Milwaukee Bucks – 2023-24 Champions!

2023-24 Record: 64-18

What a privilege it is to write the team by team for the 2023-24 NSL Champions- The Milwaukee Bucks. It truly was the dream season for GM Daz as he and his Bucks took almost every meaningful piece of silverware including the MVP & Finals MVP Award- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, GMOTY Award to Daz and of course the NSL Championship to the Milwaukee Bucks. On his way to the ultimate prize, Daz endeared himself further to the league, rolling up his sleeves and doing the dirty work in his admin role while still approaching day-to-day NSL life as the friendly, likeable and respectable way. There’s nothing more to say other than this result was a win for the good guys as GM Daz secured the first title heading to the Eastern Conference…

… And he’s gone. Off to the Western Conference to take the reigns of the long neglected Golden State Warriors in a project that could ultimately prove his NSL greatness in the coming seasons.

Let’s take a look back at the amazing season that was.  

 

Season Highlight:

Figuring it out and winning the Championship

After a terrific season of wheeling and dealing it was clear the Bucks had the pieces to go deep into finals, however the results simply weren’t consistent as the playoffs closed in. Over the last 10 games this writer vaguely recalls looking up a record of 6-4 from the Bucks, which isn’t the form a GM is looking for coming into the business end of the season. There’s no doubt GM Daz had a little concern and finding the right balance after closing a deadline deal to bring in star player Paul George was beginning to feel like it could’ve been a ‘one too many’ trade that had the potential to ruin team chemistry.

To add to the concern, the Eastern Conference was talented and for the first time looked like it could’ve been the more powerful Conference of the two. Boasting star studded teams such as the Wizards (last year’s EC Finalist), a glitchy 76ers team and the sleeping giant in the New York Knicks (who would be the first-round opponent of the Bucks) the Bucks would have to get their act together quickly to advance.

In the first round against the Knicks there were moments where GM Daz genuinely had his back against the wall which was no surprise considering their opposition boasted fully healthy superstars in Kawhi Leonard and Damian Lillard. After 3 games the Bucks trailed 1-2 and were heading to New York for a must win game 4. In the face of adversity is where legends are made and whatever calculations and changes that were made by the star GM reinvigorated his squad as they went on to steamroll the Knicks in the next 3 games, closing the series 4-2, advancing to the second round.

Finishing 2^nd and landing on this side of the bracket meant the Bucks would really have to earn their way to the Conference Finals and standing in their way would be a Philadelphia team following a similar build to the Bucks. Headed by athletic point guard DeAaron Fox there was expectation for a hard-fought series, however the superior build and new-found form of the Bucks proved Daz was ready for anything, cruising to a 4-0 sweep.

The Conference Finals was as big as they come with the Bucks taking on last year’s Eastern Conference Champs the Washington Wizards. GM Josh had built a deep and talented squad with Lebron James and Devin Booker at the helm. It was a coin flip as to who would advance. The Bucks’ 7 game win streak would come to an end in game one as the Wizards would hold on in a heart stopping 1 point win, drawing first blood in the series. Knowing how close they came in game 1, Daz made the changes necessary in game 2 on the road to escape with an 8-point win and home court advantage. The Bucks would back it up with a win at home followed by a narrow 6-point defeat as the Wizards clawed back and levelled the series 2-2. On the road the Bucks put up and inspired effort, blowing out the home team by nearly 30 points, heading back home with a 3-2 advantage. In front of the home crowd the Bucks would close it out proving too strong for the defending Conference Champs, taking out the series with a 5-point win.

The LA Lakers stood in the way of the Bucks and a maiden title for GM Daz. Both teams were newcomers to the finals and both GMs were widely considered the best in the league in 2023-24. It was a match made in heaven. Both teams had to overcome several challenges to get to the Finals with the Bucks probably advancing through the harshest run of all teams in the post season. Playing host in game one the Lakers drew first blood and took all momentum into game two at home. True to post season form, GM Daz made the appropriate moves to secure the upset win on the road in game two, taking home court advantage with a series levelling win. The Bucks would then prove too much in front of their home fans, winning back-to-back games securing a near-insurmountable 3-1 lead. Something special would be required from the Lakers at home to extend the series and it simply was not to be. GM Daz and his boys would hold the strategy and secure a 144-105 blowout win to emphatically bring home the trophy- 4-1 BUCKS.

There’s no certainties in NSL and when heading into playoffs in a form slump there’s all sorts of concerns a GM can have. Being able to recover the form and take down all the best teams in the conference on the way to emphatically winning the title is an amazing turnaround. The hard work and mastery of the engine was on full display and GM Daz and his Bucks were deserving winners of the spoils.

Trading:

GM Daz understood the assignment, get the build right around the best player in the engine. Each trade that the Bucks made told a story about what GM Daz needed to add to emphasise the best traits and support the weaknesses of his star SGA. Coming into the season with Evan Mobley and Myles Turner meant the paint would be secure, it would be the wings that would need to be fortified with role players who could defend and maybe even a star to share the offensive load with SGA on an off-night (which did not exist last season).

Best Trades:

Bucks send: Jordan Clarkson, OG Anunoby, Herb Jones 2x 2025 First Round Picks (NY and Cha) and 4x Second Round Picks
Bucks receive: Paul George, Dennis Schroder, 2025 First round pick (Utah)

In just about every season there is a trade that can be looked at as the deal that won the title. This was that deal for the Bucks. After accumulating a few first round picks in prior deals and getting a young defensive star in Herb Jones, Daz pushed all the assets in. OG was a great fit next to SGA as he didn’t need the ball and defended as good as anyone on the wings. For a while after the trade there was concern that George was the wrong guy, however with the right adjustments the deal paid dividends in the ultimate way, a championship for Daz and the Bucks. They paid the price but got what they ordered.

Bucks send: Gary Payton II, 2x First Round Picks (NO 2023 & Mil 2028) and 2x Second Round Picks.
Bucks receive: Herb Jones

A good GM knows when to pay the price and who it’s worth paying the price on. Some GMs prefer assets, but many would argue the best assets are real players. Herb Jones is a real player. He’s a premium young defender with great 2k ratings. Getting a role player like this to put next to OG was the godfather offer Portland needed to move off of the win-now approach and Herb looks better than a couple of fun coupons, no doubt.

 

Worst trade:

Bucks send: Robert Covington and 2x Second Round Picks
Bucks receive: Otto Porter

This trade was inconsequential which speaks volumes to the quality of the trading done by GM Daz. The reason this one makes the list is because Otto Porter looked sensational to start the season as a glitch wing however he sustained an injury and rarely played then ultimately retired before the season finished. Covington played the early season then was struck down by injury around the middle of the season. He also barely played through the back end of the year. Losing two second rounders for the experience was about as bad a loss as Daz took all season. Not bad really. 

 

Star:

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander - MVP

40 points, 6 assists and 5 rebounds per game!

Wow! What more can be said about the season from SGA. He was built for the 2k24 engine, a point god though more of an SG in real life, he defends, dribbles, passes, scores from everywhere, is a giant slayer in the paint and a midrange assassin. In an engine built for the little guy, he was the ultimate. There was no stopping him only slowing him down and regardless of who ended up with the task, the stats above were almost guaranteed on a nightly basis.

 

Flop:

No one but honourable mentions here

The title gives this away, no player on the Bucks deserves a flop for a Championship season! But that’s no fun so if we were to make a case for a player who was a flop it would read as follows:

Paul George- The Bucks were cruising along without PG and looked like the best team in the league before the wing star arrived. He was averaging 32 points for the Blazers prior to coming across to the Bucks where he was only able to put up 24 ppg as the second fiddle to SGA. Still a remarkable season.

Evan Mobley- Harsh that he is on this list as he averaged over a double-double in a championship season playing a role of defender and screen setter. The case for Mobley comes from his NBA season, people were expecting him to take a leap to become a KG type big man. It didn’t happen last season though he was still a serviceable big and quality defender. Will it happen next season?

Thaddius Young- Barely played postseason basketball after being a good role player in previous years. Retired an NSL Champion.

Not one of those guys look like a flop from down here looking up.

 

The Future:

GM Daz is all but gone on his way to not-so-greener pastures in Golden State, however this Superstar GM couldn’t have left his former franchise in a better place. They are Champions. They have young stars. They have picks… somehow. Oh, and they have a new GM who is a former GMOTY, GM Ethan from the Wolves. The Bucks will be fine and will enter 2024-25 as favourites to win the Championship, though no guarantees exist in this game.

GM Ethan has already looked to make this team his own sending out some of the Championship supporting cast such as Myles Turner and Schroder to bring back paint beast Mitch Robinson and Tyler Herro. The team continues to extend its window, however a key cog to staying in the mix will be reaching an agreement with Paul George to stay long term in this year’s Free Agency. If they can do so, the sky is the limit for the new GM and defending champs.

 

Projected Lineup for 2024-25

C- Jonas Valanciunas
PF- Evan Mobley
SF- Paul George
SG- Tyler Herro
PG- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

Bench: Mitch Robinson, Reggie Jackson, Eric Gordon

 

Congratulations to GM Daz for his incredible achievements in 2023-24 becoming the third GM to take out the NSL Championship in probably the most dominant individual season from an awards point of view that we’ve seen since year 1 when the great JMAC had the clean sweep title, MVP, GMOTY. Not one GM in the league was disappointed to see such a quality bloke lift the trophy, even GM Justin, your opponent who gave it his all. Good luck in Golden State. The league will watch on with intrigue.

Good luck to GM Ethan at the helm this coming season. Another GM deserving and more than capable of lifting the trophy in the world’s best league.