May 2, 2024; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Milwaukee Bucks forward Khris Middleton (22) holds the ball while Indiana Pacers forward Aaron Nesmith (23) defends during game six of the first round for the 2024 NBA playoffs at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports
The Milwaukee Bucks will prepare for the 2024-2025 season after the Boston Celtics won its 18th NBA title on Monday night against the Dallas Mavericks. Milwaukee next season should be one of the top teams once again in the NBA.
This past season, the Milwaukee Bucks finished with a 49-33 record in the Eastern Conference. Milwaukee was the third seed and lost to the Indiana Pacers in the first round of the NBA Playoffs. The Bucks lost in the first round of the NBA Playoffs for the second consecutive season.
May 2, 2024; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Indiana Pacers forward Pascal Siakam (43) dribbles the ball while Milwaukee Bucks forward Khris Middleton (22) defends during game six of the first round for the 2024 NBA playoffs at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports
Milwaukee made some questionable decisions throughout the 2023-2024 season. One of those decisions was firing Adrian Griffin Jr. for Doc Rivers. They were 30-13 with Griffin before Rivers became the head coach.
Bleacher Report Has the Milwaukee Bucks As the Sixth Best Team In the NBA In the Way-Too-Early Rankings For Next Season
May 2, 2024; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Indiana Pacers center Myles Turner (33) rebounds the ball over Milwaukee Bucks forward Khris Middleton (22) during game six of the first round for the 2024 NBA playoffs at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports
Andy Bailey of Bleacher Report created his way too early rankings for the 2024-2025 NBA season. The Milwaukee Bucks were ranked sixth in the early rankings for next season. Bailey said:
“The first year of the Milwaukee Bucks’ Damian Lillard era left much to be desired. They fired first-year coach Adrian Griffin after 43 games (despite going 30-13 under him) due in large part to a terrible defense that was as much the roster’s fault as his.
Over the rest of the regular season, the Bucks went 17-19 under new head coach Doc Rivers. They were then eliminated in the first round of the playoffs after Giannis Antetokounmpo missed the entire series with a calf injury.
Now, they enter 2024-25 with Lillard, Khris Middleton and Brook Lopez all a year older. They have almost no cap flexibility or draft picks they can use to get better. But they do have Giannis, who’s still only 29 years old and one of the best players in the world.
Despite losing in the first round in each of the last two seasons and the second round in the one before that, Milwaukee has a chance as long as Giannis is on the roster and healthy.”
Giannis Antetokounmpo missed the entire first-round series against the Indiana Pacers because of a calf injury. He also missed the final three regular season games. What also did not help the Milwaukee Bucks last postseason was Damian Lillard also missed a couple of games due to injury. Khris Middleton could be traded this offseason.
Milwaukee will need to get younger around the both of them this offseason. The five teams that are ahead of the Bucks for the way-too-early rankings for next season are the 5. Oklahoma City Thunder, 4. Dallas Mavericks, 3. Denver Nuggets, 2. Minnesota Timberwolves, and 1. Boston Celtics.
Mar 28, 2024; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) and guard Damian Lillard (0) head to the bench on a timer out against the New Orleans Pelicans during the second half at Smoothie King Center. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports
It is not a surprise that Boston is number one on this list. What is very whacky about this list is that four Western Conference teams are ahead of the Milwaukee Bucks. It goes to show how much deeper the West is compared to the East.
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Glenn Kaplan writes for Wisconsin Sports Heroics covering all things Green Bay Packers, Milwaukee Brewers, Wisconsin Badgers, Marquette Golden Eagles college basketball, Milwaukee Bucks, and other related content.! You can also check out my other work on Gridiron Heroics!