Should the Bucks rebuild

[Street Hunger]

Or should they wait and see how they do when Khris Middleton returns to action before even considering it?

Also, Brook Lopez looks washed.

[tontoz]

Yes. They could get a serious haul of picks and this is a strong draft. Personally I hope they don't do it because I don't want the extra competition for ping pong balls

[Real Men Wear Green]

With the injury they could definitely get Chet Holmgren included in a major package for Antetokunmpo, may be able to get Herro and Rozier for Lillaird. If they get another 4 picks or something like that in the Holmgren/GA deal they would be right back in the playoffs next year with a bright future, although they would be worrying about Holmgren for his whole career.

Definitely wouldn't count on Middleton coming off two ankle surgeries to fix the defense.

[bison]

The panic talk is funny. They are in the eastern conference which means they are gonna get plenty of opportunities to play mediocre teams multiple times night in and night out for the next several months. Same for sixers. Regression to the mean is a real thing in the nba.

[Real Men Wear Green]

The panic talk is funny. They are in the eastern conference which means they are gonna get plenty of opportunities to play mediocre teams multiple times night in and night out for the next several months. Same for sixers. Regression to the mean is a real thing in the nba.

They have been booted in the first round for two years in a row and although it's early in this season the combo of Doc, Giannis and Dame is 19-27 over Rivers tenure. Goannis injuries are the main reason for the playoff failure but the fact that their superstar has a hard time being healthy enough to carry them in the playoffs is just one more reason to move on.

[highwhey]

yes. giannis is going to bolt regardless. and even if they fire the gm, it would take a miracle to retool quickly and become a contender. might as well rebuild long-term. sell giannis. i think he wants to reunite with Bud, so send him to Phoenix. i know he misses Grayson Allen too

[L.Kizzle]

When does Middleton come back? Either way, I'd wait until Christmas to pull the plug if they're still bad.

[Neal Romer]

With the injury they could definitely get Chet Holmgren included in a major package for Antetokunmpo, may be able to get Herro and Rozier for Lillaird. If they get another 4 picks or something like that in the Holmgren/GA deal they would be right back in the playoffs next year with a bright future, although they would be worrying about Holmgren for his whole career.

Definitely wouldn't count on Middleton coming off two ankle surgeries to fix the defense.

It's not an unrealistic trade in terms of what both teams might be looking for, but OKC would have to give up a lot more depth to make the salaries match. For ex a Chet, Dort, Caruso, and Topic package would be just barely enough to make the trade doable salary wise.

Which I think still leaves OKC enough to contend with Giannis, SGA, JayWil, Hartenstein, and then bench pieces like Isiah Joe and Cason Wallace. But youre really counting on Giannis health in that scenario. If hes hurt in the playoffs you cant survive. Whereas their current depth allows them to survive without Chet for a series or two, very similar to Boston and KP last year.

So it might make them a better team IF healthy, but a worse team if not healthy. It'd be a gamble on SGA and Giannis staying healthy the whole postseason. Theyd have virtually no margin for injury.

[iamgine]

No. Giannis is still Giannis. Lillard is still really good.

They need to change something to make the role players play better, especially Gary Trent Jr and Bobby Portis who's been just brutal. You can't have players playing 25+ minutes a game playing that badly.

[Neal Romer]

No. Giannis is still Giannis. Lillard is still really good.

They need to change something to make the role players play better, especially Gary Trent Jr and Bobby Portis who's been just brutal. You can't have players playing 25+ minutes a game playing that badly.

I dunno.

Even if they put together a decent playoff showing this year, what is their future? Lopez is 36 and will be a free agent, this could be his last year. Middleton and Lillard are both mid 30s and injury prone. I dont think this team has a five year window, more like a 2 year window at most. Theyre not in position to add anything more, so theyre all-in with this roster. Is it enough to make a finals? If theyre all healthy, it's not impossible. But they also have to weigh that against their window for getting value back for these guys. If they play this season out and it ends with another Giannis injury, coupled with lets say Lillard or Middleton abruptly retiring, theyre stuck with nothing in the cupboard.

It's not a five year window, it's a two. Do they think theyre serious finals contenders in that time? If yes, keep it together. If not, get value while you can.

[highwhey]

I dunno.

Even if they put together a decent playoff showing this year, what is their future? Lopez is 36 and will be a free agent, this could be his last year. Middleton and Lillard are both mid 30s and injury prone. I dont think this team has a five year window, more like a 2 year window at most. Theyre not in position to add anything more, so theyre all-in with this roster. Is it enough to make a finals? If theyre all healthy, it's not impossible. But they also have to weigh that against their window for getting value back for these guys. If they play this season out and it ends with another Giannis injury, coupled with lets say Lillard or Middleton abruptly retiring, theyre stuck with nothing in the cupboard.

It's not a five year window, it's a two. Do they think theyre serious finals contenders in that time? If yes, keep it together. If not, get value while you can.

they should let this year play out as you said and re-assess during the summer. but personally i'd rebuild, ship the big names out for picks and definitely get rid of their GM. i'd have a whole lot more confidence in them making a finals run if they had Bud, that was such a huge mistake letting him go. but since the celtics are the only real team blocking the way to the finals, maybe they go for it. every team is an injury or two away from not being their best version.

[Neal Romer]

they should let this year play out as you said and re-assess during the summer. but personally i'd rebuild, ship the big names out for picks and definitely get rid of their GM. i'd have a whole lot more confidence in them making a finals run if they had Bud, that was such a huge mistake letting him go. but since the celtics are the only real team blocking the way to the finals, maybe they go for it. every team is an injury or two away from not being their best version.

Probably what they will do, especially if this start proves to be at least something of an outlier by the trade deadline.

If they're still at a .200 win % by that time and not even in the playoff picture... then they might have to really look at blowing it up.

[Meticode]

No.

The need to remove Rivers immediately and his core of coaches he brought in and find a better fit. They can still be very competitive if they make the right moves in the next season or two.

[bdonovan]

Jrue Holiday was a great fit for this team. He's helped the Celtics win. I don't know if I agree with the front desk rationale that they needed more scoring in the playoffs; other factors could have accounted for their losing.

The Bucks are 22nd in team D
https://www.nba.com/stats/teams/defe...ort=DEF_RATING

When they won they were a top 10 defensive team
https://www.nba.com/stats/teams/defe...ort=DEF_RATING

Anyone know why they're losing besides not playing defense well? Lillard 3 pt shooting at 34.8% doesn't look great.

[PAOK]

The team is flawed, old, and at best will probably get to the 2nd round of the playoffs. Besides Giannis there is nothing else to be excited for.

Considering that the next available draft pick for the Bucks is in 2031, they should trade everyone for picks while they still can https://fanspo.com/nba/teams/Bucks/17/draft-picks

Giannis can easily get the 3-5 1st round picks, plus a couple of talented players, BroLo is a serviceable veteran and an expiring contract and Portis still has decent value