The departure of Jrue Holiday and the acquisition of Damian Lillard made the Milwaukee Bucks poorer in terms of defense. The front office can rectify that mistake by making a move for Cody Martin to improve the team’s performance on that end of the court.
The Bucks are striving to reclaim their status as an elite defensive team heading into the 2024-25 NBA season. Historically, they excelled defensively under former coach Mike Budenholzer, but last season saw a significant drop, finishing 19th in defensive rating. A midseason change to coach Doc Rivers brought some improvement, yet the team struggled, particularly in transition defense.
Key players Giannis Antetokounmpo and Brook Lopez remain crucial to the Bucks’ defensive strategy. Lopez, despite being 36, proved to be an effective rim protector, ranking highly in blocks and contested shots. Antetokounmpo continues to be a formidable presence, contributing significantly to rim protection and overall defensive efforts.
However, the Bucks faced challenges due to the loss of elite perimeter defenders like Holiday. To bolster their defense, the Bucks may need to integrate a defensive-minded player into the starting lineup, allowing them to leverage their offensive talent while ensuring strong defensive presence.
Milwaukee Bucks Acquire Cody Martin To Improve Defense for 2024-25 Season
Although the Bucks won’t have enough assets to acquire elite talent on the defensive end, they can still make things work. The front office can consider getting Martin, as explained in an NBA analysis by Bleacher Report’s Dan Favale.
Milwaukee Bucks Receive: Cody Martin
Charlotte Hornets Receive: Pat Connaughton, 2031 second-round pick
Various knee and ankle injuries have limited him to just 35 games over the past two seasons. When healthy, though, he’s a malleable on-ball defender. Charlotte has routinely deployed him against 1s, 2s, 3s and even 4s. At his peak, in 2021-22, Martin also showed that he can knock down spot-up threes and torch defenses as a connective passer and tertiary playmaker.
Milwaukee shouldn’t need to think twice here—injury concerns and all. Martin’s salary for 2025-26 is non-guaranteed, so worst-case scenario, it can shave serious money off next year’s tax bill.
In his five-year run playing for the Charlotte Hornets, Martin has averaged 6.0 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 2.3 assists. While his outside shot may need some work, the tangibles he can potentially bring on defense will go a long way for the Bucks.
With the right adjustments, including the potential acquisition of Martin, the Bucks may return to the top tier of NBA defenses. Ultimately, achieving a top-10 defensive rating will be essential for the Milwaukee’s championship aspirations next season.
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