After years of holding steady, it’s time for the Milwaukee Bucks to consider drastic measures. The Bucks need to trade away core pieces to give themselves a real shot at future success. Although their strategy of building around Giannis Antetokounmpo has brought a championship, the roster is now aging. Milwaukee’s unwillingness to get younger has left them struggling to maintain contender status, and the problems are mounting.
NBA Business: Bucks Primed To Trade Away Key Player(s)
The Age Problem
Milwaukee’s roster is one of the oldest in the NBA, which is a major reason for the growing concerns around the team. Khris Middleton, the Bucks’ star forward, is now 33 and plagued by injuries. Damian Lillard, though still potent, turned 34 this year. Brook Lopez, the team’s veteran center, is 36 and nearly joined the Houston Rockets in the 2023 offseason. Giannis turns 30 in December and won’t be able to carry an aging team indefinitely.
The Bucks need to trade away aging stars and invest in younger, more durable players to remain competitive. While veterans like Middleton and Lopez have brought Milwaukee success, they are no longer the solution for a team hoping to contend in the short and long-term.
A Lack of Depth and Development
One of the most significant issues Milwaukee faces is a lack of elite young talent. The Bucks traded away most of their draft assets to acquire Jrue Holiday and later to bring in Lillard. As a result, Milwaukee has few young players who could fill gaps left by their aging core. The Bucks need to trade away at least one of their veteran players to bring in elite younger talent.
Even smaller moves show Milwaukee’s reluctance to develop youth. Instead of investing in young players like Donte DiVincenzo, the Bucks prioritized short-term fixes. Their win-now mentality cost them valuable developmental opportunities, and now they’re paying the price.
The Defensive Decline
Defense has long been a strength of the Bucks, but their aging roster is struggling to keep up. Milwaukee’s rebounding and point-of-attack defense have noticeably declined. Under former coach Mike Budenholzer, the Bucks were top-ranked in rebounding. Now, they sit in the middle of the league’s rankings.
The Bucks need to trade away pieces to address these defensive issues. Milwaukee’s current roster lacks the defensive depth needed to support Antetokounmpo effectively. While players like Taurean Prince and Gary Trent Jr. could provide some help, they are stop-gap solutions at best.
Inertia vs. Action: Making the Hard Choices
One of Milwaukee’s greatest challenges is their commitment to a roster that has brought past success. Middleton is a Finals-caliber player with significant trade value, but Milwaukee may hesitate to move on. However, trading him could bring in younger players who can support Lillard and Antetokounmpo in the future. The Bucks need to trade away core players like Middleton if they want to remain competitive without holding onto players past their prime.
Trading away a key player like Middleton would be difficult, especially given his history with the team. But Milwaukee must face hard truths. As much as Middleton has been instrumental in the Bucks’ success, he’s now part of the problem.
Time for the Bucks to Trade Away a Core Player
The Bucks are already beyond the second luxury-tax apron, which further limits their ability to make roster changes. This season’s rough start — including losses to rebuilding teams like the Bulls and Nets — only highlights the need for change. Milwaukee needs to trade away veterans now to avoid sinking deeper into salary cap constraints.
Waiting risks wasting the final years of Giannis’s prime. If the Bucks refuse to act, they may lose their star to a team with a better chance of contention. As difficult as it is to consider, trading away core pieces could be Milwaukee’s only chance to avoid a full rebuild.
