The Milwaukee Bucks are just 12-19 on the season after having expectations of being one of the top teams in the Eastern Conference. Of course, the absence of Giannis Antetokounmpo has not helped matters as Milwaukee has gone 2-6 in eight games that he has missed. Still, even before he got hurt, they were just 10-13 and not playing the high level of basketball that was expected.
Fortunately, Giannis is expected to return to the Bucks when they take on the Bulls on Saturday night. Still, Milwaukee has dug itself into a hole that they need to find a way to get out of if they are going to compete (and keep Giannis in town).
Indeed, many of the offseason moves that the Bucks made to improve their roster have backfired, and one of their biggest mistakes may have been letting Brook Lopez walk.
Former Milwaukee Bucks star Brook Lopez had a career night on Friday
Dec 26, 2025; Portland, Oregon, USA; LA Clippers center Brook Lopez (11) grabs a rebound during the second half against Portland Trail Blazers center Robert Williams III (35) at Moda Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Wayrynen-Imagn Images
Lopez, of course, was a key part of the Bucks 2021 NBA Championship team and gave the franchise seven of the best years of his career. During his time in Milwaukee, especially, he saw a renaissance of his career, going from a low-post scorer to one of the best three-point shooting big men in the league.
Additionally, he was one of the best shot-blockers in the NBA during his time with the Bucks.
Over the last two years especially, though, it was clear that Lopez had lost a step due to his age and Milwaukee made the decision to let him leave in free agency. They replaced him by signing former Indiana Pacers star Myles Turner, who many believed would do the same things Lopez did for the Bucks, only more effectively.
Now, to be fair, Turner and Giannis have not played many games together as the Greek Freak has been injured. However, early signs point to the decision being one that will not work out, and Lopez’s night on Friday show he can still be the player the Bucks wanted Turner to be:
Brook Lopez just hit his career-high 9th 3 of the night in Portland.
His previous career high was 8, going back to 11/11/2018 when the Bucks went to Denver.
Wow.
pic.twitter.com/BpyZNksYtJ
— Bucks Lead (@BucksLead) December 27, 2025
Lopez scored 31 points and grabbed five rebounds for the Los Angeles Clippers in their 119-103 victory over the Portland Trailblazers. He got a rare start this season as he has primarily come off the bench for Los Angeles, averaging a career-low 7.1 points in this diminished role.
However, he is also shooting 41% from three, while Turner is currently shooting 37%. And while Turner’s shooting is not terrible, he is not the rim protector nor the rebounder Milwaukee thought they were getting.
Perhaps running it back with Lopez for at least one more year would not have been such a bad idea.
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