The Milwaukee Bucks enter the upcoming season with only two players remaining from their 2020-21 championship roster: Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bobby Portis. Despite capturing their first <a href="https://www.buzzineintl.com/category/basketball/nba/”>NBA title in half a century, the Bucks have seen extensive roster turnover over the past four years, losing many foundational players who contributed to their title run.
This off-season, the Bucks continue to face turmoil as trade rumors swirl around Antetokounmpo’s future, with reports suggesting he is open to exploring opportunities beyond Milwaukee. CBS Sports analyst Brad Botkin has labeled Milwaukee as one of the biggest losers of the 2025 off-season, highlighting the franchise’s ongoing struggles to maintain a competitive squad.
Any way you cut it, this is bad,“ Botkin wrote. The moves have been increasingly desperate after Holiday, but this one goes beyond desperate. It’s delusional, and the Bucks are going to be paying for it for a long time, perhaps while watching Giannis walk anyway.
—Brad Botkin, CBS Sports
The Extent of the Bucks’ Player Departures Since Their Title Victory
Since winning the championship, the Bucks have failed to retain several key contributors, including Jrue Holiday, Khris Middleton, Brook Lopez, and Donte DiVincenzo. Each was a critical component of the 2021 title team and now plays for different organizations, leaving Milwaukee with a depleted core.
Additionally, the Bucks parted ways with Damian Lillard following two unsuccessful seasons hampered by injuries, including a torn Achilles suffered in the 2025 playoffs. Despite Giannis remaining one of the NBA’s premier talents, the team’s approach has focused more on clearing salary cap space than on assembling a strong supporting cast.
There are desperate moves and there are delusional moves,
Botkin said.
The Bucks waiving Lillard and stretching the remaining $113 million of his contract over the next five years so they can pay Myles Turner $107 million over the next four qualifies as the latter.
—Brad Botkin, CBS Sports
The Bucks recently acquired Myles Turner from the Indiana Pacers, but the move failed to address other critical needs, such as securing a true point guard or building reliable bench depth. This roster imbalance leaves Milwaukee ill-equipped to advance deep into the Eastern Conference playoffs.
Turner is a little-bit-better Brook Lopez. For that, you’re going to pay Lillard $22.5 million for each of the next five years to NOT play for you?
Botkin remarked.
In this apron era of extreme penny pinching all over the league, to call this a crippling move is an understatement.
—Brad Botkin, CBS Sports
Milwaukee has been eliminated in the first round of the playoffs for three consecutive seasons. Although Antetokounmpo has consistently ranked among the league’s top MVP candidates for seven years running, the team appears to be closer to a rebuilding phase rather than championship contention.
Uncertainty Surrounding Giannis Antetokounmpo’s Role in Milwaukee’s Future
Faced with dwindling roster strength and questionable strategic decisions, the Bucks now confront a critical question: should they persist in building around Giannis Antetokounmpo or consider trading their star for a significant return that could restart their rebuild? Antetokounmpo has expressed openness to exploring his future options, signaling potential unrest.
Shams Charania of ESPN reported in May that Antetokounmpo was “open-minded” about leaving Milwaukee, a position he reaffirmed in August. Past departures of key players such as Holiday, Lopez, Lillard, and Middleton—despite some declines in individual performance—raise doubts about remaining loyal to a franchise struggling to assemble a title-caliber roster.
Although Antetokounmpo expects to begin the season in Milwaukee, there is no certainty he will finish it there, as multiple teams interested in his services are likely to present compelling trade offers. With a player option after the 2026-27 season, his long-term commitment to the Bucks remains uncertain, especially given the current roster’s apparent inability to compete for championships.
If the Bucks choose to trade him, the potential destinations could include perennial playoff contenders such as the Golden State Warriors, Los Angeles Clippers, or Los Angeles Lakers—teams with established rosters regularly considered championship contenders.