MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN – APRIL 25: Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks before game three … More
The NBA offseason waits for no man. The Finals wrapped on June 22nd, the Draft tipped off on June 25th, and free agency hits the court on June 30th. That gives the Milwaukee Bucks little time to catch their breath.
After weeks of noise about a potential Giannis Antetokounmpo trade (which turned out to be a whole lot of nothing), the Bucks are forging ahead.
With Damian Lillard expected to miss most of the season as he recovers from a torn Achilles, Milwaukee will need to get creative to stay in the contender conversation.
The front office also has to patch several roster holes. Brook Lopez, Gary Trent Jr., and Taurean Prince are all unrestricted free agents. Ryan Rollins hits restricted free agency. Meanwhile, Kevin Porter Jr. declined his player option, and Bobby Portis is widely expected to follow suit.
That leaves the Bucks with just eight players under contract: Antetokounmpo, Lillard, Kyle Kuzma, Pat Connaughton, AJ Green, Chris Livingston, Andre Jackson Jr., and Tyler Smith.
Thankfully, Milwaukee has some tools in the cap shed. They’ll likely have the Non-Taxpayer Midlevel Exception ($14.1 million), the Bi-Annual Exception ($5.1 million), and a stack of minimum contracts to play with.
So, without further ado, here are the three biggest needs they must address in free agency:
1. Playmaking and Ball-Handling
With Lillard sidelined, Antetokounmpo will likely reprise his role as Milwaukee’s point-forward—a position he handled well late last season. But even superhero Giannis can’t do it all.
The Bucks need at least one more guard who can take pressure off their MVP, run the offense in spurts, and create for others when the shot clock winds down. Rollins could return and help a bit. Porter Jr. might too, if the price is right.
But they’ll need more.
If Milwaukee wants to splash their mid-level money, they could take a swing at D’Angelo Russell, Tre Jones, Tyus Jones, or Spencer Dinwiddie. But doing so likely means saying goodbye to Trent Jr., which they’d prefer to avoid.
If they bring him back, they may be bargain hunting for steady, pass-first backups or veteran stopgaps who won’t break the bank.
2. A Mobile Big Man
The Bucks’ center rotation is up in the air. Lopez and Portis could both walk, and Jericho Sims, another free agent, isn’t likely to command more than a vet minimum deal.
Even if Sims returns, Milwaukee needs a big who can actually stay in front of guards on a switch. A nimble-footed big would let them pivot to a more modern defensive scheme—something they sorely lacked last season.
3. Shooting
No team ever has too much shooting, especially not one built around Antetokounmpo. AJ Green is back and remains an elite floor-spacer. Bringing back Trent Jr. is a top priority too.
The Bucks have a knack for finding under-the-radar snipers late in free agency—Malik Beasley in 2023 and Trent last year come to mind. There’s no reason they can’t pull that rabbit out of the hat again.
Still, they’d be wise to also add a stretch big if they can find one in their price range. Ideally, someone who can open up the paint for Giannis and keep defenders honest. Portis fits the bill if he re-signs—but Milwaukee could use one more in that mold.
With the clock ticking, the Bucks have to hit the ground running in free agency. Their margin for error is slim, but the right signings could keep them squarely in the mix—Lillard or no Lillard.
