The Milwaukee Bucks are apparently considering significant roster changes this offseason.
After trading for All-Star point guard Damian Lillard and hiring head coach Adrian Griffin (who was later fired and replaced by Doc Rivers midway through the season), the Bucks ended the 2023-24 season with an underwhelming 49-33 record. Despite this, they secured the third seed in a relatively mediocre Eastern Conference, apart from the 64-win Boston Celtics who eventually became champions.
Throughout the regular season and the playoffs, the Bucks struggled with injuries. All-NBA power forward Giannis Antetokounmpo missed their entire six-game first-round series against the Indiana Pacers, and Lillard sat out the last two games of the matchup. The Pacers, a No. 6 seed, took advantage of their good health and advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals.
According to Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports, 36-year-old starting Bucks center Brook Lopez could be traded this offseason as the team aims to improve its depth.
Lopez and another key player from Milwaukee’s 2021 title run, former three-time All-Star Khris Middleton, signed substantial new contracts with the Bucks during the 2023 offseason. Lopez agreed to a two-year, $48 million contract with a declining structure and is owed $23 million for the 2024-25 season, a reasonable amount for an above-average starting center.
Given Lopez’s age and injury history, he is a significant injury risk. Middleton, however, has been even less reliable health-wise. The decision to potentially trade Lopez instead of Middleton is puzzling, except for the fact that Lopez might be a more attractive trade asset.
Middleton signed a three-year, $93 million deal last season but missed 27 games and did not perform at his usual level when he did play.
