Seasonal high point
Is Damian Lillard’s acquisition on September 27 considered valid? The Milwaukee Bucks’ season has been an uphill struggle from the beginning, and things got worse when Adrian Griffin was replaced by Doc Rivers.
How it ended
With unfulfilled hopes. Giannis Antetokounmpo missed the whole postseason due to injury, so it’s hard to hold the Bucks responsible for both of his injuries. Whatever the case, the Bucks fell short of the championship-caliber expectations that were imposed on them following the Lillard deal. In this unreconstructed world, outcomes are all that count.
Since the soon-to-be 34-year-old didn’t play with the volume or shooting efficiency of previous seasons, Lillard himself undoubtedly created some doubts about his long-term fit with the Bucks. It remains to be seen if Lillard’s poor season was an isolated incident or a precursor of future problems. But it’s hard to see him performing at the same level as he did in Portland his last season, when he averaged 32.2 points per game.
The future of Milwaukee is further complicated by Khris Middleton’s health. The team’s third star, who only appeared in 55 games and averaged 27 minutes per game, won’t be playing any better when he starts his 33rd season the following year.
The Bucks, who won the title just three years ago, have suddenly transformed into a team of constant concern, which is in stark contrast to how they were perceived coming into this season. This is due to the collectively declining health of Milwaukee’s star trio and the hiring of Rivers, who isn’t known for bringing players together.
Of course, this franchise’s future is drastically altered by a full season in which all three players are healthy. However, that sounds a bit too hopeful right now.
At the end of this Doc Rivers said TJ McConnell gave all the Bucks coaches a bottle of wine.
— Kory Waldron (@Just_KWal) May 3, 2024
Idk what that even means but that is some gangster behavior, enjoy the offseason Milwaukee 🍷 #BoomBaby pic.twitter.com/U4FD1KUYbO
Greatest need for the offseason
The youth that it has been for the previous two summers. The fact that the Bucks’ current roster is aging and that its three young players—MarJon Beauchamp, Andre Jackson Jr., and A.J. Green—aren’t seen as core members but rather as supporting players complicates things for a club hoping to extend its competitive window.
Direction of the organization
The first perception of Antetokounmpo and Lillard’s combination was incorrect. It turns out that Griffin, a first-year coach, lost his job because dealing Jrue Holiday for Lillard was a drastic defensive downgrade and a bad match on both ends of the court. The acquisition of Rivers in the middle of the season did little to address chemistry issues, and Antetokounmpo’s unfortunate injury made things worse.
Despite your high expectations for Milwaukee’s potential to retool around Antetokounmpo and Lillard, the Bucks are only as good as their current roster. The next season will see Brook Lopez, Lillard, and Middleton at ages 36, 34, and 33, respectively. The Bucks may bolster their defense with their meager trade assets or minimum contracts. But making sure that neither Lillard nor Antetokounmpo ask for a trade before both players have an opportunity to hone their two-man skills during the summer is their primary goal.
The objective for the next season
A genuine recovery. The Bucks should put more attention on overall improvement because this season ended in complete disaster and Antetokounmpo can become impatient with a less competitive squad.
What has the power to change the fantasy needle
In order to become fit, the Bucks must take the summer off. The late-season injuries to Lillard (Achilles) and Antetokounmpo (calf) were the last straws for Middleton, who missed 27 games in the regular season. More minutes should be preparing Jackson and Beauchamp for next season, which is an important step in their growth, especially with Milwaukee’s dearth of cap money and draft selections. The Pacers ran the Bucks out of the gym, and if they want to stay competitive in the East, they’ll need to capitalize on their athleticism to ramp up the pace and improve their defense.
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