The Milwaukee Bucks enter the offseason in a challenging situation. Sure, they have Giannis Antetokounmpo, one of the top five players in the NBA today.
They also have Damian Lillard, a seven-time All-NBA selection, but there are strings attached. Pairing Lillard with the Greek Freak was supposed to turn a good Bucks team into a championship contender again, yet they haven’t been able to escape the first round.
Now, Lillard is dealing with a torn Achilles tendon suffered during the Bucks’ latest playoff run. Since it happened so late in the basketball calendar, Lillard is expected to miss the entire season. His likely absence has some wondering if the Bucks would consider capitalizing on Antetokounmpo’s trade value, knowing the upcoming season could be a challenge.
Yet, according to ESPN’s Bobby Marks, the Bucks aren’t intending to place the face of their franchise on the trade block this offseason. In fact, the Bucks instead have “aggressive” plans to upgrade the roster and maximize the skillsets surrounding Antetokounmpo.
“It would be easy for the Bucks to put Antetokounmpo on the trade market, especially in light of Lillard’s Achilles injury and consecutive losses in the first round. However, sources confirmed to ESPN that Milwaukee will be aggressively exploring options in free agency and trades to complement Antetokounmpo.”
ESPN’s Bobby Marks on Milwaukee Bucks
The Bucks will face challenges, trying to find the perfect complementary pieces to supplement Antetokounmpo, especially in the free agent market, where players and agents recognize the tough road ahead in Milwaukee.
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