3 major offseason fixes Bucks must make to win 2025 NBA Finals
03/05/2024 23:41
Another year, another early postseason exit for the Milwaukee Bucks. Even with the addition of superstar Damian Lillard to bolster the duo of Giannis Antetokounmpo and Khris Middleton, the Bucks failed to advance past the First Round of the NBA Playoffs for the second consecutive season despite being the higher seed agin.
Milwaukee’s big three will stay together for at least another two seasons. But with secondary players failing to step up, Bucks fans will have to wonder if this team will capitalize again during Giannis Antetokoumpo’s championship window. As the offseason starts early for the Bucks, here are three major fixes the Bucks must make to win 2025 NBA Finals.
Find consistent three-point shooting
The Indiana Pacers demonstrated the importance of three-point shooting in their series win against the Bucks, namely the value of having a lineup with five three-point shooters on the floor. While Indy was not consistently lethal from deep (34.4% for the series), their ability to spread the floor created numerous problems for the Milwaukee defense. Six Pacers players attempted at least 20 threes in the series while just four did so for the Bucks.
Malik Beasley — Milwaukee’s floor-spacing addition last summer — is a free agent this offseason. Beasley led the team shooting 41.3% from deep on the year on 6.9 attempts per game (second only to Damian Lillard). But the guard was a streaky shooter, hitting 44% of his three-pointers before the All-Star break and just 35.6% after the festivities in Indianapolis. Beasley was one of two Bucks players, along with Bobby Portis, who finished in the top 75 in three-point percentage this year.
If he leaves, Milwaukee will need to find a replacement. A.J. Green (40.8% from deep) could step into that role, though he played just 11 minutes per game in his second NBA season. Among the top shooters available are Eric Gordon, who has a player option with the Phoenix Suns for 2024-25, and Tyus Jones of the Washington Wizards.
Add athletic wing defenders
The Bucks spent five second-round picks on Jae Crowder, who failed to live up to his label as one of the best three-and-d wings in the NBA. Crowder was unplayable for much of the series against the Pacers and is likely out the door as a free agent this summer. The Bucks struggled against Pascal Siakam and Tyrese Haliburton’s size and were forced to collapse on them defensively. This opened up opportunities for the Pacers’ three-point shooters. Andre Jackson Jr. should step into a bigger role next year, but Milwaukee needs a veteran athletic wing.
Several free agents fit the mold, including Gary Harris of the Orlando Magic, Taurean Prince of the Los Angeles Lakers, and Nicolas Batum of the Philadelphia 76ers. None has won an NBA title and could be convinced to join Milwaukee on a cut-rate deal.
Draft a center who can defend the pick-and-roll
Brook Lopez still has value as a three-point shooter and rim-protector, but Indianapolis exposed the veteran center defensively by forcing him to defend the pick-and-roll. Lopez lacks the quickness to survive in the P&R, and his drop defense forced other Bucks defenders to help — thus creating open three-point shots for the Pacers. This should be a need the Bucks address in a draft with numerous talented and athletic big men available.
Among the centers that could be available to the Bucks at pick #25 are Yves Missi of Baylor, Daron Holmes II of Dayton, and Marquette’s Oso Ighodaro. Drafting one of these players allows the Bucks to match up better defensively and slowing phase out the aging Brook Lopez.
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