The Milwaukee Bucks reached the conference finals a year ago. As the 2019-2020 NBA season gets opened up, the Bucks are the overwhelming favorites to come out of the East. As long as the Bucks have the Greek Freak on their side, they’re going to be contenders for a long time. What will the Milwaukee Bucks bring to the table as the season starts!
Key Additions: Robin Lopez, Wesley Matthews, Thanasis Antetokounmpo, Dragan Bender, Kyle Korver
The Bucks did some brother pairing in the offseason. Robin joins Brook. Thanasis joins Giannis. Two Lopez’s and Two Greek Freaks. Well, sort of on that last one. If it keeps Giannis happy, do it. Wesley Matthews actually looks like a starter on this team. How does that play out? Does Kyle Korver have anything left? Certainly does not on the defensive end. Dragan Bender is a lottery ticket. He has a few guys to learn from. Maybe something clicks.
Key Departures: Malcolm Brogdon, Niko Mirotic, Tony Snell
The Bucks suffered some big losses. No, I’m not talking about Tony Snell. I don’t know why I even put him on this list. Malcolm Brogdon is the man the Bucks should have paid over Eric Bledsoe. That decision could come back to haunt them. I really don’t know what Bledsoe does well except for being annoying. Mirotic is the big loss. He provided another big shooter that made the Bucks so tough to defend. I’m not sure how you replace him unless Robin Lopez is planning to make it splash this year.
Potential Starting Lineup: Eric Bledsoe, Khris Middleton, Wesley Matthews, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Brook Lopez
This is basically the same starting lineup that got to the Conference Finals a year ago. I think Giannis can keep getting better. Middleton needs to keep hitting 3’s at a high rate. Any Giannis team needs floor spacing. Let him go to work and knock down the open shot. With Kawhi in LA, the Bucks open as the favorites out East… for now.
