They def will choke again if they don't make player changes. There is no way this same team goes ECF deep with so many other teams in the East who are mismatches against them in the playoffs. Sure they can have the best regular season record but come playoff time, the kid gloves are off and Giannis gonna feel the pain once again. Where he goes afterwards is also a dice roll but I don't think he does Milwaukee dirty and leaves without some compensation so a sign-and-trade will probably happen.

@BludAardvark Firstly, I was comparing this year’s Bucks team to the ‘06 Mavericks, not the ‘11 Mavericks (hence the phrase “mid 2000’s”). The Mavericks were not very responsible with their salary cap at the time either, Michael Finley and Keith Van Horn, aging players well past their prime were making over 15 million dollars on that team that season. Erick Dampier and Jerry Stackhouse, also past their prime (or in the case of Dampier, not very good), were making over 8 million a season (which was more money at the time than it is now). Just like Avery Johnson, Bud isn’t going to lift them to a chip unless he really reflects on his past and realizes adjustments have to be made. They’ll need to acquire a couple of good players or one great player to get them over that hump, and I think that’s achievable with guys like Chris Paul, Bogdan Bogdanovic, Buddy Hield, Victor Oladipo and a few others becoming available. The Bucks have expiring contracts, 2 first round picks and a young asset in Donte Divencenzo that would all be fine trade pieces. Secondly, as for the Middleton contract, what were they supposed to do? Let him walk? He’s an efficient 20 point scorer who can go off the dribble at times and play solid defense on the wing. You don’t just let that guy walk. Brook Lopez is one of the league’s better rim protectors and is one of the few centers that can provide Giannis with the space he needs to work inside, he’s a very valuable piece to that team; they couldn’t let him walk away either. The mistakes they made were extending Eric Bledsoe early and just not dipping into the luxury tax to resign Malcolm Brogdan. You can redeem those mistakes by making the correct moves this offseason.

FO/Culture is different but the salary cap sheet don't lie. Middleton has big long term money tied up and he's not the 2nd guy to bail out Giannis. Refusing to sign Brogdon for what he ended up signing for (20 million) was also kinda boneheaded since good players are always worth their fair price and for small market teams with championship aspirations, the only way to add big time talent is through trades. Who wants the one dimensional corpses of Eric Bledsoe/Brook Lopez so the Bucks get a meaningful talent in return? Smart championship teams are flexible with their roster/salaries so that they can keep changing things up when needed. The Mavs leading up to their championship in 2011 were that. This current Bucks built around Giannis is NOT! Also did you not see Bud get absolutely outcoached in the playoffs? If he already struggles with adjustments against better coaches/teams with his current roster, there is no hope for him next season. So unless Bucks somehow get that one guy who puts them over with Giannis to help Bud out, the title isn't running through Milwaukee at all.

Sign-and-Trades baby.

How is going to another team to win cheap? Whether is by free agency or trade, if the player wants out, that's on the franchise for not putting the best talent around them

If it wasn't for milwakuee he most likely wouldn't of been in the NBA. They were the ones that recruited him to America to be in the NBA draft.

Cupcake Durant was talking similar sht when Bron went to Miami

I’m a Matt Barnes fan too. My friends never understood how I liked him so much

@Jay C guys who stay get a lot of respect even if they will never win anything ! KD won but it will forever be with an * And he cares after his burner reactions

So pull a Damion Lillard and win nothing just because of “loyalty” remember at the end of the day basketball is their job. For you it’s entertainment.

Dude has been fighting for almost 10 years man...time to go

Seriously Damn shitted on the city

the bucks would be better off trading him and getting some value in return vs letting him walk away