Milwaukee Bucks Roster 2020 Bucks Roster

2019-2020 Milwaukee Bucks Roster Top 3 Questions

Was keeping Khris Middleton the right move?

Last season, Khris Middleton broke out and became the second fiddle next to the Greek Freak. He had a sensational season with 18.3 points, 4.3 assists, and 6 rebounds per game. While that’s certainly nothing too special, it did earn him his first ever All Star game nod. This offseason, the Bucks bit the bullet and resigned him to a 5 year, $178 million dollar contract. Though that amounts to roughly $36 million per year, it’s important to point out whether he’s actually deserving of that money.

Careerwise, Middleton is just a 16 point scorer and has never been much of a factor in the rebounding department. He’s been a solid contributor for Milwaukee over the past several seasons but before then, didn’t seem to be a big piece in their game. His breakout season came at just the right time he earned a nice paycheck for what was one good season. While the case could be made for keeping Middleton after he became a fan favorite, his number simply don’t justify the contract he was given.

What losing Malcom Brogdon means

Malcolm Brogdon wasn’t a huge factor for the playoffs as he dealt with injuries. However, when he was on the court, he was a gifted defensive player with a strong offensive game. On the season, he averaged 15.6 points, 3.2 assists, and 4.5 rebounds per game. While those aren’t the best offensive numbers, his presence was felt on the defensive end where he used a combination of his length and athleticism to stop opponents. He also shot 92.8% on free throws making him one of the most sought after players in free agency.

While Brogdom didn’t exactly leave in free agency, the Bucks and Pacers completed a sign-and-trade that essentially marked his exit. While they did receive several picks including a first in the deal, losing Brogdon will hurt this season as they lose a starting caliber point guard that’s versatile and big for the position. However, signing him would’ve surely cost a steep price as the Pacers “agreed” to sign him for $85 million over the course of four years. Like Middleton, it’s questionable whether he deserved that contract. In an era of NBA where good offense beats good defense, Brogdon will have to develop more of an offensive game to provide this deal worth it.

What will another season of Giannis Antetokounmpo look like?

Coming off an MVP season, expectations can’t be higher. Last year, Giannis Antetokounmpo averaged 27.7 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 12.5 rebounds per contest. He was simply unstoppable force on offense and opposing coaches struggled to find an answer for him. He’s the ideal player in today’s era with the ability to finish strong to the basket and defend. His large frame and athleticism earned him the nickname Greek Freak as he was a monster on both sides of the ball.

If there’s anything left to be desired in his game, it’s the jump shooting and outside shot. While many of the highlight reel plays featured poster dunks and drives to the basket, we rarely saw Antetokounmpo knock down fadeaway shots or big three’s. That simply wasn’t part of his game that was developed enough and teams will likely use that weakness against him this year. He shot just 25.6% from three point range and the tactic may be to simply not let him drive and take jump shots. Even then, Antetokounmpo always found a way to the basket and scored like nobody was even guarding him. Look for another impressive performance as the Greek Freak looks to repeat on a historical performance.