Global rivalry is discussed too vaguely in sport these days, but The Relationship Between the Indiana Pacers and the Milwaukee Bucks may deserve that word. They had some intense games last season, a fight involving a game ball, and then met in the playoffs.
Indiana won that series in six games, marking the second straight year Milwaukee lost early in the playoffs. The Pacers, meanwhile, have cruised to the Eastern Conference Finals. The Bucks are aging, and the veteran group struggled to slow down the Pacers’ fast-paced offense last season.
But they’re still a top contender, and their offseason moves have been both impressive and smart in that they’ll help Milwaukee stop Indiana. The 2021 NBA champions still have Giannis Antetokounmpo, one of the best players in basketball, so they’ll be a threat every night.
Damian Lillard will have a busy offseason in the Brew City. Khris Middleton, after a couple of surgeries, will start the season healthy. Head coach Doc Rivers will have months to build his team and settle into a new place. If the stars and coach have time to get more in sync, that alone should make the Bucks better.
But the hope for improvement doesn’t stop there in Milwaukee. They’ve also made some big additions in free agency and appear poised to address some of their issues from last season. Despite only having minimum-salary contracts to offer, the Bucks have brought in some talented veterans in free agency.
They needed depth on the wings, shooting and perimeter defense, and they got it. On the back end, they added Gary Trent Jr. and Delon Wright. They’ve both been effective defenders in the past, and Wright has been consistently solid in the less glamorous areas of the floor. Trent could start for Milwaukee right away, and he’s a career 38.6 percent three-point shooter who has experience with Lillard.
When Milwaukee played Indiana last season, perimeter defense was their biggest concern. Seemingly every time the teams met, at least one guard had a great night for the Pacers, and it was rarely the same player. Bennedict Mathurin, Tyrese Haliburton, TJ McConnell and Andrew Nembhard all had solid nights against the Central Division champions.
Wright and Trent should help in that area, and they’re not bad offensively. They’re both huge additions, and Taurean Prince has also been added to the mix. He’ll be a big piece of depth on the wing and should give the Bucks some consistency in their forward rotation.
If the new free agents replace Patrick Beverley, Jae Crowder and Malik Beasley in Rivers’ rotation, then the Bucks will undoubtedly be an improved team. How they progress will depend on the impact of aging on the Bucks’ roster: By the end of 2024, Brook Lopez, Lillard, Middleton, Antetokounmpo, Wright, Prince and Pat Connaughton will all be over 30.
Trent, Prince, Wright and Lopez are all entering the final season of their contracts, making this an important season for the Bucks. They need to get back to winning ways in the playoffs or change could be on the horizon, and Antetokounmpo is due a big raise next year.
For the Pacers in particular, beating the Bucks could be more difficult next year. They have more talent and have addressed some key needs, and Milwaukee will be hyper-focused on beating Indiana. But this is still a big year for Antetokounmpo’s team, and they’re headed toward some key decisions. The Pacers will hope their offensive style and power can allow them to beat the Bucks again this season.
