The Milwaukee Bucks face a slew of questions regarding the roster for the 2024-25 NBA season. After trading Jrue Holiday and Grayson Allen for Damian Lillard last offseason, Milwaukee was supposed to be a team built for the NBA playoffs. And that may have been the case, or at least it could have been, had Giannis Antetokounmpo not been hurt.
Of course, Giannis wasn’t the only player to suffer injuries during the Bucks’ brief postseason run before they were eliminated by the Indiana Pacers. Lillard re-injured his Achilles and was severely circumscribed later in the series and even missed the game. Khris Middleton was able to play the entire series, but once again played with a leg injury.
It was clear that the Milwaukee Bucks didn’t have a good enough supporting cast
Without Giannis not playing at all in this series and with Lillard not at full strength, the Bucks struggled to field a team that could keep up with the younger and faster Pacers team. Middleton performed exceptionally well, averaging 24.7 points, 9.2 rebounds and 4.7 assists per game. He recorded four double-doubles in the series and scored 42 points in a Game 3 loss.
Unfortunately, no one else on the Bucks roster did it the same way Middleton did. Bobby Portis was ejected from the game, Malik Beasley was terrible defensively (as he had been throughout the regular season), and the rest of Milwaukee’s reserves just weren’t good enough.
The Bucks in particular had difficulty defending the Pacers’ three-point attempts and keeping up with their transition offense. Brook Lopez is still an elite rim protector, but that became a moot point during the series due to how scorching the Pacers were from beyond the arc.
Patrick Beverley has provided a stalwart defense, but he’s a free agent and will likely cost more than Milwaukee can afford. In fact, most free agents will cost more than the Bucks are willing to pay due to their status as repeat second-money spenders.
An NBA analyst suggests the Milwaukee Bucks should try to trade for Marcus Smart
Since Milwaukee can’t afford to sign a high-profile 3-D winger in free agency, it may look to pursue one on the trade market. If this is the path they choose, Greg Swartz z Bleacher Report thinks Memphis Grizzlies star Marcus Smart would be a dream trade target for the Bucks:
“Marcus Smart has been a few seasons removed from the Defensive Player of the Year award, although he remains a huge improvement in perimeter defense compared to anyone the Milwaukee Bucks currently have on their roster.
“The Bucks finished the game only 19th in defense last season. Placing Smart in the backcourt next to Damian Lillard gives Milwaukee a defensive stopper who has 108 playoff appearances under his belt during his time with the Boston Celtics. It would also be a perfect counter to Boston’s trade for Jrue Holiday last offseason.
“Milwaukee has circumscribed trade resources and may need to turn one of their veterans (Khris Middleton, Brook Lopez or Bobby Portis) into a multi-player veteran. Depth was a real issue after trading for Lillard.
“With Giannis Antetokounmpo, this team should continue to have championship aspirations. Injuries could derail their 2023-24 season, although a few lineup tweaks and defensive assist could get the Bucks back into title contention.
As Swartz notes, trading for Smart would cost the Bucks at least one of their core players. It’s also questionable whether Milwaukee would trade for the former Defensive Player of the Year after he played in just 20 games last season.
It is worth adding, however, that before the injury, Smart averaged 14.5 points per game, the highest in his career. His average of 2.1 steals per game was also a career high.
Honestly, a starting lineup of Lillard, Smart, Middleton, Giannis and Lopez would be one of the most intimidating in the NBA.
This still wouldn’t solve the depth problem, though.
For more great Wisconsin sports content
Follow me on Twitter at @theotherRobin19 and follow us @WiSportsHeroics for more great content. To read more of our articles and stay up to date with Wisconsin sports news, click here!
Mayfield Sports Marketing
Call Mayfield Sports Marketing at 262-366-8188 to schedule Green Bay Packers players or alumni for a corporate appearance or product promotion. Our booking agents will work on your behalf to get you the best price for your chosen sports speaker. Mayfield Sports Marketing has gained a reputation as a company that invites top athletes to speak at events and trade shows. To learn more about Packers or alumni appearance costs and booking fees, call us today. www.MayfieldSports.com.
