Assessing the Milwaukee Bucks needs ahead of NBA free agency

The Milwaukee Bucks are set at superstar…for now

Giannis Antetokounmpo, Khris Middleton, and Jrue Holiday anchor the Milwaukee Bucks superstar portion of their roster. Antetokounmpo is one of the top-three players in the NBA. He is currently in the debate of who is the best player in the world, along with Kevin Durant.

Middleton is a three-time All-Star. Holiday was named to the NBA All-Defense Second Team.

In the here-and-now, the Milwaukee Bucks are set at having three superstars. On the other hand, how long those three remain together will come into question soon.

Middleton has a player option for next season. The Milwaukee Bucks can sign him to a $152 million extension this summer if he does not decline his player option.

If he does decline his option, the Bucks can offer him a four-year deal for up to $200 million. That is nearly $50 million a year for a player that will be in his mid-30s when that deal is up.

The concern will be on if that contract will age well or will Middleton eventually decline to the point where giving him a big extension ends up tying the Bucks’ hands down the road?

There is a portion of the fanbase that will find it hard to believe that Middleton would have a higher average salary than Giannis. What Middleton is signing is what the market bears, and it is not like Giannis is going to make less money on his next extension.

Holiday is signed through the 2024-2025 season, but he is also getting up there in years. He will be 34 once his contract expires.

While the Milwaukee Bucks are set at superstar for the immediate future, they do have one big decision to make soon about Middleton and another one a year or two later about Holiday.