Milwaukee Bucks: 4 options on the table heading into the offseason

Milwaukee Bucks’ option No. 1: Making trades and pursuing key free agents

There are players on the Bucks roster who should be considered expendable and who could be traded for other players who may be more effective playing with Antetokounmpo. There may have to be some adjusting of the salary cap in order to pull it off as the Bucks have to do whatever it takes to keep their superstar in the fold.

The key players currently under contract are Middleton, Eric Bledsoe, Brook Lopez, George Hill, Ersan Ilyasova, and Donte DiVincenzo. Middleton is the highest paid on the team and is scheduled to earn right at $35 million next season and if the Bucks can convince a team to take on his salary, they have to strongly consider parting ways with the two-time all-star.

They could also profit by trading Bledsoe as Antetokounmpo would be better served playing with a pass-first point guard. Chris Paul‘s name has come up in trade rumors as he would be a perfect fit in the Bucks offense. In Paul, they would be getting a leader, a floor general, and a player who knows how to win and put teammates in position to be successful.  Victor Oladipo should also garner some consideration as an explosive, athletic player who would thrive in transition along with Antetokounmpo. He would also help on the defensive end and averages 1.7 steals per game in his career.

There are also many intriguing players on the free agent who could step in immediately and improve the roster. If the Bucks fail to trade for Paul, then Rajon Rondo and Goran Dragic are two options to choose from, especially considering that they just finished playing in the Finals and would be upgrades at the position.

The Bucks can also use players who thrive on the defensive end and should pursue Serge Ibaka, Marcus Morris, or Sixth Man of the Year Montrezl Harrell. They could also pursue shooters who can space the floor such as Fred Van Vleet Jae Crowder or Danilo Gallinari.