No one anticipated Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks would claim the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference this season, but their strong 4-1 start gave hope they would maintain consistency and effort. Instead, the team has collapsed, and their 9-13 record has dropped them out of the Play-In positions.
The Bucks’ struggles led DeMarcus Cousins to suggest the franchise target established veterans like DeMar DeRozan or James Harden from underperforming teams in order to preserve Giannis Antetokounmpo’s long-term trust and commitment.
Boogie Cousins' list of players he thinks the Bucks should target to keep Giannis in Milwaukee long-term 👀📝
– Kawhi Leonard
– James Harden
– Russell Westbrook
– DeMar DeRozan
– Zach LaVine@MichelleDBeadle | @boogiecousins | @ChandlerParsons | @TeamLou23 pic.twitter.com/XyjiNLXG5t
— Run It Back (@RunItBackFDTV) December 2, 2025
Cousins insists that the Bucks must act decisively to keep Giannis invested in chasing championships. That requires making mid-season acquisitions of proven veterans like James Harden, Kawhi Leonard, or DeMar DeRozan to lift some of the weight off “The Greek Freak.”
Demarcus Cousins suggestion for the Bucks and Giannis Antetokounmpo
Nov 5, 2016; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Sacramento Kings center DeMarcus Cousins (15) takes a shot against Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) in the first quarter at BMO Harris Bradley Center. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports
“We do know that there is a fire sale going on in California right now, that is full of veteran talent. That’s from Sacramento to the Los Angeles Clippers. You got a guy like Russell Westbrook off the bench who could help Milwaukee,” the former NBA star remarked.
“Their struggle is the guard play. You got Zach LaVine in Sacramento, you got DeMar DeRozan in Sacramento. I’m pretty sure the Clippers in a couple of are going to be ready, possibly Kawhi Leonard, possibly James Harden, so there’s some options available.”
The Bucks have relied heavily on younger players like Ryan Rollins, Cole Anthony, and Kevin Porter Jr. to support Giannis. With experienced frontcourt options such as Myles Turner and Bobby Portis already in the rotation, bringing in another veteran who may add scoring but does not fit the team’s system or comes with injury risks could create more problems than solutions.
Nov 1, 2025; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) reacts with guard Ryan Rollins (13) after scoring a basket in the 3rd quarter against the Sacramento Kings at Fiserv Forum. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-Imagn Images
Milwaukee needs a player who fits their system. A more effective approach would be to target a skilled young guard who can fill the team’s key point guard role while seamlessly complementing Antetokounmpo’s style of play.
With Giannis putting together an MVP-caliber season, the Bucks require a co-star who can rival his production and share his competitive drive. Unearthing that hidden talent seems to be the key task for the 2021 champions right now.