To truly become the juggernaut the franchise has envisioned the Milwaukee Bucks to be, they must upgrade their third star. According to a recent report, the Bucks must look to add another superstar alongside All-Stars and future Hall of Famers Giannis Antetokounmpo and Khris Middleton. The team has been dominant in the regular season for the past two years, with Antetokounmpo leading the way, but it has fallen short in the playoffs due to a lack of depth and reliable scoring options.
Another big three
“Big 3s” have become the trend in the NBA since LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh teamed up on the Miami Heat in 2010. The strategy has proven successful, with multiple teams winning championships after forming their own trio of star players. The Bucks have arguably two of the best players in the league in Antetokounmpo and Lillard, but they need a strong third option to take them to the next level.
This is where a third star would make all the difference. While Middleton has proven himself as an All-Star caliber player, his recent record of injuries indicates he may not be reliable enough to be the third star the Bucks need.
“Last offseason, the Bucks upgraded their second star from Jrue Holiday to Damian Lillard. This summer, they should try to do the same thing with their third,” Greg Swartz of Bleacher Report wrote.
“Injuries have hampered Khris Middleton the past few seasons. An All-Star as recently as 2021-22, the 32-year-old has played just 76 total games the past two seasons while averaging a modest 14.9 points on 34.9 percent shooting from three.”
Not many assets to work with
The real work lies in getting another team to work with the Bucks, considering their dearth of assets. Although Middleton remains a solid wingman, his recent history of injuries may dissuade other teams from taking a chance on him. However, Milwaukee has several draft picks they can use to entice other teams.
“The Bucks have essentially depleted all of their trade assets, but they will be eligible to trade their 2031 first-round pick this summer and currently hold the projected No. 35 overall selection in the 2024 draft,” Swartz remarked.
“Moving on from Middleton may be necessary to catch the Boston Celtics in the East, sending him and picks to another team for an upgrade on the wing.”
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