5 moves the Milwaukee Bucks should make in the offseason
By Todd Welter
The Milwaukee Bucks need to draft Brook Lopez’s replacement or another big man in case Portis leaves.
Lopez is entering the final year of his contract with the Bucks. He just turned 34 and will be playing his 14th NBA season next year. He missed most of last season with a back injury that required surgery.
He can still bring 12 points a night, protect the rim, and knock down a three-point shot to space the floor.
With Lopez possibly playing his last season at center for the Bucks and Portis possibly leaving this offseason, the Bucks need to seriously consider drafting another big man with the 24th pick in the NBA Draft.
The Milwaukee Bucks could use their first-round pick on adding a point guard or bigger wing. A majority of the mock drafts think the Bucks will go that way. Ohio State’s E.J. Liddell’s name has come up a lot as a name you might hear called as the Milwaukee Bucks pick. He has a lot of potential on offense, but he is an undersized power forward.
Horst needs to hit on this first-round pick because the Bucks’ roster is aging. Also, if the Bucks want to make an in-season trade, they need a young asset, and right now, this roster is lacking in that area.
The biggest reason the Bucks need to find at a minimum a rotational player with this pick is Milwaukee will not be picking the first round until 2028.
The Bucks can address point guard and wing through free agency. It is much harder to replace the skill set of Lopez and Portis in free agency. The depth at center in this draft is thin, but Auburn’s Walker Kessler could be available at 24. He can rim protect and has a great offensive skill set.