NBA Free Agency has kicked into overdrive the last couple of days as available players have been able to sign. The Milwaukee Bucks have been a big part of that as they’ve brought back two important members of their core, along with trying to find useful rotational players willing to play for money that won’t break the bank. Although the 2023-2024 roster won’t be the exact same as last season, for all intents and purposes, the Milwaukee Bucks front office plans on running it back.
The good news is with a new coach at the helm, running it back won’t mean a team that looks the same on the court. On top of that, there are heavy rumors that the Bucks are attempting to trade for Collin Sexton from the Utah Jazz.
Until that happens, however, I want to discuss the pros and cons of running it back, as there are plenty on each side of the discussion.
Milwaukee Bucks: The Pros & Cons of Running It Back
The Pros
Championship Core
It may feel like forever ago, but the Bucks core of Giannis Antetokounmpo, Jrue Holiday, Khris Middleton, and Brook Lopez won a title just two years ago. Was there some injury luck? Absolutely, but that can be said virtually every year for whichever team wins the title. While healthy, this Bucks core has done nothing but win in the regular season and playoffs.
They have, on multiple occasions, been the top seed in the entire playoffs and have shown they can compete with the best teams in the conference even when they do have a major injury. Health will always be a crucial part of this team’s championship aspirations, and a full offseason with a new coach could make a big difference.
New Coach
Speaking of a new coach, Adrian Griffin needs to be added to the pro category. As many positive things as Mike Budenholzer did for the Bucks, it was time for a change. Now we get to see the core play with a new leader, one with fresh ideas and that has a track record of developing young talent. This roster isn’t loaded with it, but there is a need for players like MarJon Beauchamp and AJ Green to take the next step.
The coaching change should also lead to better results in the playoffs, even when the team’s health isn’t ideal. As awesome as it was seeing coach Bud bring a championship back to Milwaukee, he wasn’t the best in terms of in-game adjustments or unique lineup combinations. We don’t know if Griffin will be better or worse in these areas, but he’ll likely be more willing to play young players, which this team sometimes needs.
Happy Giannis
Keeping Giannis happy has long been the goal of the Milwaukee Bucks front office. When there were fears he may not extend, they brought in Jrue Holiday, and a title followed shortly thereafter. It’s also well-documented that Giannis loves Khris Middleton. Although there may be a better pairing talent-wise, their on and off-court cohesion is arguably more important than talent potential.
I also can’t forget the atmosphere that comes with having Brook Lopez on the team. The core four are not only productive on the court, but create a great atmosphere in the locker room. Giannis has always been about his guys, and it would be hard to believe that the front office didn’t consult with him before making financial commitments to Middleton and Lopez.
With Antetokounmpo now being extension eligible, it’s important to remember that keeping him happy is crucial. The core the Bucks have may not be flashy or have the star power of some other teams, but they’ve won more games than anyone over the last handful of seasons. The fact the front office made it known to Giannis that they will continue to listen to his input helps their case for an extension.
The Cons
Aging Core
It may seem odd to include the core in the pros and cons category but hear me out. Yes, the Milwaukee Bucks core has won a championship and many regular-season games since coming together. As great as that is, the championship season is the only time they’ve made it past the second round of the playoffs. It can also be argued that injuries were a huge reason why that team made it past the second round in 2021.
As productive as the core has been overall, they haven’t been dominant in the playoffs. Part of that is due to injuries, but that leads me to another point. Do injury concerns go away as players get older? No, they typically become even more prevalent.
Giannis is the only core member on the Bucks under the age of 30, as Holiday is 33, Middleton is 31, and Lopez is 35. Outside of just injury concerns, the lack of athleticism within that group is scary. The NBA has shifted more towards small ball lineups with versatility up and down the lineup. The Milwaukee Bucks don’t have that with their core. They have a point guard that may be better suited as a shooting guard, a small forward that is either hot or cold, a center who gets singled out against smaller lineups, and then Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Against the right opponents, yes, this core is terrifying, but it’s not ideal when your four highest-paid players are matchup dependent when on the court together. Sure your bench can help to fill some of those holes, but that becomes harder to do if an injury pops up.
Crucial Season
Any time an organization moves on from a coach that won a title, there’s pressure. I think fans and players alike knew it was time, but Griffin is a first-time head coach for a team desperately trying to get back to where they were to finish the 20’/21′ season.
The pressure doesn’t stop there, as the team’s performance this season may impact whether their generational player signs an extension or not. Sure, there is no rush for Giannis Antetokounmpo to sign an extension with the Bucks, but the longer he waits, the more chances there are for something to go wrong.
With Coach Bud now out of the picture and the core still intact, there are no more excuses or at least no time for them. If the aging core and new coach combo don’t work this season, what keeps Giannis in Milwaukee? The Milwaukee Bucks have the same core locked in for next season and still won’t have money to spend. Their draft capital has been traded, as well. Everything has been put into the main four players and the next two-three seasons.
If Giannis sees the same issues that plagued this team the last two post-seasons, is he less likely to sign an extension? It may seem dramatic, but it’s fair to ask. There is no reason to think he’d leave, as he’s done nothing but praise the Bucks and city, but he also wants to win.
Hope for the Milwaukee Bucks Moving Forward
The good news is NBA Free Agency isn’t over yet. The Milwaukee Bucks’ front office could very well have some tricks up their sleeves to improve the roster, and it sounds like we may hear about them sooner than later. Even if that doesn’t happen, the core of this team has the talent to win another title.
Yes, Griffin needs to be good, and the young players need to step up, but there is plenty of talent on this roster as is. With that said, a trade of some kind could improve the short and long-term outlook of this roster. With virtually no draft picks to work with, general manager Jon Horst has to get creative if he wants to upgrade this veteran roster.
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