The Milwaukee Bucks will aggressively pursue free company and commerce choices to enhance Giannis Antetokounmpo this offseason, sources confirmed to ESPN, regardless of three consecutive first-round playoff exits.
Milwaukee faces vital roster challenges after paying roughly $940 million in salaries and luxurious taxes over 4 years whereas profitable only one playoff sequence. The staff has traded away first and second-round picks for the following six years, limiting their capacity to restock expertise by way of the draft. Antetokounmpo is totally conscious of the Bucks’ roster scenario, however he has not taken any motion and is believed to need to stick with Milwaukee. Antetokounmpo might be ready to see what the Bucks accomplish within the offseason earlier than totally deciding his future.
Damian Lillard’s torn left Achilles harm in April additional sophisticated the franchise’s outlook. The Bucks pays Lillard $54 million subsequent season as he rehabilitates his Achilles and would solely have the ability to return late within the season if in any respect.
The Khris Middleton-Kyle Kuzma commerce supplies Milwaukee with useful exceptions to pursue upgrades. The Bucks can make the most of a $14.1 million nontaxpayer midlevel exception and $5.1 million biannual exception to re-sign Gary Trent Jr. or a short lived level guard within the absence of Lillard.
Nevertheless, retaining free brokers Brook Lopez and Bobby Portis whereas utilizing each exceptions seems unlikely. The staff’s wage construction presents further challenges, with 79 p.c of payroll dedicated to Antetokounmpo, Lillard, and Kuzma.
Pat Connaughton’s $9.4 million expiring contract represents Milwaukee’s solely sizable tradeable asset. CBA guidelines stop the Bucks from aggregating smaller contracts with Connaughton to amass a $25 million participant.
Milwaukee may probably circumvent these restrictions by way of sign-and-trade situations involving Lopez or Portis if his participant possibility is declined. The Kuzma deal additionally supplies flexibility to exceed 100% of traded participant exceptions in future transactions.
