The Milwaukee Bucks made their big move during the 2023 NBA offseason. Looking to add some more scoring punch to the lineup, they acquired Damian Lillard from the Portland Trail Blazers.
They knew some defense would be sacrificed in the deal, as Jrue Holiday was part of the trade package back to Portland. But, their worst nightmare came to life when the Boston Celtics acquired Holiday from the Trail Blazers.
Inadvertently, the Milwaukee Bucks had just given their biggest competition in the Eastern Conference their missing piece. Along with Holiday, the Celtics acquired Kristaps Porzingis and turned into the most dominant team in the NBA.
Boston would eventually defeat the Dallas Mavericks in the 2024 NBA Finals for their 18th championship. They are bringing back their entire rotation for the 2024-25 season ready to defend the title.
That is part of the reason that Zach Lowe of ESPN has listed the Milwaukee Bucks as losers during the 2024 NBA offseason. However, it is not all bad for them in his opinion.
“What is the case for optimism with the Milwaukee Bucks? Well, they blitzed opponents by 17.5 points per 100 possessions when Damian Lillard, Khris Middleton and Giannis Antetokounmpo played together. Middleton finished the season healthy, averaging 25 points on 49% shooting with Antetokounmpo and then Lillard got injured in Milwaukee’s first-round loss to the Pacers.
Lillard and Antetokounmpo will get a proper training camp — time to unlock their pick-and-roll chemistry. Lillard should be past the roughest part of his adjustment period. Doc Rivers can settle in as head coach,” Lowe wrote.
All of the factors that played against the Milwaukee Bucks last season shouldn’t be as detrimental in 2024-25. However, there are legitimate concerns given the rising level of competition.
Not only are the Celtics going nowhere, the rest of the Eastern Conference contenders improved. The New York Knicks acquired Mikal Bridges from the Brooklyn Nets and re-signed OG Anunoby.
Even with Isaiah Hartenstein departing, New York has as strong of a top-eight as any team in the NBA. Their first-round opponents in the 2024 NBA Playoffs, the Philadelphia 76ers, also made a splash.
They signed Paul George in free agency, giving them a dynamic trio alongside Tyrese Maxey and Joel Embiid. The Orlando Magic, Indiana Pacers and Cleveland Cavaliers aren’t going anywhere, either.
As Lowe noted, the potential for a Milwaukee Bucks bounceback is there. But, how likely is that to occur, as they didn’t show signs of dominance too often during the 2023-24 campaign.
“But even when healthy, this team did not put together even a two-week stretch that made you think: OK, it’s clicking. The Bucks were just never that good. Everyone is a year older. The young guys are unproven. Middleton is an annual injury risk. The rumblings about Milwaukee at least considering Brook Lopez trades make sense on one level — this team could use a shake-up — but any such move would raise fundamental questions about the team’s defensive identity,” Lowe wrote.
Could the championship window for the Milwaukee Bucks be closed already? With an aging core and limited resources to upgrade the roster, they are in a tough spot.
A lot is going to have to fall in their favor to remain among the elite in the Eastern Conference. The Milwaukee Bucks are one Giannis Antetokounmpo injury away from being an NBA Play-In Tournament team.
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