The Milwaukee Bucks have had a roller coaster 2023-24 NBA season. They got off to a hot start under first-year head coach Adrian Griffin, going 30-13. Then, out of nowhere, they opted to fire Griffin, with Joe Prunty coaching three games before the team hired Doc Rivers on a permanent basis.
Under Rivers, the team has struggled to find a rhythm. They went 17-19 to close out the season, giving up the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference to the New York Knicks. Milwaukee is now set to face the Indiana Pacers in the first round of the 2024 NBA Playoffs.
That is a tall enough task for the defensively challenged Bucks, who went 1-4 against their Central Division rivals this past season. But, to make matters worse, they will be without their star player, Giannis Antetokounmpo, for the start of the series because of a calf injury suffered on April 9th.
NBA NEWS & RUMORS: Damian Lillard, 2024 NBA Offseason, Milwaukee Bucks Updates
Can the Bucks survive without Antetokounmpo in their lineup? It certainly won’t be easy, as they didn’t look great down the stretch of the regular season without him. Attention will now turn to their big offseason addition of Damian Lillard to step up.
Lillard has come under fire throughout the 2023-24 campaign for his level of play. His dynamic offensive game was not as consistent as in years past, no longer making up for his lackluster impact defensively.
The Bucks knew they were going to lose something on defense swapping out Jrue Holiday for Lillard, but were hoping their ceiling on offense would improve. That has not been the case, which has some NBA analysts wondering if Milwaukee will hit the reset button a bit and look to trade Lillard this offseason.
“Perhaps the Bucks could be persuaded into trading Lillard to build a slightly younger, more complete roster around Giannis Antetokounmpo (who will be 30 next season) to help extend his championship window.
NBA NEWS & RUMORS: Damian Lillard, 2024 NBA Offseason, Milwaukee Bucks Updates
“If the Bucks were to field offers for Lillard, it’s doubtful they would get the same return the Trail Blazers got a year ago. Lillard is still an All-Star, high-octane scorer and feared floor spacer, but at 33 he’s showing some decline,” wrote Wes Goldberg of All U Can Heat and the Locked on Heat podcast.
The Heat were hot on the Lillard trail during the 2023 NBA offseason as many people thought it was a foregone conclusion he would end up on South Beach. But, Portland was determined not to trade him there and eventually received an offer from Milwaukee that they accepted.
Would the Heat have interest in a Lillard deal now? After finishing in eighth place in the Eastern Conference this season, they will certainly be on the lookout for some upgrades during the 2024 NBA offseason.
Want the latest NBA analysis, breaking news, and insider information? Click Here. Follow NBA Analysis Network on Twitter and Facebook.
Interested in reading the latest storylines and analysis in the NFL? Check out our partner NFL Analysis Network.
