The Milwaukee Bucks are trying to win another NBA Championship while their window is still open. With All-Star Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard under contract together for potentially the next two years, that window is not as wide open as it once was. Indeed, the pressure is on the Bucks’ front office to put together a Championship-caliber roster. Now.
The problem is that Milwaukee has committed so much money to their current players that they are in the second apron of the NBA’s luxury tax. This means that they cannot take on any extra salary in a trade, they have no free agent exemptions, and the only free agents they can sign would have to agree to veteran minimum deals.
What the Milwaukee Bucks Have Done to Improve Their Roster So Far
The Bucks were rumored to be shopping their picks in the 2024 NBA Draft in order to help them acquire a player who could contribute to their roster right away. Whether or not those rumors were true, they ended up using both of their picks on 19-year-old prospects that may not contribute to their roster for a few years. AJ Johnson was taken in the first round and Tyler Smith was taken in the second.
After free agency began, Milwaukee also signed a couple of veterans to help improve their bench defense. Point guard Delon Wright was signed away from the Miami Heat and power forward Taurean Prince was signed away from the Los Angeles Lakers.
While these two moves have already bolstered their bench unit, there is still some work that needs to be done. The Bucks need to get even more versatile and athletic (and younger), but their options are limited on the free agent market.
Because of these limitations, there have been rumors all offseason that Milwaukee would be willing to move one or more of their current core veterans (not Giannis or Lillard). For such a move to happen, though, it would come at a high price.
The Milwaukee Bucks Want a First Round Pick for Center Brook Lopez
One of the players that the Bucks have been rumored to have made available for trade is center Brook Lopez. As mentioned, though, Milwaukee is going to expect a great deal in return if any team wants one of their core role players.
This is especially true of Lopez, who is one of the best rim protectors in the NBA and averaged 2.2 blocks per game last season.
According to Gery Woelfel, the asking price for Lopez is a first round pick:
Sources claim the Bucks are still very receptive to trading veteran Brook Lopez, but the Bucks’ asking price of a first-round draft pick for a 36-year-old center with a $23M contract is too rich.
— Gery Woelfel (@GeryWoelfel) July 5, 2024
Given Lopez’s age and contract, it is highly unlikely that the Bucks will get that in return. And perhaps that is the point. If they are going to part with Lopez, they want something incredibly substantial in return. He is, after all, a big part of their team.
He would certainly not be easy to replace.
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