Milwaukee succumbed to Indiana in Game 5 of the initial playoff round on Tuesday, thereby getting knocked out of the competition.
Revised Article:
The Milwaukee Bucks' ship seems sunk, with the West Coast Tsunami leaving no hope in sight. The only thing left to watch is whether they trade their star player, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and if so, when. Damian Lillard's injury was the final wave, capsizing the Good Ship Giannis, long after the rest of the ship was infested with playing-time rats.
Let's dive in: You'll forgive Lillard if some of these tales feel eerily familiar, as each wave of his misfortune carries a subtle hint of déjà vu.
The first wave is a haunting twist of fate - a March Achilles injury like the one Wesley Matthews suffered in 2015 on the Portland Trail Blazers. Waves of adversity followed, leading to a first-round defeat to Memphis. All-Star forward LaMarcus Aldridge left the shippost-season, and the Blazers rebuilt from the ashes to reach the 2019 Western Conference finals.
The second wave carries the irony of Lillard's injury potentially sinking the Milwaukee Bucks in the same way it once sank his tenure in Portland - a prolonged wait for a trade demand and the endgame of a losing roster.
As for the possibility of contending anytime soon, it was already a distant hope for the Bucks. Post-Lillard injury, it's as likely as finding lasting love in a storm-tossed ocean.
Their cupboards are barren of young talent and draft assets, and their yearly dance with the salary cap means they'll continue to take on water. The Bucks' second-best players after Antetokounmpo, Brook Lopez and Bobby Portis, are both free agents. In addition, the highest-paid player under contract, Kyle Kuzma, offers little enticing value.
Antetokounmpo ranked as the third-best player in the NBA this season, and the Bucks' success is a distant memory. They barely managed a fifth seed, and their first-round elimination was well underway before Lillard's injury. Even their best player pairings were just average at best, barely qualifying as contender material.
With Lillard's streak of gargantuan cap hits ($54.1 and $58.5 million) looming for the next two seasons, attention focuses on Antetokounmpo. Like Lillard in Portland, he faces the prospect of spending his prime surrounded by mediocre crews.
For the next two seasons, the most likely fate is a sixth seed and another ignominious first-round mismatch. As for the future, Lillard's deal comes off the books in 2027, and their cap will be a bit cleaner then. However, they still lack draft prospects and a development pipeline. Antetokounmpo, who will be 32, will also be a free agent if he doesn't sign an extension.
Obviously, there's a short-term incentive for the Bucks to keep Antetokounmpo optimistic about their future. Given that Milwaukee won't see another player of his caliber this century, the temptation is strong to hold on for dear life until he's ready to leave.
Ironically, a rerun of Lillard's last two years in Portland isn't out of the question. In 2022 and 2023, his compliance fueled win-now moves postponed the inevitable - a boat-anchor contract for Jerami Grant, a protected first for Larry Nance Jr., and countless other questionable transactions - all to squeeze out two seasons of 27 and 33 games before Lillard finally asked for a trade.
It's a lesson seaworthy captains learn: When the winds have turned against you, it's best to cut your losses and start fresh. So, the looming question: Should the Bucks trade Antetokounmpo and begin anew, regardless of whether he requests a transfer?
The lack of access to their own draft picks complicates matters. A tank for a high draft pick isn't an option for another half-decade due to previous deals. Still, a shrewd move could involve trading with the New Orleans Pelicans to regain access to their 2026 and top-four 2027 unprotected first-round picks.
Possible destinations for Antetokounmpo include Houston, Brooklyn, San Antonio, and even Toronto. A package deal with Houston could net the Bucks Amen Thompson, dwindling Phoenix first-round picks, unprotected Phoenix firsts in 2027 and 2029, and enough salary-matching flotsam to compensate for Antetokounmpo's $54.6 million incoming salary.
The Brooklyn Nets could also step in with their vast cap room to soak up other Milwaukee contracts. Although they lack the young talent to tempt the Bucks, their draft capital and financial relief could prove an attractive offer.
San Antonio is another potential partner, boasting an impressive collection of prospects like Jeremy Sochan, Wembanyama, Keldon Johnson, and draft picks. Toronto, long rumored to covet Giannis, might offer their 2025 lottery pick and Scottie Barnes, along with other draft considerations.
These are a few fishing lines the Bucks might cast into the sea, but they are not alone. Rumors of suitors for Antetokounmpo swirl across the league. Even without access to their own future picks, the Bucks' dire straits demand bold moves to turn the tide. And as Damian Lillard's experience in Portland showed, delaying the inevitable only prolongs the pain.
- Despite Damian Lillard's injury being a haunting reminiscent of Wesley Matthews' past injury, the Portland Trail Blazers managed to rebuild and reach the 2019 Western Conference finals, showing the potential for the Milwaukee Bucks to do the same with Giannis Antetokounmpo.
- The irony lies in Lillard's potential exit from the Portland Trail Blazers due to a losing roster, similar to how his injury might sink the Milwaukee Bucks, leaving them with Antetokounmpo facing a similar predicament.
- With the Bucks' root issues stemming from a bare cupboard of young talent, exorbitant salary commitments, and limited draft assets, the possibility of contending in the near future appears as elusive as a thriving relationship in a storm-tossed ocean.
- During their second season without Lillard, the Trail Blazers managed to qualify for the playoffs, leading one to wonder if the Bucks, barring Antetokounmpo's trade, would face a similar first-round exit in the 2022-2023 NBA season.
