First-round loss could mark the end of an era in Milwaukee

Four years ago, the Milwaukee Bucks won their first NBA title in half a century. Since then, they’ve only won a single playoff series.

Tuesday’s 119-118 loss was Milwaukee’s third straight first-round playoff loss, despite having first team All-NBA forward Giannis Antetokounmpo and making a blockbuster deal for All-Star guard Damian Lillard before last season. With Lillard’s torn Achilles tendon likely to keep him out for next season, while he earns $54M, this year’s defeat could lead to big changes in Milwaukee.

The Bucks simply don’t have many paths to improve their team around Antetokounmpo, who remains one of the NBA’s elite players. Milwaukee doesn’t control its first-round pick for the next six drafts, losing two picks outright and owing two pick swaps each to the New Orleans Pelicans and Portland Trail Blazers. The Bucks don’t even have a second-round pick until 2031.

Milwaukee’s also limited by its payroll, with its two All-Stars combining to earn over $108M. Center Brook Lopez is a free agent. Gary Trent, Jr. and Taurean Prince played on veteran’s minimum deals this season, while Kyle Kuzma is on the books for $42.8M over the next two seasons. Bobby Portis and Pat Connaugton will likely opt into their lucrative deals for next season, meaning the Bucks might be spending $154M on just five players.

All this means that while Antetokounmpo has never asked for a trade, Milwaukee might consider trading their franchise player. It already traded other pieces of the title team when it swapped Jrue Holiday for Lillard and traded Khris Middleton for Kuzma. It’s hard to imagine how the Bucks remain a contender next season.

Antetokounmpo is the team’s only valuable asset, though the pending pick swaps make any tanking plans difficult. As much as they’d hate to lose the Greek Freak, they’d also hate to waste Antetokounmpo’s prime on a team that’s battling to stay out of the play-in tournament.

After three straight first-round exits, no one’s job in Milwaukee is secure, not even the two-time MVP’s.