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RTB Roundup: Episode 32
The Milwaukee Bucks officially closed the Giannis Antetokounmpo chapter last week when they sent the two-time MVP and Bobby Portis to the Miami Heat in one of the biggest trades in years.
Antetokounmpo spent 13 seasons in Milwaukee and brought the franchise its first title in 50 years, but after a 32-50 finish that left the Bucks 11th in the Eastern Conference and out of the postseason for the first time since 2016, the split felt inevitable.
The relationship between the star and the organization had been falling apart for months, and when the deal came together on the eve of the 2026 NBA Draft, nobody was caught off guard.
The return was real and gives Milwaukee a foundation to build on.
The Bucks received Tyler Herro, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Kel'el Ware, and Kasparas Jakucionis along with the No. 13 pick in the 2026 draft, a first-round pick swap in 2030, first-round picks in 2031 and 2033, and a second-round selection.
They used that No. 13 pick on Tennessee forward Nate Ament and also selected Arizona guard Brayden Burries at No. 10 with their own lottery pick, immediately reshaping the roster into something much younger.
Herro averaged 20.5 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 4.1 assists per game while shooting 37.8 percent from three last season and brings proven scoring to a roster that needed it, though his health remains a question mark after he played just 33 games.
Jaquez and Ware are both on cost-friendly rookie deals and fit the timeline of a rebuild, while Jakucionis gives the backcourt another young option alongside Ryan Rollins, who had a breakout year and led Milwaukee with 17.3 points, 5.6 assists, and 4.6 rebounds per game while shooting 40.6 percent from deep.
The next question for Milwaukee is whether to keep moving pieces.
Kyle Kuzma and Myles Turner have both come up as trade candidates now that the rebuild is officially underway, and moving at least one of them would make sense.
Kuzma is on an expiring $20.49 million deal and averaged 13.0 points and 4.5 rebounds last season while shooting a career-high 49.2 percent from the field, making him an easy flip to a contender looking for a scoring wing.
Turner still has roughly $83.5 million left on his contract and has drawn interest from teams like the Hornets, Pelicans, and Lakers, though some reports suggest the Bucks are not yet actively trying to move him.
New head coach Taylor Jenkins takes over after Doc Rivers was let go and brings six seasons of experience from Memphis where he went 250-214 with three straight playoff trips.
Jenkins has a track record of developing young players, which is exactly what this roster needs.
The Bucks are going to be young and they are going to struggle at times, but after a breakup that was months in the making, the franchise finally has a clear direction and a real shot at bouncing back faster than most people expect.
Continue reading...
The Milwaukee Bucks officially closed the Giannis Antetokounmpo chapter last week when they sent the two-time MVP and Bobby Portis to the Miami Heat in one of the biggest trades in years.
Antetokounmpo spent 13 seasons in Milwaukee and brought the franchise its first title in 50 years, but after a 32-50 finish that left the Bucks 11th in the Eastern Conference and out of the postseason for the first time since 2016, the split felt inevitable.
The relationship between the star and the organization had been falling apart for months, and when the deal came together on the eve of the 2026 NBA Draft, nobody was caught off guard.
What Milwaukee Got Back
The return was real and gives Milwaukee a foundation to build on.
The Bucks received Tyler Herro, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Kel'el Ware, and Kasparas Jakucionis along with the No. 13 pick in the 2026 draft, a first-round pick swap in 2030, first-round picks in 2031 and 2033, and a second-round selection.
They used that No. 13 pick on Tennessee forward Nate Ament and also selected Arizona guard Brayden Burries at No. 10 with their own lottery pick, immediately reshaping the roster into something much younger.
Herro averaged 20.5 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 4.1 assists per game while shooting 37.8 percent from three last season and brings proven scoring to a roster that needed it, though his health remains a question mark after he played just 33 games.
Jaquez and Ware are both on cost-friendly rookie deals and fit the timeline of a rebuild, while Jakucionis gives the backcourt another young option alongside Ryan Rollins, who had a breakout year and led Milwaukee with 17.3 points, 5.6 assists, and 4.6 rebounds per game while shooting 40.6 percent from deep.
Should the Bucks Keep Dealing?
The next question for Milwaukee is whether to keep moving pieces.
Kyle Kuzma and Myles Turner have both come up as trade candidates now that the rebuild is officially underway, and moving at least one of them would make sense.
Kuzma is on an expiring $20.49 million deal and averaged 13.0 points and 4.5 rebounds last season while shooting a career-high 49.2 percent from the field, making him an easy flip to a contender looking for a scoring wing.
Turner still has roughly $83.5 million left on his contract and has drawn interest from teams like the Hornets, Pelicans, and Lakers, though some reports suggest the Bucks are not yet actively trying to move him.
New head coach Taylor Jenkins takes over after Doc Rivers was let go and brings six seasons of experience from Memphis where he went 250-214 with three straight playoff trips.
Jenkins has a track record of developing young players, which is exactly what this roster needs.
The Bucks are going to be young and they are going to struggle at times, but after a breakup that was months in the making, the franchise finally has a clear direction and a real shot at bouncing back faster than most people expect.
Continue reading...
