Milwaukee Bucks
The Milwaukee Bucks became the sixth team in NBA history to lose to an 8-seed as a 1-seed in last year’s NBA Playoffs. It was a very disappointing ending for a team that, on paper, had a real chance to make the NBA Finals last season (especially considering that it was the Miami Heat that ended up winning the Eastern Conference).
Adding injury to insult, Giannis Antetokounmpo has elected to wait to sign a contract extension with the team. For much of the offseason, it left a dark cloud hovering over the team. Until the Bucks made the huge gamble for Damian Lillard. On top of re-signing Khris Middleton and Brook Lopez in free agency, it’s easy to say now (after the move for Lillard) that the Bucks had one of the best offseasons in the league.
Clearly, Giannis wanted leverage on his future and you’d have to think that the pressure was felt by the front office. Even with the big move for Lillard, the Bucks have to win. It does the team no favors to make the big move for Lillard and not bring home a championship.
Heading into the 2023-24 NBA season, there might not be a team facing more pressure to win than the Bucks.