While there’s reportedly increased skepticism that the Bucks and star Giannis Antetokounmpo will part ways this summer, there are plenty of questions facing the team regardless of whether he stays or leaves. Spotrac’s Keith Smith breaks down the many hurdles Milwaukee has to face in his offseason preview, writing that the team is in the unfortunate position of needing to prepare for two potential paths: one where the two-time MVP stays and one where he goes.
The Bucks have few assets to trade should Antetokounmpo decide to remain in Milwaukee, and it would be imperative to maximize the pieces still on the roster, given that any team with Giannis would surely still be attempting to compete for championships. Longtime Antetokounmpo running mate Brook Lopez is an unrestricted free agent and could probably be retained for somewhere around $15-18MM per season over two years, Smith speculates. Bobby Portis has a $13.4MM player option, and it’s unclear if he would command more than that on the market.
Retaining their minimum signings in Gary Trent Jr., Taurean Prince, and Kevin Porter Jr. will be important, as they can all contribute as floor spacers, which is crucial when building a roster around Antetokounmpo. It’s unlikely that Pat Connaughton and Kyle Kuzma will receive contract extensions, and it’s possible the team looks to move them for more consistent contributors, Smith writes.
If Antetokounmpo does ask out, though, Smith expects all of the Bucks’ free agents to be on new teams come next season, though it’s highly likely Connaughton picks up his player option no matter what else happens.
We have more news from the Central Division:
- If the Bucks want to get more out of their marginal moves, they need to have better top-down organizational alignment, writes The Athletic’s Eric Nehm in his Bucks mailbag. Nehm identifies A.J. Green as one of the team’s few developmental successes, and points to head coach Doc Rivers‘ deliberate creation of a role for the shooting specialist as a key to that success. The Bucks need their head coach to take a similar approach to other players, notably Andre Jackson Jr., if they want to recreate that formula.
- The Bulls‘ outlook has improved since the end of the season based solely on the Eastern Conference weakening this summer, writes Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times. With the top two picks in the 2025 draft expected to end up on Western Conference teams, the Celtics looking at a restructuring season following Jayson Tatum‘s ruptured Achilles, and questions surrounding what the Cavaliers and Knicks will do following postseason defeats, Chicago could stand pat and still be back in postseason contention. However, the Bulls have decisions to make on trading or extending players like Nikola Vucevic, Zach Collins, Kevin Huerter, Ayo Dosunmu, and Coby White, who are all heading into the final year of their deals.
- The Pacers and starting center Myles Turner have mutual interest in coming to terms on a new deal, reports ESPN’s Shams Charania (Twitter video link). Indiana hasn’t been a taxpayer since 2006, but after making deep playoff runs in back-to-back years, the club is willing to pay what it takes to keep its roster intact, says Charania. Jake Fischer of the Stein Line, who has previously reported that the Pacers are expected to re-sign Turner, confirms the ongoing mutual interest between the two sides.
No matter what the media narrative says, the results on the court will always tell the true story. I hear all this talk of how the world has caught up to America in basketball bc AAU is so bad at teaching kids the game, these kids are so selfish/soft/image obsessed/etc. Yet these American AAU kids dominate the world almost every time they play. USA is up 33 going into the 4th qtr of this gold medal game off the strength of great performances by Naz Anderson, Marcus Spears Jr & CJ Rosser, the 3 best players all tournament long. If I had to choose an MVP I’d probably go Spears but Naz was right behind him. Canada is missing their best player, Isaiah Hamilton, bc he got hurt last night. Hamilton not playing makes this game pretty anti-climactic but America’s magnificance should still be noted. Next up is the FIBA U19 World Cup later this month featuring elite guys like AJ Dybantsa, Tyran Stokes, Chris Cenac, etc. Look for Team USA to dominate that tournament as well… link to m.youtube.com
Its not about peaking at the age of them you g dudes you’re watching play on tv.
Other than jealousy what makes you feel like these guys have peaked? A bunch of them are gonna go on to be big time NBA players, all will be big time college players. And it’s obv not just this age that America is dominant at. We dominate every age level. As I said the U19 World Cup is in a few weeks & they’re gonna win that as well. We’ve also won the last 5 Olympic tournaments, including this summer when we went to Europe & best Serbia 3 times & France twice… link to m.youtube.com
I thought this was about the Central division.
Maybe if we put the Hawks in the Central. We might get it right ……
I’m hearing noise about a Kuminga to Bulls trade. Now that would be interesting. But Warriors have to get more than Vucevic ……
I would like to see Kuminga in Chicago together with Giddey. They have interesting guards and wings there. Buzelis IMO is the best player from the 2024 draft, a rare good pick from the Bulls, especially in the shallow 2024 year.
They need to draft a big.
The Warrior’s need to get more than Vujevic from the Bulls? Then they’re going to have to get it from somewhere else because unless they take Collins , Huerter or Carter or Ayo they aren’t getting anything. And if they trade any of their future first round picks the entire FO should be fired immediately. to get everybody where they need to be it’s going to have to be a multi team trade.
The Bulls shouldn’t be doing any major trades anyway this year and should move what ever expiring deals they have for draft picks or should just let the deals run out. Expiring deals this year approx:
Vuj- 22 million
Collins -17 million
Carter- 6 million
Huerter- 16 million
White- 13 million
Ball- 10 million.
That’s 84 million in FA money in a deep 26 FA pool. If they have a brain, That’s where their heads should be right now. If somebody asks for future picks just say no and walk away. Move whatever you can at the deadline or now if it works in their favor or walk.
Kuminga has a big future imo. A 2Way talent that considered a strong offensive player. Can play SG or SF. He gits their rebuild. Its a good move. Probably a fair deal too. Warriors need size. Works for both teams.
link to heavy.com
Not if I have to give up future assets. Kuminga isn’t the guy the Bulls should build around. Take Queen, Or whatever big they can get. The only pick I would add if I’m the Bulls would be the basically worthless Portland 1st rounder that they are holding. At this point I would just hold onto it and pray it vests at some point. White will bring talent. The Bulls shouldn’t be trading Vuj to the Warriors anyway because they have no 1st round picks until 2050. If they can make a 3 team trade work where the Bulls get Kuminga, The Warriors get Vuj and somebody else throws something to the Warriors and Bulls where it makes sense fine. Kuminga for Vuj will never work out 1 for 1 because one team will always want more.
That trade is not happening, at least in the off-season. The Bulls would have to offer JK $60 million.
Kuminga is no different than Scottie, Mikal, OG – 3rd fiddle on a good team. Idk why you’d over pay for these guys in assets and salary. The Knicks for sure regret giving up all those picks for Mikal.
Unclemike: keep them.so many good players in 2026 fa.i love 2 way players like mikal,jaren jackson.i dream them in the bulls, but with akme as our fo, i doubt we can get them. But dreaming bulls get them and smooking good thing is a great for me now.
Keep who? The only 2 players the Bulls should be keeping are Buzelis and Giddey. Everything else should have a price tag on it at the garage sale and start over from there.
Keep the expiring players from ur list and let the deal run out for 84m. Mattas and josh can stay, the others can go.
Davey J can finally stop salivating over Vucecic if he gets to the Dubs.
How is this at all related to the article?
I think they could get… Poole and Middleton for Dame and their unprotected 31 FRP. Maybe Paul George.
I hope we see Giannis moved on draft night ……
Spurs or Rockets ——-
Bulls 12th pick in draft is a nice pick. Your big will be there. Don’t blow it.
If Giannis goes to the West… and Embiid is done, Tatum is out. Jimmy is in the West. If the Cavs/Knicks/Pacers don’t win one of these next 2-3 years it’s such a waste. All that happening is almost as impactful as MJ retiring.
That pick can save Sixers. As long as they stay healthy. They will be a deep team.
Nah…. They’ll pick the wrong guy regardless. Harper/Ace or VJ or Tre, they’ll sick I Philly. But if the Spurs take them, gold.
Suck*
Raps still have a good shot at Giannis. In spite of the usual fan hoping sixers improve(even though they don’t deserve to). Rox would have to gut their team for Giannis which will have H town as trash again. Spurs I don’t see trading for Giannis although only them could top the raptors trade package.
Haters will hate, when it happens we know the goal post will yet again be moved.