The Milwaukee Bucks are entering the 2024 NBA Playoffs with a great deal of uncertainty. Two-time NBA MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo‘s status for the beginning of Milwaukee’s opening series against the Indiana Pacers is up for debate. According to head coach Doc Rivers (via Eric Nehm of The Athletic): “I don’t know yet, no. We’re still hoping. He hasn’t done anything.”
The health of star point guard Damian Lillard is also in question, though Rivers said that he was a full participant in practice this week. Still, the Bucks have been inconsistent under Rivers, who took over when Adrian Griffin was fired midseason. Their struggles towards the end of the regular season, especially, have caused many to doubt whether they will be able to even get past the first round in the playoffs.
Is Milwaukee Bucks General Manager Jon Horst May Leave for the Detroit Pistons
Jon Horst was hired as the Bucks general manager in 2019 following the dismissal of John Hammond. Prior to his promotion, he was Milwaukee’s Director of Basketball Operations, a position he held since 2008.
Under Horst’s guidance, Milwaukee signed Giannis Antetokounmpo to multiple super max contract extensions, traded for Jrue Holiday, traded for Damian Lillard, and won the 2021 NBA Championship.
The 2019 NBA Executive of the Year has certainly accomplished just about everything that there is to accomplish in his role in Milwaukee. While the goal is always to get back to and win the NBA Finals, there are rumblings that Horst may be looking for a new challenge.
According to award-winning NBA journalist Gary Woelfel,
“Bucks GM Jonny Horst, sources tell me, is more than mildly interested in the newly created position of president of basket operations for the Detroit Pistons. Besides Horst, I’ve heard two other potential candidates for the Pistons job; former Portland GM Neil Olshey and former NBA player and current TV analyst JJ Redick.”
The Pistons finished with the NBA’s worst record this season at 14-68. If Horst is indeed looking for a new challenge, he would have a whole new canvas to work with in Detroit. Interestingly, the Pistons are the only other NBA team Horst has worked for in his career.
He was the Pistons’ Manager of Basketball Operations from 2007-2008.
What Jon Horst Leaving Would Mean for the Milwaukee Bucks
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Fortunately for the Bucks, the sale of partial ownership of the team to Jimmy Haslam, who also owns the NFL’s Cleveland Browns, ensures that the team will have deep pockets and will be willing to spend for the foreseeable future.
In addition, having stars like Giannis and Lillard under contract for the next few seasons ensures that Milwaukee will continue to be competitive. What is more, their star power will attract other free agents to the team in hopes of competing for a NBA title. In other words, anyone who would take over in the case Horst leaves the Bucks would walk into a pretty good situation.
That being said, losing Horst would be a blow to the Bucks. He is, after all, the architect of their only Championship team in the last 50 seasons. While the situation would be nice for his replacement, they would also have incredibly big shoes to fill with massive expectations set upon them.
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