Milwaukee Bucks Season Review

 

Team Record: 58 – 24 (3^rd in the Eastern Conference)

 

Season Highlight:

 

It’s hard to pick a season highlight for a team that had a lot of success once again! I would have to say there is two highlights worth mentioning.  One would have to be making it to the conference finals once again off the back of another strong regular season performance, the Bucks are one of the only teams in the league that have a consistent identity, which is a testament to GM Daz.  On the note of GM Daz, the second season highlight would have to be the league recognising that Daz is one of the elite GMs in the league, with him earning GM of the year honours last season.  Not only that, but he also contributes at a ridiculously high level on the back end of the league too.

 

Season Lowlight:

 

There really isn’t much to be disappointed about from the Bucks campaign but knowing Daz I know the lowlight would be failing to reach the Finals after making the conference finals for the second year in a row.  Daz has lofty aspirations for his team and that is why they are so successful, as of right now, I think they’re my pick to make it out the east this upcoming season.

 

Best Trade:

 

Bucks Send: Jalen Brunson and Milwaukee 2024 first

Bucks Receive: Myles Turner and Gary Payton II

 

Daz doesn’t make a tonne of deals, but when he does, he makes sure it fits what he is trying to build, which this does perfectly.  Brunson was brought in during FA with cap space and no assets used, so to get a centre in Myles Turner and Gary Payton II who both fit the bucks identity is a win.  Brunson did continue to emerge later in the season, but when you consider that Brunson was a free addition, this is great value for Daz.

 

Worst Trade:

 

Bucks Send: Demar DeRozan and Terance Mann

Bucks Receive: Og Anunoby, Robert Covington and 2 2^nd round picks

 

Now I don’t think this is a bad deal for the Bucks by any stretch, OG is a fantastic player especially in 2k, in fact he went on to win the Most Improved Player award last season for the Bucks.  The only reason I say this is the worst trade is that Demar is a 2k stud and I believe a little more value could have been squeezed out of this deal.  Covington is another great depth piece as well.

 

Other Noteable Trades:

 

Bucks Send: Charlotte 2023 1^st

Bucks Receive: Tony Bradley and Malachi Flynn

 

This is a notable trade as Bradley was a 2k glitch last season and helped anchor the defence side of the ball for the bucks prior to the Turner addition.  He was a key part to the Bucks success prior to being shipped elsewhere just before he was waived.

 

Bucks Send: Christian Koloko and Tj McConnell

Bucks Receive: Jordan Clarkson

 

While this trade happened after the season was over, this is another piece of fantastic dealing for Daz.  Clarkson looks like he will be the perfect 6^th man in the new engine / sliders for next season.

 

Free Agency:

The Bucks rotation is all but set in stone I’d say, they will look to add on the fringes in FA and bodies that can fill in, in a pinch, but I don’t see them being giant players at the end of the day.

 

Star: Shai Gilgeous Alexander

 

This one is obvious; Shai is an absolute stud both in game and in the NBA.  Daz has built his roster perfectly to compliment Shai’s strengths.  Shai is nicknamed the eel with the feel and I think this describes him perfectly, he’s long, shifty and there is no way of speeding this man up.  He should be everyone’s front runner for MVP this season as the bucks are primed to take out the east and this engine suits Shai perfectly. The number of times I tried to get Shai of Badwolf was ridiculous and now it appears even more impossible with Daz at the helm.

 

Flop: Miles Bridges

 

This one hurts Daz I know, trading Zion for Miles + at the time was a huge talking point, but Bridges was showing a LOT at the time as well as Mitchell Robinson!   I know Daz hates being tied to Bridges because he is a piece of sh*t and if it weren’t detrimental to his side and his goals, he would probably release him in a heartbeat.  I don’t think too much needs to be said here, Miles has been a flop because of his off court disgusting behaviour.

 

Draft Grades:

The Bucks didn’t make a pick of their own in the 2023 Draft however, they did pick Leonard Miller on behalf of the Minnesota Timberwolves and I give that grade an A+ with some personal bias involved.

 

The Roster:

 

C: Myles Turner / Al Horford

PF: Evan Mobley /

SF: Otto Porter / Miles Bridges

SG: OG Anunoby / Jordan Clarkson

PG: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander / Gary Payton II

 

Somewhere within this most of these guys are interchangeable and play multiple positions, therefore Daz will likely run a 8-9 man rotation all season and keep his playmakers on the floor at all times. 

 

Concluding Thoughts:

The Bucks are young, they’re frisky and they’re deep.  They are primed to make another run to the conference finals or even make a first time NSL Finals appearance, Daz isn’t afraid to make a move that will put his team over the top either with multiple rumours swirling that there has been talks to move not only Evan Mobley and OG Anunoby but also Shai Gilgeous Alexander.  Daz is HUNGRY to make it out the east this season and I think with SGA being my front runner for the upcoming MVP, they have as good a shot as ever to reach the finals. 

 

I wish Daz and his Bucks the best of luck, but I also hope there is some way you can get rid of that piece of sh*t Bridges without it affecting your team too much.

 

Good luck mate!