The Milwaukee Bucks will begin their new season with a new look roster.
Despite having a dynamic duo of Giannis Antetocomo and Damian Lillard over the past two seasons, the Milwaukee Bucks have suffered awfully poor performance during the playoffs.
It was evident from the exits of consecutive first rounds for the team in the postseason. The Bucks moved out of Dame in favor of former Indiana Pacers Star Miles Turner.
However, many believe that abandoning Lillard is a poor decision, as it could ultimately lead to the departure of Antetocompo.
Lillard’s return to the Portland Trail Blazers is a heartwarming development, but the Bucks will have to pay huge financial debts to make the decision.
After all, Lillard will receive about $22 million a year over the next five years as the Bucks exempt him from his contract.
Currently, having more than $20 million in dead cap space each year is a huge handicap for a team with an Antetokounmpo caliber superstar, especially at the height of his career.
“Milwaukee is plagued with me that Giannis has already made these moves without being acquired,” David Dennis Jr. said in ESPN’s first take.
“If they grow Lillard dame and start paying Miles Turner for the next few years, putting $20 million in the cap and putting it in the cap, then Giannis hasn’t agreed yet.
Turner is a talented player, but it’s unlikely that his addition alone will help the Bucks win the NBA title. Therefore, when it’s time to increase talent around Giannis, the Bucks may regret their decision to abandon the dam.
Throughout the offseason, Antetokounmpo’s name remained a mainstay of NBA trade rumors. Additionally, there are reports that Giannis is not fully sold on the Bucks current roster.
In that case, what Dennis Jr. said makes sense, as he pointed out the huge risks the Bucks had taken.
“So I hope there was some debate to Giannis to be part of this team. Otherwise, that’s one of the biggest risks I can imagine creating a team,” he said.
Even if Giannis is left to decide, the Bucks still have flaws in the roster that they need to take care of urgently.
Otherwise, it’s rare for Antetokounmpo and the Bucks to reach the NBA Finals despite playing in the weaker Eastern Conference.