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Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo’s Damian Lillard offseason plan destroys trade speclation

Originally posted on ClutchPoints | By Jedd Pagaduan | Last updated 5/9/24

They say good things come to those who wait. But in an unforgiving NBA landscape, can the Milwaukee Bucks afford to be patient? Tabbed by many as a legitimate championship contender prior to the start of the season after pulling off a blockbuster trade for Damian Lillard, the Bucks’ season never really got going the way many thought it would. Their championship hopes then ended in the first round of the 2024 NBA playoffs, as Giannis Antetokounmpo didn’t even play a single minute in their six-game series defeat to the Indiana Pacers.

The Bucks’ season was filled with a lot of changes. They exchanged a steady hand at the point in Jrue Holiday, the floor general they won a championship with in 2021, for a more explosive scoring option in Lillard. Their defense, as a result, fell off. They then let longtime head coach Mike Budenholzer go, opting to hire an unproven option in Adrian Griffin. Griffin wouldn’t even last a year, as the Bucks replaced him with Doc Rivers in January.

Still, Giannis Antetokounmpo knows the future is bright for him and Damian Lillard. But he of all people knows the value of putting in the work and reaping the rewards, with the Bucks star looking to strengthen his relationship with Lillard in the months to come.

“After I’m done with my rehab in a few weeks, I’ll probably go down to Portland and spend time with Dame. That’s pretty much it. Go work out together, talk, sit down, just spend time. It doesn’t have to be basketball. Just spend time together,” Antetokounmpo said, per Jim Owczarski of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

If anything, Damian Lillard has shown in the past that he is willing to devote a good portion of his time during the offseason to strengthen his bond with his teammates. Thus, Antetokounmpo’s efforts definitely would not go unreciprocated. Perhaps the two Bucks stars getting to know each other on a more personal scale could help unlock some better synergy on the court when they go again next season.

For the Bucks, stability is key

In the NBA, continuity and stability can be an underrated factor in a team’s ability to contend for a championship. Just take a look at the Minnesota Timberwolves. Last season, they went through plenty of ups and downs as they tried to integrate Rudy Gobert into the lineup. They exited the playoffs in the first round in 2023, much like the Bucks did in 2024. But now, the Timberwolves arguably look like the scariest team among the eight that are left in this year’s postseason.

For the Bucks, they spent a chunk of the 2023-24 season asking questions about the team’s identity, and how the new pieces would fit together and form one cohesive unit. Damian Lillard, in particular, had to adjust as he spent a great portion of his career being the lead guy on the Portland Trail Blazers. In Milwaukee, Lillard had to adjust to a higher-usage player in Giannis Antetokounmpo.

Perhaps, with a year together under their belt and a full offseason to spend getting to know each other better, be it on the court or off it, the Bucks can unlock the full potential of the Lillard-Antetokounmpo duo.

“I know that I’m going to have a full season of knowing the coach I’m going to be playing for, having a better idea of the guys that I’m going to be playing with, being in Milwaukee,” Lillard said. “I kind of settled into things here. … I think going into next season, people will be really surprised how much of an impact all these things actually did have when they see me come back.”

How much talent can the team add alongside Giannis and Dame?

The Bucks’ core five of Giannis Antetokounmpo, Damian Lillard, Khris Middleton, Brook Lopez, and Bobby Portis is set. That is a mighty good foundation for a team with championship aspirations. But the Bucks’ depth ended up being lackluster.

This offseason, the Bucks will have to focus on adding defensive-minded players to the roster. Pat Connaughton is still around to bring hustle, energy, and a dash of shooting. Bringing Patrick Beverley back could be helpful in setting the tone defensively. Will it be worth it for them to re-sign Malik Beasley?

Milwaukee is over the second tax apron, so they are severely limited in terms of the moves they could make this offseason. Will next season be the year that the Bucks trust youngsters such as MarJon Beauchamp and Andre Jackson Jr., among others, to take a step forward? They will have to step up, as the team needs to up their defense if they were to seriously compete for the Larry O’Brien trophy.

This article first appeared on ClutchPoints and was syndicated with permission.

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