The Milwaukee Bucks have undergone massive changes this offseason in a desperate bid to keep Giannis Antetokounmpo in Milwaukee amid trade speculation.
The team waived and stretched the remaining $113 million on Damian Lillard’s contract over the next five years, sacrificing future financial flexibility after the superstar tore his Achilles. With the newly created cap space, the Bucks signed Myles Turner to a four-year, $108.9 million deal, giving Antetokounmpo a new second option. Turner will replace Brook Lopez after he signed with the Los Angeles Clippers in free agency.
The Bucks managed to retain several role players from last season, including Bobby Portis, Gary Trent Jr., Kevin Porter Jr., Taurean Prince, Ryan Rollins and Jericho Sims. They also added some new faces this offseason, signing Cole Anthony, Gary Harris and Amir Coffey.
Bucks' unprecedented summer falls in middle tier
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David Aldridge of The Athletic ranked every team's offseason thus far, placing the Bucks at No. 14 following their hectic summer.
“You can’t say the Bucks don’t turn over every stone to keep Giannis Antetokounmpo happy," [he wrote](https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6549876/2025/08/20/nba-offseason-2025-rankings-knicks-sixers-bulls/). "They’ve burned through much of their future draft stock; they’ve cycled through coaches; they’ve traded impact players — and now, they’re setting $113 million on fire by waiving Lillard and stretching his contract to be able to sign Myles Turner. Turner’s a great fit, and he’s eight years younger than Lopez. … But, still. No one’s ever eaten this much money before.”
**MORE:** [Bucks trade pitch sends Giannis Antetokounmpo to Pistons for rising stars, draft capital](https://www.sportingnews.com/us/nba/milwaukee-bucks/news/bucks-trade-pitch-giannis-antetokounmpo-pistons-rising-stars/71df09d2492200863b6e142e)
The Bucks’ retooled roster faces enormous pressure this season after three consecutive first-round playoff exits. While the team has made it clear that keeping Antetokounmpo is its top priority, the Bucks still need to show the superstar they have done enough to remain in title contention.
The two-time MVP could still request a trade if he feels Milwaukee isn’t positioned to win in the near future. He also has a player option for the 2027-28 campaign, making the 2025-26 season pivotal with Antetokounmpo eligible for an extension next summer.
On the bright side, the Eastern Conference is seemingly wide open with the Boston Celtics and Indiana Pacers slipping from contender status. If Milwaukee’s young returnees can take a step forward with Lillard out of the picture, the Bucks could have a legitimate chance to compete
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