The Milwaukee Bucks have “suddenly emerged” as contenders to sign an NBA MVP, according to reports.
The Bucks have had a busy offseason so far as they look to bounce back from their first-round playoff exit to the Indiana Pacers.
As rumours strengthen that Giannis Antetokounmpo is considering his future with the team, Milwaukee have been making moves in order to build a contender around the two-time MVP and NBA champion.
They waived Damian Lillard in a move that made Antetokounmpo unhappy with the Bucks, let Brook Lopez leave, which led to some cryptic posts on X, and signed Myles Turner from the Indiana Pacers. There may also be yet another big move on the way for Milwaukee.
The Milwaukee Bucks ‘suddenly emerged’ as contenders to sign Russell Westbrook
According to a report from NBA Insider Brett Siegel on ClutchPoints, the Bucks are a potential landing spot for 2017 NBA MVP Russell Westbrook.
Siegel said, “In recent days, another team has suddenly emerged as a possible suitor for Westbrook: the Milwaukee Bucks.
“The expectation surrounding the Bucks is that they will be utilising one of their final roster spots to add extra guard depth after bringing back Kevin Porter Jr. and Ryan Rollins in free agency.
“Given Westbrook’s athleticism and speed, he would be an ideal fit next to Giannis Antetokounmpo on a Bucks team that likes to push the pace in transition.”
Westbrook’s legendary career, which saw him become the first man since Oscar Robertson to average a triple double in his MVP season, looked to be nearing its close after his departure from the James Harden-led Houston Rockets.
Failed stops at the Washington Wizards and Los Angeles Lakers showed his game had not evolved with age. And as he lost athleticism, his poor shot selection and decision-making were becoming more apparent.
But with the Denver Nuggets last season, Westbrook had a resurgence. His hustle and hunger were a huge asset to the Nuggets, who took the NBA champion Oklahoma City Thunder to seven games in the second round.
If Westbrook, an NBA legend, replicates that level of impact on the Bucks, he can nudge the needle closer to Eastern Conference contention.
Trading Giannis Antetokounmpo ‘the best move’ for the Bucks, says Chris Broussard
It’s fair to say that all these Bucks moves are doing is delaying the inevitable. Eventually, Milwaukee will run out of assets to trade with, run out of high-level players on the team, and will have to move on from Antetokounmpo.
NBA Analyst Chris Broussard, speaking on First Things First, agrees. Speaking on the Bucks’ move for Turner, he said, “They had to do something. It looked like a panic move to me, and I don’t think it’s enough.”
He continued, “I like Turner, and I like him with Giannis. He’s kind of how Lopez used to be. But he’s not as good as Lopez used to be. He doesn’t shoot the three as well, and he didn’t shoot well in the Finals.”
Turner shot 38% from the field and 21% from three on his way to 10.6 points per game for the Pacers in this year’s NBA Finals.
“I don’t think defensively at this point, Turner is as good as Lopez was in his prime, when they won the championship. And the bottom line is, they have no above-average guard play at all.
“All they’ve done is push the ball down. If you want to say they had to do something to make Giannis feel good, and this made him feel good, fine. But how long is that going to last?
“I’m starting to think the best move for them is to trade Giannis if, midway through the season, they’re fifth or sixth in the East.”
On the subject of guard play, of course, Westbrook would go some way to fixing this. However, he is barely an NBA starter at this point in his career and cannot be relied upon as the team’s primary decision-maker.
Ultimately, these panic moves could cost the Bucks long term in a big way.