Analysis: Are the Bucks "over the hill"?

Analysis: Are our Bucks too “old”?

The Milwaukee Bucks entered this season as a team with experience. They also have a good record (22-12) and are currently the #3 seed in the Eastern Conference, right behind Boston and Brooklyn. But the team has started to show some weaknesses, especially now that they have lost their last four games. Could all of this be a product of having the oldest roster in the NBA?

The average age of an NBA player is 26 years old. (NBA.com) For our hometown squad the Milwaukee Bucks, they enter the 2022-23 season as the oldest team in the NBA by age, with the average player at 29.47 years old. (Today it is closer to 30). Is that slowing the Bucks down?

For Milwaukee to seriously consider winning a championship they have to get right by March. The Bucks have a March 30th contest against Boston that could have the feel of a pre-playoff preview. Of course no one knows but Khris Middleton (31 years old), Jrue Holiday (32 years old), Brook Lopez (34 years old) and Wesley Matthews (36 years old) if they will be healthy and ready. And of course following the classic sports adage, “take it one game at a time” certainly holds true, but are our Bucks too old to hold up for the entire season?

Related: Bucks vs T-Wolves Preview

Four Game Losing Streak

In a season where Giannis Antetokounmpo is playing at an MVP level (28 years old), the team has struggled with injuries to its big three. Jrue Holiday has only played in 26 games out of 38; Khris Middleton has only played in 7 games. For most teams, availability can be your best ability. These guys still need to play together.

Wesley Matthews was recently quoted in a conversation with Jim Owczarski of jsonline in saying, “The beauty of the NBA is short term memory and we got another hungry team ready to be waiting on us in Milwaukee, so get home, figure this out, play better, win some games, and this will all be water under the bridge.”

Of course Matthews is right. But if the big scoring punch isn’t right here, what needs to change?

Losing streaks are part of sports. Hopefully tonight Milwaukee can put an end to this, keeping it as more of a blip on the radar than something normal.

Future Trades

Of course, upgrading and/or updating the roster could dramatically alter the age of the team.

Kyle Kuzma is only 27. He has an expiring contract and would be a possible “rental”. Of course, Kuzma, like so many others, would love the chance to play with Giannis.

Kelly Oubre Jr. is also only 27. Both of those players could provide a true scoring option for Milwaukee.

Fred VanVleet is rumored to be available from Toronto. He is only 28. Toronto has other players on its roster that could be available. The Bucks are loaded with a bunch of second round picks and a few, distant first round picks. A few picks and a player or two might get many of these deals done. Like so many trades it might just matter “who blinks first”.

All of these players make the Bucks younger. They also might make them better. As things progress the vision is there but are all the pieces.? After a few telling games (Christmas Day, Memphis blow out) one has to wonder if they are. And how much all of this has to do with age?

The NBA trade deadline is Feb. 9th. Keep an eye here on Wisportsheroics for all of the moves and rumors.

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