Milwaukee
Bucks ROSTER
1-2 • 10th in EASTERN CONFERENCE
| NAME | POS | AGE | SALARY | HT | WT | COLLEGE | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #20 | A.J.Green | G | 25 | $2,120,693 | 6' 4" | 190 lbs | NORTHERN IOWA | |
| #44 | AndreJackson | G | 22 | $1,891,857 | 6' 6" | 209 lbs | UCONN | |
| #18 | AnžejsPasečņiks | C-F | 28 | N/A | 7' 1" | 229 lbs | N/A | |
| #9 | BobbyPortis | F | 29 | $12,578,286 | 6' 10" | 250 lbs | ARKANSAS | |
| #11 | BrookLopez | C | 36 | $23,000,000 | 7' 1" | 282 lbs | STANFORD | |
| #7 | ChrisLivingston | F | 21 | $1,891,857 | 6' 6" | 220 lbs | KENTUCKY | |
| #0 | DamianLillard | G | 34 | $48,787,676 | 6' 2" | 195 lbs | WEBER STATE | |
| #55 | DelonWright | G | 32 | $2,087,519 | 6' 5" | 185 lbs | UTAH | |
| #5 | GaryTrent | G | 25 | N/A | 6' 5" | 204 lbs | DUKE | |
| #34 | GiannisAntetokounmpo | F | 29 | $48,787,676 | 6' 11" | 243 lbs | N/A | |
| #22 | KhrisMiddleton | F | 33 | $31,666,667 | 6' 7" | 222 lbs | TEXAS A&M | |
| #3 | MarJonBeauchamp | F | 24 | $2,733,720 | 6' 7" | 199 lbs | YAKIMA VALLEY (WA) | |
| #24 | PatConnaughton | G | 31 | $9,423,869 | 6' 5" | 209 lbs | NOTRE DAME | |
| #13 | RyanRollins | G | 22 | $600,000 | 6' 3" | 180 lbs | TOLEDO | |
| #17 | StanleyUmude | G | 25 | N/A | 6' 6" | 210 lbs | ARKANSAS | |
| #12 | TaureanPrince | F | 30 | $2,087,519 | 6' 6" | 218 lbs | BAYLOR |
Current Bucks Roster Status
With the future of the franchise at stake, the Milwaukee Bucks had to make some big moves in the offseason.
The biggest issue they faced was the contract extension of cornerstone superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo. After another disappointing end to their season in 2020, rumors began swirling pertaining to Antetokounmpo possibly growing frustrated with the lack of success in Milwaukee. There was some fear that Giannis was going to decline a contract extension in order to enter free agency in the summer of 2021, despite the fact that Antetokounmpo himself had already declared his loyalty to the Bucks on multiple occasions.
In the end, Giannis signed a record-breaking $228 million five-year max extension.
Milwaukee's big offseason move came in the form of former All-Star point guard Jrue Holiday. The Bucks had to part ways with Eric Bledsoe, George Hill, R.J. Hampton, and three future first-round picks as part of the four-team deal that involved the New Orleans Pelicans, the Oklahoma City Thunder, and the Denver Nuggets. Holiday is one of the best two-way guards in the league today, so the 30-year-old could certainly prove to be the missing piece to the puzzle for the Bucks.
Aside from Bledsoe and Hill, Milwaukee also lost a few more key guys in Wesley Matthews (signed as a free agent with the Los Angeles Lakers), Robin Lopez (signed as a free agent with the Washington Wizards), and Kyle Korver (free agent), to name a few.
They added D.J. Augustin, Bobby Portis, Torrey Craig, Bryn Forbes, and Justin Patton via free agency, while also adding two draft picks in Jordan Nwora (45th) and Sam Merrill (60th).
It is also worth noting that the Bucks almost signed unrestricted free agent Bogdan Bogdanovic, only for the deal to be canceled at the last minute. Bogdanovic apparently failed to agree to terms with Milwaukee and ended up signing with the Atlanta Hawks.
Milwaukee's starting five consists of Donte DiVincenzo, Holiday, Khris Middleton, Antetokounmpo, and Brook Lopez. Key players coming off the bench include Portis, Augustin, Pat Connaughton, and Bryn Forbes.
milwaukee bucks Team Analysis
Offense
—Milwaukee's signature in 2019-20 was their tremendous defense, ranking as the very best in the league. Make no mistake about it, though, the Bucks were an elite team offensively as well.
The Bucks averaged 118.7 points per game, which was No. 1 in the entire NBA. They shot 47.6 percent from the field (second) on 90.9 attempts per game (fourth). 35.3 percent of their points came from three-pointers (seventh), as they drained 13.8 triples per game as a team (third). Their efficiency from distance could see some improvement for next season, as they shot 35.5 from three-point territory (17th).
Being such a potent three-point scoring team, the Bucks scored just 49.7 percent of their points from within the arc (22nd). They ranked just 23rd in the entire league with 52.0 attempts from two-point territory (23rd). They were extremely efficient with these shots though, making 56.7 percent of them (first).
This team's overall effective field goal percentage was 55.2 (first) and their true shooting percentage was at 58.3 percent (third).
Milwaukee also got to the line often during games, averaging 24.7 free-throw attempts per contest (sixth). Their 74.2 percentage from the line, however, needs a significant improvement, given how it ranked a lowly 27th in the NBA. The fact that Giannis Antetokounmpo took 10.0 free-throws per game, while making just 63.3 percent of them, clearly had a huge impact for the Bucks here -- as with every other offensive category, actually.
The Bucks moved the ball around relatively well, logging 25.9 assists per contest (fifth). Interestingly, though, only 59.8 percent of their points were assisted on, which ranked 16th in the league.
Turnovers is another aspect Milwaukee can work on for the 2020-21 season, given they turned the ball over 15.1 times per game (21st). Their assists-to-turnover ratio last season was 1.71, good for 12th in the NBA.
All in all, the Bucks accumulated an overall offensive rating of 111.9, which ranked eighth in the league.
Defense
—Giannis Antetokounmpo was awarded as the Defensive Player of the Year last season, while Brook Lopez was second-team All-Defensive. Having two of the best defenders in the entire league, it only follows that the Bucks were an elite defensive squad last season. As a matter of fact, they were the very best in the entire NBA.
In terms of scoring, the Bucks allowed their opponents an average of just 108.6 points per game, which ranked eighth in the entire league. Interestingly, Milwaukee allowed their opponents the most field goal attempts per game at 94.0, but they ranked first in the league in terms of opponent field goal percentages (41.4 percent). Similarly, they allowed their opponents to 39.3 three-point attempts per game (30th). Their opponents shot 35.5 percent from distance, which was 15th in the NBA.
The Bucks allowed their opponents 54.7 two-point attempts per contest (13th), holding them to just 45.7 percent (first). Milwaukee did a good job keeping their opponents away from the line, allowing just 21.2 free-throw attempts per game (seventh). They committed 21.7 fouls per game, however, which was 25th in the NBA.
Rebounding is another category this team excelled at, averaging 51.7 board per game (first). Their 42.2 defensive rebounds per game also ranked first in the league.
The Bucks' defense resulted in 7.2 steals per game -- an area for improvement for this team, given how they ranked just 23rd in this particular category. This resulted in 14.1 opponent turnovers per contest (20th). Their 5.9 blocked shots per game, however, ranked a very impressive third in the NBA. Lopez was Milwaukee's centerpiece down low, with the former All-Star big man averaging a career-best 2.4 blocks per game.
Altogether, the Bucks garnered a 102.5 defensive rating, which was first in the entire league.
Coaching
—The Bucks have one of the best coaches in the league in Mike Budenholzer. The 51-year-old is a two-time Coach of the Year winner, with his first one coming during his previous stint with the Atlanta Hawks.
Coach Bud's second Coach of the Year trophy came in his debut season with the Bucks during the 2018-19 campaign. He led Milwaukee to the best record in the entire league with 60 wins. The Bucks also went to the Eastern Conference Finals that season, only to be defeated by eventual champs, the Toronto Raptors.
In two years with the Bucks ahead of the 2020-21 season, Budenholzer has amassed 116 wins with the team against just 39 losses. That's good for a .748 winning percentage, and despite the small size, he holds the record for the best winning percentage in franchise history.
Budenholzer has a number of assistant coaches under him, with none more well-known than Vin Baker, who himself was a former Buck. The team's other assistants are Chad Forcier, Darvin Ham, Charles Lee, Joshua Longstaff, Patrick St. Andrews, Ben Sullivan, Mike Dunlap, and Josh Oppenheimer
Top milwaukee bucks Roster Questions
Who Did The Bucks Recently Sign?
—Milwaukee's most recent free agent signing came in the form of 33-year-old point guard D.J. Augustin.
Augustin, who played for the Orlando Magic last season, signed with the Bucks on a three-year deal worth $21 million.
The 5-foot-11 point guard will serve as the Bucks' primary backup at the one spot behind Jrue Holiday, who also arrived in Milwaukee during the offseason.
Who Are The Bucks Targeting In Free Agency?
—The Bucks made a number of key signings in free agency over the offseason, as they look to mount a more serious title challenge for 2020-21.
Milwaukee started things off by bringing in 6-foot-10 power forward Bobby Portis, who ended last season with the New York Knicks, on a two-year, $7.4 million deal.
The Bucks then added some wing depth to their roster by signing Torrey Craig, formerly of the Denver Nuggets, to a one-year contract worth $1.7 million.
Finally, Milwaukee also signed D.J. Augustin on a three-year deal worth $21 million. The 33-year-old veteran will serve as the squad's primary backup to Jrue Holiday, who is now the Bucks' starting point guard.
Aside from the three aforementioned signings, Milwaukee was also linked to other free agents in the offseason, including Jeff Teague, Markieff Morris, Patrick Patterson, and Courtney Lee.
Who Did The Bucks Most Recently Trade For?
—The Bucks pulled the trigger on one of the biggest trades of the offseason with the hopes of fielding a more formidable side for the 2020-21 season.
Milwaukee decided to part ways with Eric Bledsoe in order to acquire the services of one-time All-Star and two-time All-Defensive guard Jrue Holiday from the New Orleans Pelicans. Along with Bledsoe, the Bucks also sent three first-round picks for 2024 through 2027. The trade was later expanded to a three-team deal involving the New Orleans Pelicans. Milwaukee also traded away George Hill to the Pelicans, who in turn sent Sam Merrill to the Bucks.
What Is The Best Bucks Roster Of All-Time?
—The Bucks have won the title just once throughout its history, and this came during the 1970-71 season. As such, that title-winning side still remains the best roster in franchise history.
The great Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was Milwaukee's cornerstone superstar during that time, and another all-time great in Oscar Robertson played alongside him. Bob Dandridge, Jon McGlocklin, Greg Smith, Bob Boozer, Bob Greacen, Lucius Allen, and McCoy McLemore are some of the other noteworthy names from that memorable squad.
What Is The Bucks' Salary Cap?
—The Bucks made the most significant signing of the offseason by extending the deal of reigning back-to-back MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo. This did not come cheap for Milwaukee, with Giannis putting pen to paper on a record-breaking supermax extension worth $228 million for five years. The good news for the Bucks is that Antetokounmpo's new deal won't kick in until the 2021-22 season, which means that he will earn "just" $27.5 million this year.
Nevertheless, with all the salaries the Bucks will need to pay this term, they will still be operating above the cap by quite a significant margin. Spotrac estimates Milwaukee's total cap to be in the $134 million range, which is around $25 million above the cap.
Khris Middleton will be Milwaukee's top earner this season with $33.1 million, while newcomer Jrue Holiday rounds out the Top 3 (behind Giannis) with a $25.9 million salary. Second team All-Defense big man Brook Lopez will also pocket $12.7 million in 2020-21.
