Bucks Rebuild Begins
The Milwaukee Bucks roster reshapes after Giannis trade, NBA draft, and busy free agency period
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The Milwaukee Bucks are deep into a full rebuild this summer after trading franchise cornerstone Giannis Antetokounmpo to the Miami Heat. In return, Milwaukee received four players from Miami, plus Bobby Portis was also moved in the deal, according to FDL Reporter.
The roster reshaping did not stop there. The Bucks also made a separate trade to bring in veteran guard Caris LeVert and re-signed some of their own free agents, including Ousmane Dieng. As of mid-July, Milwaukee sits at 21 players — the maximum allowed during the offseason, per Wausau Daily Herald.
Bucks Receive Four Players in Giannis Deal
Milwaukee sent Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bobby Portis to the Miami Heat and got four players back. The trade marks the end of an era. Giannis spent his entire NBA career with Milwaukee and led the team to the 2021 NBA championship, according to The Northwestern.
The four players coming back from Miami give the Bucks young pieces to build around. The exact makeup of those players signals Milwaukee's front office is planning for the long term, not a quick return to contention, HTR News reported.
LeVert Trade Adds a Veteran Guard to Young Mix
Beyond the Giannis deal, Milwaukee also traded for Caris LeVert. LeVert is an experienced guard who gives the young roster a veteran presence. He has played for several teams over his NBA career, including the Cleveland Cavaliers and Indiana Pacers, per Stevens Point Journal.
His addition highlights a potential roster problem. The Bucks now have an abundance of guards. That logjam could push the front office to make more moves before the regular season tips off, according to Marshfield News-Herald.
Dieng Re-Signing Signals Some Roster Continuity
Amid all the turnover, Milwaukee chose to keep Ousmane Dieng. The Bucks re-signed him as a free agent this summer. Dieng is a young forward with upside. Keeping him shows the team wants some continuity while it rebuilds, FDL Reporter noted.
Dieng fits the rebuild timeline. At 21 players on the roster right now, the Bucks are at the offseason maximum. That means cuts or trades are coming soon to get down to the regular-season limit of 15, per Wausau Daily Herald.
More Roster Moves Expected Before the Season Starts
With 21 players under contract and too many guards on the books, the Bucks are not done dealing. The front office will need to trim the roster by at least six players before the regular season. More trades or waiver cuts are likely coming, according to HTR News.
Milwaukee is essentially starting over after years of competing at the top of the Eastern Conference. The rebuild is real and the roster will keep changing. The Northwestern noted the team is actively tracking all transactions and will update the roster as moves happen.
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