Whereas there’s reportedly elevated skepticism that the Bucks and star Giannis Antetokounmpo will half methods this summer season, there are many questions going through the crew no matter whether or not he stays or leaves. Spotrac’s Keith Smith breaks down the various hurdles Milwaukee has to face in his offseason preview, writing that the crew is within the unlucky place of needing to organize for 2 potential paths: one the place the two-time MVP stays and one the place he goes.
The Bucks have few belongings to commerce ought to Antetokounmpo determine to stay in Milwaukee, and it could be crucial to maximise the items nonetheless on the roster, on condition that any crew with Giannis would certainly nonetheless be trying to compete for championships. Longtime Antetokounmpo working mate Brook Lopez is an unrestricted free agent and will most likely be retained for someplace round $15-18MM per season over two years, Smith speculates. Bobby Portis has a $13.4MM participant possibility, and it’s unclear if he would command greater than that in the marketplace.
Retaining their minimal signings in Gary Trent Jr., Taurean Prince, and Kevin Porter Jr. might be necessary, as they’ll all contribute as ground spacers, which is essential when constructing a roster round Antetokounmpo. It’s unlikely that Pat Connaughton and Kyle Kuzma will obtain contract extensions, and it’s doable the crew appears to maneuver them for extra constant contributors, Smith writes.
If Antetokounmpo does ask out, although, Smith expects the entire Bucks’ free brokers to be on new groups come subsequent season, although it’s extremely seemingly Connaughton picks up his participant possibility it doesn’t matter what else occurs.
We now have extra information from the Central Division:
- If the Bucks need to get extra out of their marginal strikes, they should have higher top-down organizational alignment, writes The Athletic’s Eric Nehm in his Bucks mailbag. Nehm identifies A.J. Inexperienced as one of many crew’s few developmental successes, and factors to move coach Doc Rivers‘ deliberate creation of a job for the capturing specialist as a key to that success. The Bucks want their head coach to take an identical strategy to different gamers, notably Andre Jackson Jr., in the event that they need to recreate that system.
- The Bulls‘ outlook has improved because the finish of the season primarily based solely on the Japanese Convention weakening this summer season, writes Joe Cowley of the Chicago Solar-Occasions. With the highest two picks within the 2025 draft anticipated to finish up on Western Convention groups, the Celtics a restructuring season following Jayson Tatum‘s ruptured Achilles, and questions surrounding what the Cavaliers and Knicks will do following postseason defeats, Chicago may stand pat and nonetheless be again in postseason competition. Nevertheless, the Bulls have selections to make on buying and selling or extending gamers like Nikola Vucevic, Zach Collins, Kevin Huerter, Ayo Dosunmu, and Coby White, who’re all heading into the ultimate 12 months of their offers.
- The Pacers and beginning heart Myles Turner have mutual curiosity in coming to phrases on a brand new deal, studies ESPN’s Shams Charania (Twitter video hyperlink). Indiana hasn’t been a taxpayer since 2006, however after making deep playoff runs in back-to-back years, the membership is keen to pay what it takes to maintain its roster intact, says Charania. Jake Fischer of the Stein Line, who has beforehand reported that the Pacers are anticipated to re-sign Turner, confirms the continuing mutual curiosity between the 2 sides.
