding style of play, the team`s performance potential half a decade from now is uncertain, even if he stays. These picks could fetch meaningful returns on the trade market, and considering the pressure from Antetokounmpo, the front office is almost certainly compelled to explore using them for roster upgrades.
Matching salaries poses a greater challenge, especially after waiving a player earning $50 million. Their most significant tradeable salary is currently Kyle Kuzma, who is owed $22.4 million this year and $20.3 million next. While Kuzma`s brief time with the Bucks wasn`t spectacular, he has performed as a starter previously.
Could Milwaukee engage with a team like the Boston Celtics, who recently acquired Anfernee Simons? The Celtics need a center and have limited financial flexibility. Perhaps a swap of Kuzma for Simons, who earns $27.7 million, could help Boston manage their payroll, potentially aiding in re-signing Al Horford. Boston would likely demand draft capital to take on the Kuzma contract. While giving up an unprotected first-round pick might be too steep, would the Bucks consider a pick swap?
Bobby Portis is a fan favorite but, realistically, a luxury given the current roster needs. His projected $13.6 million salary could potentially be used more effectively elsewhere. Although he can`t be traded until December 15, he`s a prime candidate to be moved during the season for additional perimeter defense. Possible targets could include Jarred Vanderbilt from the Lakers, though he is a lesser player than Portis, or Matisse Thybulle from the Trail Blazers, facing a similar comparison. For a major move, the Bucks might pursue Pelicans forward Herb Jones, an elite defender capable of guarding multiple positions. Such an acquisition would likely cost an unprotected first-round pick and Portis, and even that might not be enough.
Virtually every option should be considered. Fortunately, the Bucks` front office under Jon Horst has demonstrated creativity, pulling off surprising moves like acquiring Turner seemingly out of thin air, similar to the Lillard trade two years ago. They have proven capable of making unexpected upgrades, and despite limitations on how they can further improve the roster, they will undoubtedly explore every remotely plausible possibility.
This proactive approach is necessary because the addition of Turner alone is unlikely to elevate the team into serious championship contention. Most oddsmakers, even after the Turner signing, estimate the Bucks as roughly a play-in level team. Antetokounmpo`s goal is championships, and without the prospect of Lillard`s return to form, there is no other obvious All-Star on the roster. Lacking the immediate means to acquire another star, the Bucks must execute nearly flawlessly on every subsequent move to persuade Antetokounmpo to sign that crucial extension next offseason.
Jasper Hawthorne