There might be no other team who benefits from being in the Eastern Conference more than the Milwaukee Bucks. Yes, the Bucks have endured quite the interesting run here the last few years. Each offseason,
on repeat, Giannis Antetokounmpo flirts with requesting a trade, just for the team to make a crippling trade in order to appease him. Naturally, these trades have gotten Milwaukee further from contention than where they were post-title.
This offseason, the moving and shaking originated around Damian Lillard, who tore his Achillies in the Bucks’ first round loss to the eventual Eastern Conference champion Indiana Pacers. Milwaukee waived and stretched Lillard in order to make room for the signing of Myles Turner, which was a shocking move on many fronts. Regardless of how it works, nobody can say the Bucks didn’t try to make Giannis happy.
Milwaukee Bucks: Over/Under 42.5 wins (-102/-120)
Last season: 48-34
Additions: Myles Turner, Cole Anthony, Thanasis Antetokounmpo
Losses: Damian Lillard (Portland), Brook Lopez (LA Clippers)
Giannis is still a certified top three to four player in the world, so in theory the floor for this team should be relatively high. However, the rest of the roster around him is wildly unbalanced and, frankly, not nearly as good as what was there even last year. On top of all that, Milwaukee doesn’t have a coaching edge, either, as we know Doc Rivers isn’t going to scheme anything up. It’s going to be an enormous pull for Giannis to get this team out of the play in, even with the East being down from where it’s been in the past. Beyond that, if this team is underachieving in Giannis’ eyes by the time the calendar flips, what’s to say Giannis doesn’t ask out? He’s only been setting his exit up for multiple years now. Maybe we’re all wrong, but for now, it looks like Milwaukee went all in on a King-seven off suit.
