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'Gone;' Milwaukee Bucks Expected to Part Ways with Key Starter on 2021 NBA Championship Team

Originally posted on WI Sports Heroics | By Robin M Adams | Last updated Jun 9, 2025 2:31 PM ET

The Milwaukee Bucks are going to have a very different looking team in 2025-26 than they have over the past several seasons. Khris Middleton, the three-time All-Star who helped lead Milwaukee to the NBA Championship in 2021, is already gone, having been traded to the Washington Wizards for Kyle Kuzma prior to this past season’s trade deadline.

He was not the first starter from that title-winning team to be dealt away from the Bucks, and he certainly will not be the last to leave. As Milwaukee prepares for the 2025-26 season, they will be looking to part ways with several players, some of whom are holdovers from that Championship roster.

Giannis Antetokounmpo, according to most recent reporting, is going to remain with the Bucks (more than likely), and Pat Connaughton is expected to pick up his $9.4 million player option for the upcoming season. But while the team waits for a decision from Bobby Portis on his own player option, it appears they have already decided to move on from another key player.

The Milwaukee Bucks Are Not Going to Re-Sign Brook Lopez

Apr 3, 2024; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Milwaukee Bucks center Brook Lopez (11) and guard Pat Connaughton (24) wait to enter the game in the second quarter against the Memphis Grizzlies at Fiserv Forum. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports

One player that many fans did not want to see back, and who is likely not going to, is center Brook Lopez. While he still a good rim protector and three-point shooter, Lopez lacks the speed and agility to play the level of defense outside of the lane that Milwaukee needs.

As a result, one report states that the Bucks will not bring him back:

“Most everyone I’ve spoken to assume Brook Lopez is gone.

“Lopez might be one of the bigger names on the market. He’s certainly at the end of his career, but like Al Horford, he’s a complete pro and a winner who’s easy to fit into a team culture and find a role for, and still makes a difference defensively night to night.”

Lopez averaged 13.0 points, 5.0 rebounds, 1.8 assists, and 1.9 blocks per game for the Bucks last season. As mentioned, he is still a good shooter and shot blocker, so he will certainly have a number of teams interested in his service.

However, Milwaukee will not be one of them.