BUCKS HAVE BEEN TOO QUIET AFTER A DISASTROUS SEASON
The NBA trade market is heating up, and the rumor mill is in full swing. The Oklahoma City Thunder have already swung for the fences by acquiring Alex Caruso. Meanwhile, the New York Knicks established themselves as a top team in the Eastern Conference with the trade for Mikal Bridges.
Yet, amid all the noise, the Milwaukee Bucks are nowhere to be found. A team that came into the 2023-24 NBA season with championship hopes, the Bucks crashed out of the postseason with a whimper. The duo of Damian Lillard and Giannis Antetokounmpo fell drastically short of expectations. They were eliminated from the playoffs in the opening round.
The Bucks have to improve. They have one of the best duos in the NBA. However, their supporting cast is aging and has shown signs of decline. Strangely, the team isn't being floated in trade rumors. That means they're either doing a great job keeping their business under wraps or not engaging in potential trade discussions.
Milwaukee's fans will undoubtedly hope there are some changes in the pipelines. If the Bucks run their current roster back next season, it's unlikely their fortune will change. They need to add some athleticism and movement shooting to the rotation. They also need to figure out how to replace the defensive versatility they lost when trading Jrue Holiday last summer.
The Bucks aren't a top-tier contender as currently constructed. Sure, they have two star names, and their supporting cast is high-level. However, the Boston Celtics and Knicks are more versatile on both sides of the floor. They have more weapons. Milwaukee must get started on improving its roster.
Otherwise, it may be time to re-tool around Giannis. The Bucks can't stand pat. Appeasing Giannis has to be the priority. How they go about making that happen remains to be seen, but if there isn't movement over the summer, things could get chippy in the locker room next season.
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