The Milwaukee Bucks’ front office has had a hectic summer, doing everything possible to keep franchise cornerstone Giannis Antetokounmpo happy.
The Bucks made drastic changes this offseason following their third consecutive first-round playoff exit, during which Damian Lillard suffered a torn Achilles. To create cap space to sign former rival big man Myles Turner, the team waived and stretched the remaining $113 million on Lillard’s contract over the next five seasons.
By sacrificing future financial flexibility, Milwaukee has signaled that it is doing everything to keep its championship window open. With the Eastern Conference appearing wide open following Achilles injuries to Jayson Tatum and Tyrese Haliburton, it would be unwise to fully count out the Bucks and their two-time MVP just yet.
MORE: Proposed Bucks trade sends Giannis Antetokounmpo to Knicks in blockbuster deal
Bucks’ offseason move ranked 2nd ‘boldest’ in NBA
Eric Pincus of Bleacher Report recently ranked the boldest moves of the 2025 offseason, with the Bucks landing at No. 2.
“In an Eastern Conference weakened by injury, maybe that’s enough for the Bucks and Antetokounmpo,” he wrote. “That the franchise has a $22.5 million dead-money cap hit for Lillard through 2029-30 to be a good, but not great, NBA team was a bold, bold choice.”
Turner should be a much better version of an aging Brook Lopez, who joined the Los Angeles Clippers in free agency. However, the team has no real star power aside from Antetokounmpo.
Milwaukee will need several players to step up after waiving Lillard, including Kevin Porter Jr., Ryan Rollins, AJ Green and Gary Trent Jr. in the backcourt. If Milwaukee’s role players are unable to take that next step and the retooled roster struggles, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Antetokounmpo eventually request a trade.
The Bucks have an opportunity to rebound from their recent postseason failures, and doing so will be crucial as Antetokounmpo enters his 13th season.
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