Entering this upcoming season the Milwaukee Bucks are in an interesting situation. Last Summer they traded for Damian Lillard, hoping to win another NBA Title since the 2020-2021 season. However, due to Giannis Antetokounmpo and Lillard suffering injuries, they were bounced to a young Indiana Pacers team in the first round. With that loss, it made three straight disappointing seasons for Bucks fans since winning the title. To go along with that, they have one of the oldest rosters in the NBA. Many believed going into this offseason the Bucks might try an enter a rebuild.
However, that was not the case, as they have chosen to run it back once more with the same core. In the hopes that they stay healthy this year. With the NBA transitioning more and more to a younger man’s league, this might be their last run with this core. If the Bucks once again have a disappointing season and fail to win a title or even come close to winning one. It may finally be time to hit the reset button and for the Bucks to enter a rebuild.
The Milwaukee Bucks Should Consider a Rebuild if They Have Another Disappointing Season
They Have One of The Oldest Rosters in The NBA
The Bucks have one of the oldest if not the oldest roster in the league. Khris Middleton is 33, Damian Lillard is 34, Brook Lopez is 36, and Giannis and Bobby Portis are 29. Those are the Bucks’ five best players and they are all 29 or older which isn’t good. In today’s NBA, you need someone in their mid-20s just entering their prime to compete. If you look across the NBA, most if not all the title contenders have someone in their mid-20s who is a star. Giannis being 29 is still fine, but he isn’t getting any younger and they don’t have any young talent to go with him.
Now, even though they have a very old roster it doesn’t mean they can’t win the title this year. We Just saw the Boston Celtics this year with an older roster win the title this year. So, therefore it can still be done but it is very challenging. The East is getting younger and better. With the Bucks having an older roster if they have another disappointing season they should look into starting a rebuild.
The Ingredients to Enter a Rebuild is There for The Bucks
Brook Lopez will be a free agent next year. Khris Middleton, Bobby Portis, and Pat Connaughton all have player options next offseason. If they all accept, it will be easier to trade all three of them with just one year left. So with that being said, the ingredients for the Bucks to enter a rebuild is right there for them and it won’t be hard for them to get it started. They don’t have long-term commitments to a lot of their older players anymore. If the Bucks had wanted to start a rebuild this year it would have been more challenging compared to next year. However, for the Bucks to fully embrace the rebuild they will have to trade away Giannis and Dame.
See What They Can Get From Giannis and Dame
Now, a lot of Bucks fans probably won’t like the idea of trading away Giannis because of how much he has done for the franchise. But, with Giannis being 30 next offseason his value might be the highest it will be at and the Bucks should consider it. However, they should only pull the trigger if they get a good enough return on him. With Giannis being only 29, (30 in December) you let go of everyone besides him. He is still young enough to not fully hit a full rebuild but a small rebuild, or retool of the roster in the hopes of building a better contender around him in two to three years.
On the other hand, Dame should get traded if they do enter a rebuild. Regardless if they keep Giannis or not. He will be 35 next offseason with only one year and a player option left on his deal it will be a little bit easier to trade. Dame has had injury issues before and as he gets older they will only get worse most likely. After two failed seasons since acquiring him, they should try and move off of him. With all that being said, it will be hard to trade him because of the injuries and his age. However, they should take what they can get from him at this point.
Why a Bucks Rebuild Might Be The Best Option For Them
Finally, even though Bucks fans won’t like a rebuild especially trading away Giannis. Next Offseason the ingredients are there for them to easily transition into a rebuild. With that being said, if they do it right they could see a quick turnaround and be a competitor in the next two to four years just like the Thunder did especially in a weaker Eastern Conference. This season for the Bucks is very crucial and if they don’t win a championship or have substantial the Bucks entering a rebuild might be their best option next year.
