While other NBA teams in the East have been getting better, the Milwaukee Bucks just added a few guys to their 2024-25 roster. And speaking of that roster, a key player could be moved during the season for some unfathomable reason.
A few months agoBucks general manager Jon Horst and head coach Doc Rivers discussed the team’s roster and upcoming free agency. Because the Bucks operate as a second-string team, they have circumscribed roster-building flexibility, entering free agency with just three open spots. This strategic approach reflects their commitment to balancing veteran experience with youthful potential.
Horst emphasized the purposeful nature of the roster, noting the presence of six core players who are ready to compete for a title. He emphasized the importance of juvenile stars like MarJon Beauchamp, AJ Green and Andre Jackson Jr., who are expected to take significant steps forward this season. The additions of rookies AJ Johnson and Tyler Smith are expected to further strengthen that momentum.
Rivers acknowledged the need for juvenile talent alongside experienced players, emphasizing the value of skill development in today’s NBA. He expressed confidence that the combination of youth and experience will make the team more competitive, especially as they look to acquire more veterans through free agency.
Why the Milwaukee Bucks Could Lose Khris Middleton, Brook Lopez or Bobby Portis Jr. in an NBA Trade
Having an aging and costly roster of players around Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard doesn’t bode well for the Bucks’ future. In analysis Dan Favale for Bleacher Reportsuch a scenario could lead to management having to replace Middleton, Lopez or Portis in the future.
“Going beyond next season changes the calculus. The Bucks will be there as long as they have Giannis Antetokounmpo. But the core around him is either aging, on the verge of being sold out, or both.
Lopez, Middleton (player option for 2025-26) and Portis are set to become free agents in 2025. Meanwhile, general manager Jon Horst has It was discussed quite openly how Milwaukee is trying to protect itself for the future with a number of cost-controlled players on the roster, including recent draft picks AJ Johnson (No. 23) and Tyler Smith (No. 33).
None of the current young players are even close to replacing those three. The Bucks don’t even have a developing big man behind Lopez and Portis, unless you’re infatuated with 28-year-old Anžejs Pasečņiks. But the financial logistics of keeping the team together are getting increasingly difficult. Milwaukee could let all three of Lopez, Middleton and Portis, go next summer and still struggle to find $20 million in salary-cap space (assuming Pat Connaughton exercises his player option).
“The tough decisions can (and probably should) wait until they’re front and center after the 2024-25 season. Moving any of these three while actively improving the rotation will be tough. But losing one or more of them for nothing in the summer would be worse,” Favale wrote.
As it stands, all three players provide the Bucks with something important on both ends of the court. Moving them will mean their production will have to be taken over by a young or unproven player on their roster, making them less likely to compete well with other contenders in the Eastern Conference.
The question remains whether Milwaukee will swallow the bitter pill and trade these guys in the coming months. Hopefully, the Bucks get something of value in return to keep the championship window open.
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