Damian Lillard remains in the NBA’s concussion protocol, so he missed this game. Khris Middleton is still rehabbing from his ankle surgeries and is yet to make his season debut. But regardless of that, you’d think the Bucks would be able to glide right past the lowly Pistons.
But that’s no longer the case. Since Doc Rivers took over as the head coach of the Bucks, they’re 22-28. Trouble in paradise does not even begin to describe what is happening to the 2021 NBA Champions. They’re officially reeling.
The Lillard trade was a move that was supposed to signify to the rest of the NBA that Milwaukee was here to stay. Again, that has not been the case. Lillard was supposed to be the Robin to Antetokounmpo’s Batman. While it’s certainly a different role for Lillard, who had usage rates through the roof during his time with the Portland Trailblazers, the fit has not equated to winning basketball games.
But this is hardly on Lillard. He’s the least of the problems in Milwaukee right now. Somebody needs to step up and help Antetokounmpo, who has already floated the idea of getting traded if the Bucks don’t win the NBA title this year.
“Yeah, if we don’t win a championship, I might get traded,” Antetokounmpo said before the season. “Yeah, this is the job we live. This is the world we’re living in. It’s everybody.”
The thing is, the Bucks would be crazy to trade Antetokounmpo unless he requests it. But would he? There’s no real way to tell. Antetokounmpo says a lot. You can’t really tell when he’s joking or being serious, but in the fickle NBA, players joking about a trade is something that’s rarely taken lightly.
While every blog under the sun has already editorialized potential trade suitors for Antetokounmpo, it would be wise for somebody in Milwaukee to stand up and help the man out.
He’s 29 years old, and this should be the prime of his career. After nearly dropping 60 points, it’s clear Antetokounmpo has plenty more to give to the game. So before the idea of demanding out really creeps into his head, the Bucks should do everything they can to support him.
Antetokounmpo, Lillard and Middleton are the most expensive players on this Bucks roster. It doesn’t help that two of them are injured. But outside of that “big three?”
Rivers clearly needs to get more out of Brook Lopez, Bobby Portis and Pat Connaughton, who are the next highest-paid Bucks.
If he’s going to continue to give Gary Trent Jr., Andre Jackson Jr., AJ Green and Delon Wright serious minutes, they absolutely need to contribute something on the offensive side of the court.
Just two weeks into November, the Eastern Conference is a hot mess. There’s plenty of time for the Bucks to save themselves, as only the Cleveland Cavaliers, Boston Celtics and Orlando Magic are over .500 to start the season.
But the Bucks are currently the 12th seed. That’s not good. Bucks GM Jon Horst made the move to fire Adrian Griffin, and now he needs to be working the phones to give Antetokounmpo and Rivers the talent needed to survive the season and make the playoffs.
If not, Antetokounmpo’s floated trade scenario could come to fruition this summer.
