The Milwaukee Bucks are in a tough spot. This week, the team landed its trade request from Giannis Antetokounmpo, who is reportedly open to a new home.
Just like that, the Bucks have gone from one of the top contenders in the Eastern Conference to staring at a reset.
One former NBA player, who had a run with the Bucks, took to social media on Wednesday to sound off on the "avalanche" the Bucks caused over the past year.
"WE WERE 30-13 BTW," wrote former Bucks forward Jae Crowder. "TO BRING IN DOC. THIS IS WHAT STARTED THE AVALANCHE."
The Bucks moved on from the championship-winning head coach Mike Budenholzer in 2023. The team hired Adrian Griffin, who was a well-respected assistant from the Toronto Raptors.
With Griffin, the Bucks found a lot of success. They posted a 30-13 record throughout the first 43 games of the 2023-2024 season. Shockingly, the Bucks made the decision to cut ties with Griffin, despite the head coach winning nearly 70 percent of his games. Soon after, the Bucks hired Doc Rivers to take over.
Amid his third season with the Bucks, Rivers had won about 50 percent of his games (83-80). The Bucks made the playoffs over the past two seasons, but haven't gotten out of the first round. This year, they are just 18-27 with the trade deadline less than two weeks away.
Initially, the Bucks were expected to search for ways to bolster the roster, giving it one last Hail Mary attempt to keep Giannis happy. At this point, reality has hit them hard. Playoff chances are slipping, and Giannis isn't getting any healthier. As Crowder described it, the Bucks have become an avalanche. There's no other logical way to stop it other than starting over.
What's Next for Giannis and the Bucks?
The trade deadline would be a logical time for the Bucks to part ways with their superstar, as it would give them a head start on their rebuild, eliminating the major questions months in advance.
If Giannis stays in Milwaukee beyond the deadline, it delays the inevitable, and forces the Bucks to enter key offseason dates with a lot on their plate.
All signs point to the Antetokounmpo era in Milwaukee ending before the start of the 2026-2027 NBA season. What that means for everybody else, like Rivers and the rest of the roster, is unclear.
Newsweek