Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo’s Damian Lillard offseason plan kills trade speculation.
They think that those who wait will reap benefits. However, in an unforgiving NBA world, can the Milwaukee Bucks afford to remain patient? Many saw the Bucks as a potential title contender prior to the start of the season after pulling off a blockbuster trade for Damian Lillard, but their season never took off as many expected. Their title ambitions were dashed in the first round of the 2024 NBA playoffs, when Giannis Antetokounmpo did not play a single minute in their six-game series loss to the Indiana Pacers.
The Bucks’ season was full of changes. They traded Jrue Holiday, their reliable point guard who helped them win a title in 2021, for Lillard, a more explosive scorer. As a result, their defense weakened. They subsequently fired longstanding head coach Mike Budenholzer, instead hiring Adrian Griffin, an unknown candidate. Griffin would not even survive a year, as the Bucks replaced him with Doc Rivers in January.
Nonetheless, Giannis Antetokounmpo is confident that he and Damian Lillard will have a successful future. But he, of all people, understands the significance of putting in the effort and enjoying the benefits, with the Bucks star hoping to strengthen his bond with Lillard in the coming months.
“After I finish my therapy in a few weeks, I’ll probably head down to Portland to spend time with Dame. That is pretty much all. Go work out together, talk, sit down, and simply spend time. It does not need to be basketball. “Just spend time together,” Antetokounmpo told Jim Owczarski of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
If anything, Damian Lillard has demonstrated in the past that he is willing to commit a significant amount of time over the offseason to strengthening his relationship with his teammates. Thus, Antetokounmpo’s efforts would almost certainly be repaid. Perhaps the two Bucks stars getting to know each other on a more intimate level can help them achieve better synergy on the floor when they return next season.
For the Bucks, stability is key
In the NBA, continuity and stability might be overlooked in determining a team’s capacity to compete for a championship. Just look at the Minnesota Timberwolves. Last season, they saw many ups and downs as they attempted to integrate Rudy Gobert into the lineup. In 2023, they were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs, just as the Bucks were in 2024. However, the Timberwolves suddenly appear to be the scariest of the eight teams remaining in this year’s postseason.
The Bucks spent a significant portion of the 2023-24 season questioning the team’s identity and how the new components would fit together to make a cohesive squad. Damian Lillard, in particular, struggled to adjust after spending much of his career as the Portland Trail Blazers’ star player. In Milwaukee, Lillard had to acclimate to a guy with more usage, Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Perhaps, with a year together and a complete summer to spend getting to know each other better, on and off the court, the Bucks will be able to realize the full potential of the Lillard-Antetokounmpo tandem.
“I know that I’m going to have a full season of knowing the coach I’m going to be playing for, having a better idea of the guys that I’m going to be playing with, being in Milwaukee,” Lillard stated. “I’ve settled in here. I believe that when I return next season, people will be astonished at how much of an impact all of these things had.”
How much talent can the team add alongside Giannis and Dame?
The Bucks’ core lineup of Giannis Antetokounmpo, Damian Lillard, Khris Middleton, Brook Lopez, and Bobby Portis is set. That is an excellent basis for a club with championship aspirations. However, the Bucks’ depth ended up being lacking.
This offseason, the Bucks will need to prioritize adding defensive-minded players to their roster. Pat Connaughton is still available to provide hustle, energy, and a splash of shooting. Bringing back Patrick Beverley might help set the defensive tone. Will it be worthwhile for them to re-sign Malik Beasley?
Milwaukee is past the second tax threshold, which limits the moves they may make this offseason. Will the Bucks put their trust in young players like MarJon Beauchamp and Andre Jackson Jr. next season? They will have to step up, as the team’s defense must improve in order to challenge for the Larry O’Brien trophy.
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