Bucks Can Still Retool and Return to Contention in 2026

The Bucks are in a pretty tough spot as far as putting a winning supporting cast around him next season. They’ll be without Damian Lillard — due $54 million next season — for perhaps all of next season as he recovers from Achilles surgery. In an article from The Athletic, they had this to say about the Lillard injury:

“…the Lillard injury made a challenging situation even worse. As we reported earlier this month, the prospect of trading Lillard this summer as a way of reshaping the roster yet again was expected to be discussed if he had stayed healthy. We’ll never know where those talks might have led, but they’re out of the question now.”

The Bucks also don’t control their first-round pick until 2031. Looking at the Bucks roster, there isn’t much young talent that sticks out. Yes, there is some, but not nearly enough to think the Bucks can survive without Lillard.

What can GM Jon Horst and the Bucks do? Perhaps, getting younger and more athletic and having 2026 as a “gap year” with eyes on truly contending again in 2026-27.

Here is a potential path forward for the Bucks.

Priority No. 1: Re-sign Gary Trent Jr.

The disappointing Kyle Kuzma trade has a positive in that it put the Bucks under the second apron.

Getting under the second apron unlocks several options. The Bucks have access to a $14.1 million nontaxpayer mid-level exception, which can be split among multiple players.

It will take a decent chunk of that to bring Gary Trent Jr. back to Milwaukee, but he needs to be back next year. Trent is only 26 years old and shot the 3-ball at a spectacular 41.6% in the regular season, leading to 11.1 points per game. Another coup for Trent was that he was a playoff riser— something the Bucks need badly. Trent averaged 18.8 points per game and shot 50% from 3 in the playoffs.

With leftover money, Milwaukee can attempt to use it to bring back other free agents, Kevin Porter Jr. and/or Ryan Rollins. Porter is likely to decline his player option and become an unrestricted free agent. Rollins, meanwhile, is a restricted free agent, which provides the Bucks with full control over his roster status.

To use a trade exception snagged in the Middleton-Kuzma swap — we’ll get to that later — the Bucks also can’t use all of the $14.1 million, or they become hard-capped.

Trade 2031 first for two firsts this season

To help infuse some young talent onto the team, the Bucks could trade a future first for two picks in this draft.

A team like the Thunder, which might not have much need for a current pick and has a history of pick-piling, might consider that deal. The Bucks could use this season as an opportunity for two young wings to get experience and potentially be home runs down the line.

Having 3-and-D wings is vital in today’s NBA. If you can get a couple to gain valuable experience, they could be players in Giannis’ prime. Also, seeing blossoming talent could entice Giannis to sign another extension in Milwaukee.

What will Bobby Portis do?

The first domino of the offseason for Milwaukee is Bobby Portis’ player option.

In a recent interview, Portis hinted the Bucks might want to go in a different direction after three straight first-round exits.

Portis was his usual solid self, averaging 13.9 points and 8.4 rebounds per game in 2024-25. It wouldn’t be surprising to see Portis decline the option, but some recent information from Jim Owczarski of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel suggests Portis may run it back.

If Portis opts out, a reasonable salary projection would be in the $13-16 million per year range. A sign-and-trade option may also be on the table. Horst and the Bucks likely don’t want to lose Portis for nothing. If a contract is reached and he remains on the Bucks, Portis couldn’t be dealt until a few months into the season. However, a sign-and-trade could be a good option to acquire players to fit around Giannis on the wings or another ball handler.

In what would be a bit of a surprise, though, Bucks’ beat reporter Jim Owczarski for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel hinted Portis might opt in. That would be a massive boon to have a starting-caliber center option. Also, Horst and the Bucks would have another option. The Bucks could keep Portis or have an option to look for some talent elsewhere with an expiring and valuable contract.

In his AMA on Reddit, Owczarski said: “AJ Green should get an extension this summer. I think if they can somehow bring back both GTJ and KPJ, then those two. Bobby is actually younger than Giannis, so would it shock me if he opts in and they extend him to keep him and GA together? No. All of those guys would be 30 or younger.” He also said Trent might be looking at a big payday and said $8-10 million per year. I’d be surprised if Trent is attainable for anything below double digits annually.

Some potential Portis realistic trade options in his opt-in or S&T salary range: Cole Anthony (ORL), Dorian Finney-Smith/Jarred Vanderbilt (LAL).

Let Brook Lopez walk, re-sign Jericho Sims

Lopez is unlikely to return to Milwaukee next year.

The Bucks can let him walk or work out a sign-and-trade. However, Lopez may not get the money at 37 years old, where a sign-and-trade makes sense. The Warriors have been pegged as a team to watch, per ESPN’s Bobby Marks. Perhaps, given their rumored interest, they have an $8.8 million trade exception and could use it to acquire Lopez for just a draft pick.

The Bucks need to get more athletic, and Sims provided a nice boost after the Bucks acquired him at the trade deadline. His ability to switch on the perimeter for a big is something that was noticeable in Milwaukee when he was on the floor. Sims, 26, likely re-signs on a 1+1 deal a league minimum with a second-year option.

Trade Kuzma for DeMar DeRozan?

Is DeMar DeRozan the first choice for the Bucks?

Probably not. He’s 35 years old and due $24.5 million next season.

But with Lillard out for most, if not all, of next season, DeRozan could be someone to alleviate some of the scoring and decision-making load off of Giannis. DeRozan averaged 22.2 points (48% FG, 33% 3PT, 86% FT) and 4.4 assists per game in his first season with the Kings. And with Kuzma mightily struggling in the playoffs, his stock isn’t very high. There may not be another realistic avenue to move him. Had he played well in Milwaukee, it’d be a different story.

Nonetheless, DeRozan

Use the trade exception from Middleton trade

The Khris Middleton trade created a trade exception worth about $7.2 million by getting under the second apron. There really aren’t many great options for this exception via the trade route for players under contract with other teams, but some names via trade could be Kenrich Williams from OKC, Haywood Highsmith ($5.4 million) and Jose Alvarado ($4.5 million) as a few options.

Guerschon Yabusele, Trey Lyles, Jake LaRavia (might be out of price range) and Chris Boucher are perhaps some options. Just due to roster construction, Jose Alvarado makes quite a bit of sense. Alvarado is a dogged defender and could be another ball-handler.

Sign a player using the Bi-annual exception

Some options for the Bucks using the Bi-Annual Exception (BAE) could be Tyus Jones (might be out of price range), Charles Bassey, Sandro Mamukelashvili, Jaxson Hayes, Precious Achiuwa, Thomas Bryant and Larry Nance Jr.

The BAE is just north of $5 million. While this may not seem like great players could be had, they all would be younger players who are athletic or in Nance Jr.’s case, a big man who can stretch the floor. If those options aren’t enticing, perhaps the Bucks could use the BAE to re-sign Porter Jr. if he declines his player option.

Looking ahead to 2025-26

The Lillard injury is a massive blow to the Bucks.

Milwaukee is now in a spot unlikely to contend for a championship next season, and Lillard is still counting $54.1 million against the cap to potentially not play a single game. However, there are multiple avenues the Bucks could pursue to improve their roster. The Bucks actually have the most flexibility they’ve had in some time this offseason.

If it’s just a one-year blip, Giannis would stay put. The injury to Jayson Tatum makes the East pretty wide-open next year, and while the Bucks may not come out of it, they can perhaps end their playoff series drought.