Milwaukee Bucks: Has the team done enough to keep Giannis?

Have the Milwaukee Bucks done enough to keep Giannis Antetokounmpo?

Milwaukee Bucks fans are keeping their fingers crossed and hoping that the acquisitions the organization made in order to put the team in a better position to succeed thuis offseason were enough to keep two-time NBA MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo in the fold for the foreseeable future.

Giannis is eligible to sign a super max extension this offseason.

The front office made changes in order to surround Antetokounmpo with players better suited to complement his skill set. Gone are Eric Bledsoe, George Hill, Wesley Matthews, Robin Lopez, and Ersan Ilyasova. General manager Jon Horst brought in Jrue Holiday, the most notable addition the Bucks have made, along with D.J. Augustin, Bobby Portis, Torrey Craig, and Bryn Forbes.

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The signing of Holiday will give the Bucks their own version of their “Big 3” along with Antetokounmpo and Khris Middleton but will the rest of the supporting cast be enough to get them to the NBA Finals? Will Antetoukounmpo be satisfied with the moves the front office made? More importantly, will he sign a max extension before the season begins or will he wait to see how the season plays out and tries his luck in free agency?

Holiday should be an immediate upgrade at point guard over Bledsoe. Holiday is an All-NBA level defender who is also a better shooter and more consistent than Bledsoe and should prove to be a better option. The Bucks may have had a desire to keep Hill as the back up point guard, but the Pelicans had to get their money worth for Holiday so that made Hill expendable.

Hill led the NBA in 3-point percentage at 46 percent from behind the arc as he was capable of leading the second unit and making big shots when the team needed them. His veteran presence was a valuable asset that will be difficult to replace. Many critics feel like the acquisitions Horst made was out of desperation and an attempt to keep Antetokounmpo happy by any means necessary, but Horst’s plan could backfire and set the franchise back for years in the event he decides to leave during free agency as the Bucks gave up a bevy of draft picks.

That means that they won’t have the draft capital in case they have to construct a rebuild as it is already difficult to lure top-tier free agents without a legit star on the roster to a small market team.

Here is a breakdown of the Bucks’ newest additions and what effect they should have on the team.

Milwaukee Bucks’ addition No. 1: Jrue Holiday

Regarded by many of his peers as the best wing defender in the league, Holiday brings accountability and should make the Bucks defense that much better with reigning Defensive Player of the Year award winner Antetokounmpo playing behind him. Holiday possesses every trait of an elite defender and it’s shocking that he wasn’t named to any All-NBA Defense teams last season.

He is a great on-ball defender as well as a good off-ball defender and has very active hands. Holiday is capable of guarding the opposing team’s best player, can switch onto bigger players while holding his ground and is adept at stripping defenders when they drive to the basket. He has great upper body strength and can defend equally on the perimeter and in the post.

Holiday makes opposing players work hard to get their shot off and doesn’t easily fall for head or ball fakes. His defensive instincts, timing and playing the passing lanes is mainly the reason he developed into a dominant defender but the main element to his defense is effort. Holiday doesn’t take plays off and hustles after loose balls and is a huge reason he averages 1.5 steals per game over the course of his career.

Milwaukee Bucks’ addition No. 2: D.J. Augustin

D.J. Augustin will most likely be the back up point guard and will replace Holiday whenever he goes to the bench unless head coach Mike Budenholzer adjusts his lineup and puts them on the floor together.

The Bucks gave Augustin a three-year, $21 million deal nd will assume the role Hill played for the Bucks last season. While he isn’t as good a shooter or defender as Hill, Augustin is a good facilitator who can score in the paint and is a solid veteran with playoff experience. There are concerns about his size and ability to defend as teams will try and exploit and take advantage.

Augustin is one of the best in the NBA at running the pick and roll and should form a dangerous combination with Antetokounmpo in the half court sets when setting him up to score.

Milwaukee Bucks’ addition No. 3: Bobby Portis

Bobby Portis is the type of player the Bucks need coming off their bench. He is a tough gritty player and a hard-nosed competitor with an intimidating presence. Portis can be that game changer for the Bucks similar to the role Anthony Mason played for the New York Knicks in the 1990’s and infuse the team with his energy.

Portis is 6-foot-11 with good range and can attack the rim. His versatility is also a plus as he can play either center or power forward and serves as a 3-and-D player who can rebound effectively.

It remains to be determined what role will best fit Portis as he has struggled with bouts of inconsistency with his production in the past. Maybe playing with a contender with championship aspirations will light a fire in Portis and inspire him to play up to his enormous potential.

Milwaukee Bucks’ addition No. 4: Torrey Craig

Torrey Craig is a versatile player who played a pivotal role for the Denver Nuggets the past four seasons. He is a proven veteran who is capable of guarding multiple positions, most notably on the wing. He is a great defender with good size and length and has a high motor and always plays hard.

Craig is also capable of either starting or coming off the bench and can take pressure off the team with his stifling defensive effort while fighting on the boards and clogging passing lanes. Craig probably won’t contribute much on the offensive end as he shot only 32 percent from behind the arc last season, but what he lacks on offense he makes up for it on defense.

Milwaukee Bucks’ addition No. 5: Bryn Forbes

The Bucks acquire a player who can really shoot with Bryn Forbes. He has shot 40 percent from downtown in his four-year career and excels at creating and knocking down shots at any spot on the floor and should complement Antetokounmpo well whenever he draws double teams or whenever opposing teams play a zone or forms a wall to try and slow him down.

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This should give Forbes plenty of open looks as the Bucks were in desperate need of shooters who can make teams pay for choosing to double Antetokounmpo. Forbes could eventually earn the starting position at shooting guard if Donte Divincenzo doesn’t play well and could even earn the spot if he plays well enough during training camp and in the preseason.

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Milwaukee Bucks: Has the team done enough to keep Giannis Antetokounmpo?

By Daniel Outerbridge | Dec 1, 2020