Before the NBA trade deadline, the Milwaukee Bucks player tiers go from untouchable to available.
The Milwaukee Bucks haven’t provided much details about their potential plans as the 2024 NBA Trade Deadline draws near.
It wouldn’t be shocking to see General Manager Jon Horst try to add defensive support given his history. His approach to strengthening the roster has always been aggressive, and it’s unlikely that it will alter. If the team decides to make a move in the end, it will be interesting to watch which of the players on basic contracts gets traded.
It seems like a sizable portion of this roster might not be off the table in any possible deals, with the exception of a few clear picks. Having said that, let’s order possible trade chips according to the likelihood that they will be exchanged before the cutoff. (These are merely conjectures.)
Tier 1: G. Antetokounmpo and Lillard are the real untouchables.
The first one shouldn’t come as a huge surprise. This season, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard are here to stay.
First and foremost, Giannis just signed an extension prior to the season, despite the fact that many in the sports media prefer to speculate about him leaving the Bucks. Additionally, he has often said that he is devoted to the franchise as long as they are focused on winning. Giannis Antetokounmpo’s mid-season contract is only a fantasy team-made by rival organizations.
Likewise, with Lillard. The Bucks made a major investment to acquire him during the previous off-season, envisioning him playing alongside Giannis for many years to come. Additionally, Lillard has a deal that extends for a number of years after this one, so the Bucks shouldn’t be too concerned about losing him in free agency. The upside they already have with Lillard cannot be matched by any move they make.
Anticipate Antetokounmpo and Lillard to remain in their current positions as they work to solidify their relationship and try to put the Milwaukee Bucks back together.
