Khris Middleton, currently with the Washington Wizards, reflected on how the Milwaukee Bucks’ acquisition of Damian Lillard unsettled the team’s balance, contributing to their ongoing struggles to secure an NBA championship in recent years.
Since their championship run, the Bucks have focused on building around Giannis Antetokounmpo, yet they have managed to advance past the first round of the playoffs only once. A major move came in 2023, when they traded Jrue Holiday as part of a package to acquire Damian Lillard. The trade backfired, as the Bucks struggled to find success with Lillard, while Holiday went on to capture another NBA title with the Boston Celtics.
Since winning the championship, the Bucks have centered their roster around Giannis Antetokounmpo, but they have only advanced beyond the first playoff round once. A significant move occurred in 2023, when they sent Jrue Holiday in a package deal to acquire Damian Lillard. The trade did not work out as planned, with the Bucks struggling to find chemistry with Lillard, while Holiday went on to earn another NBA championship with the Boston Celtics.
Khris Middleton on the Bucks’ roster moves
Khris Middleton recently spoke with Marc Stein about his final years with the Milwaukee Bucks and his eventual departure. He admitted he hated seeing Jrue Holiday traded, given their close bond, and was eager to see what the team could accomplish when fully healthy, which they had not been in the season before the trade.
“I was close with his family. To lose that guy, without getting a real chance to get a healthy group back out there again and try to reclaim our throne, was a tough pill to swallow. I wish that we were able to have a couple more chances and get another crack at it,” the former Bucks shooter said.
Khris Middleton also indicated that Giannis Antetokounmpo’s persistent demands on the Bucks’ front office produced outcomes that even Giannis hadn’t anticipated.
“Giannis put a lot of pressure on the organization, but we all want to win. At times, we just don’t know what type of consequences that can have, good or bad,” Middleton continued.
This offseason, the Bucks made another move to support the Greek Freak, waiving Damian Lillard to bring in Myles Turner. The change paid off immediately, as Giannis has delivered MVP-level numbers and the Bucks showed promise. However, the team may face limitations down the road due to the financial strain of stretching and waiving Lillard’s massive contract.
