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[Milwaukee Bucks]

Summer League Recap: Bulls 102, Bucks 96

Photo by Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images

Jahmir Young torched Milwaukee with 37 points

The Chicago Bulls took down the Milwaukee Bucks, 102-96, in a high-intensity contest. Chicago rattled off a big run to start the fourth quarter and rode that momentum to victory. Jahmir Young ended the game with 37 points, while Javon Freeman-Liberty added 23. Chris Livingston led Milwaukee once again with 23 points. The Bucks are now 1-3 in Summer League play with one game remaining.

Game Recap​

Milwaukee opened the game with a lineup of Markquis Nowell, Andre Jackson Jr., Livingston, Tyler Smith, and Pete Nance. The Bulls started Young, Freeman-Liberty, Emanuel Miller, Mãozinha Pereira, and Lachlan Olbrich. Matas Buzelis did not suit up—he’s been shut down for the remainder of Summer League, as happens often with young players of his caliber. Noa Essengue also sat out. Jamaree Bouyea, Mark Sears, Frankie Fidler, and Blaise Threatt were in street clothes for the Bucks.

Chicago delivered the first blow of the game a minute in when Javon Freeman-Liberty threw in a prayer of a floater. Milwaukee’s first points came from Tyler Smith at the free throw line on the next possession. Both teams were engaged on defense early, and easy shots were hard to come by. The Bulls leaned on Jahmir Young, who scored ten points in the period. Chris Livingston also came out hot, riding the high from signing his new guaranteed contract. He chipped in seven of Milwaukee’s first 14 points and nine in the quarter overall. Stanley Umude came off the bench and knocked down two triples, including one off a crisp extra pass from Bogoljub Markovic at the 1:00 mark. In the final few seconds, Wooga Poplar blew a transition layup that led to a Cormac Ryan three, and the Bucks led 27-22 through the opening frame.

Umude got the scoring started in the second with a fierce lefty slam over Chicago’s backup center, David Muoka. Markovic followed that play up with a dunk of his own, a little double-clutch two-hander in transition. The Bulls called a timeout after that, and Milwaukee’s bench erupted in cheers. The Bucks couldn’t get on a run, though, as Mãozinha Pereira banked in a runner after the stoppage and Yuki Kawamura put in a mid-range jumper on the next play. However, over the course of the period, Milwaukee built a double-digit lead behind contributions from all of their guys. Pete Nance, who’s been a steady presence for the team throughout their Vegas trip, hit his first jumper of the afternoon around the 4:30 mark. Smith was having another tough quarter, missing two more open threes and looking openly frustrated, but with 1:30 remaining, he sprang up and threw down a dunk over Pereira. That play must have given him an injection of confidence, as the next time down the floor, he finally canned an outside shot. Thirty seconds later, Chicago faithful got a jolt of jubilation when Kawamura, a fan favorite, forced an eight-second violation, and Young finished a tough and-one that cut the lead to single digits. At the end of the half, Milwaukee was ahead by exactly ten, holding a 55-45 lead. Young led all scorers with 21 points through two periods, while Livingston paced the Bucks with fourteen.

Chicago scored a quick three points in transition to start the half, getting a free throw from Emanuel Miller and a layup from Freeman-Liberty. Determined to prevent a run, Andre Jackson Jr. galloped down the court and tried to detonate for a dunk, but he was fouled hard and had to settle for free throws. The Bulls didn’t get the message, and they pieced together a 7-3 push to cut the lead to just six. The intensity of the game picked up, and the two division rivals were going blow for blow. The Bucks were nursing just a five-point lead when they called a timeout at the 4:50 mark. Freeman-Liberty was leading the comeback charge for Chicago, and he notched eight points in the quarter in total. His knack for tough shotmaking helped him overcome swarming defense from Wade Taylor IV. Things were getting too close for comfort, and despite going on a 7-0 run after the two-minute warning, the Bucks held just a 75-69 advantage through three quarters.

Pereira went on an impressive 7-0 individual run for Chicago to start the fourth, throwing down two dunks and connecting on a three off a jaw-dropping behind-the-back pass from Kawamura. Just like that, the Bulls had the lead. Livingston responded with a dunk of his own, but then Young cashed back-to-back threes from the right wing. Everything was coming up Chicago, and they held a five-point lead when a timeout was called inside the 7:00 mark. Oh, how the turn tables. The Thomas & Mack Center clamored with celebration when Kawamura hit a three to give his team an eight-point advantage, and things got even louder when Young finished another and-one. Bulls fans travel well, apparently. Around the 3:00 mark, a few Chicago turnovers opened the door for Milwaukee to stop the bleeding and cut the lead back down to three. Then, Young delivered yet another timely trifecta, and Freeman-Liberty back-cut Nance for a layup that put Chi-Town up eight. In the end, the Bulls were able to ice out any comeback attempt and pull out the win.

Stat That Stood Out​

Jahmir Young’s 37-piece came on 12/17 shooting from the field and 6/7 from three. All in all, it was a dominant performance from the little guard, one of the best any player has had in Summer League up to this point.

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Source: https://www.brewhoop.com/2025/7/16/...ng-chris-livingston-tyler-smith-yuki-kawamura

 

[Milwaukee Bucks]

Bucks re-sign Chris Livingston

NATHAN J. FISH/THE OKLAHOMAN / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Third-year wing gets another chance after recently being waived

Just a few weeks ago, Chris Livingston was waived before his contract became guaranteed. In a surprising turn of events, the 2023 draftee will have another opportunity to prove himself in Milwaukee. Per Shams Charania, Livingston is signing a one-year, $2.3 million deal to return to the Bucks.

The Bucks had been in pursuit of Bradley Beal, but after he signed with the Clippers this afternoon, the team quickly pivoted and inked a deal with Livingston.

Livingston remains unproven in the NBA, with just 42 appearances in two years. He has, however, made the most of his opportunities in Summer League action thus far. Through three games he has averaged 20 PPG while shooting 50% from the field and 37.5% from three. As some of the young Bucks have disappointed in Vegas, Livingston has played well and is now being rewarded.

With Livingston officially on the books for the upcoming season, the Bucks’ roster is full at 15. Although, Andre Jackson Jr.’s contract has not been guaranteed yet and if the Bucks choose not to bring him back, that would open a roster spot. And of course, the trade market remains an option if management wants to continue changing the roster.

The team was in need of another wing, and Livingston is by no means a flashy option, but the front office believes in him enough to give him a fully-guaranteed deal. By no means does the signing rule out any further moves, but for now, the roster is full and Bucks fans will have to hope Livingston can take a leap forward this season.

Source: https://www.brewhoop.com/2025/7/16/24469001/nba-free-agency-re-sign-chris-livingston

 

[Milwaukee Bucks]

Damian Lillard returns to Portland

Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images

Dame heads back home after two years with the Bucks

After being waived and stretched by the Milwaukee Bucks, star point guard Damian Lillard is reportedly heading back to the Portland Trail Blazers, per Shams Charania of ESPN. The deal is for three years and is worth $42m ($14m average annual value) and not only does it have a player option for the 2026–2027 season, but a full no-trade clause.

FROM SHAMS: BREAKING: Nine-time NBA All-Star Damian Lillard is finalizing a three-year, $42 million contract to return to the Portland Trail Blazers, sources tell ESPN. Deal is expected to include a player option in 2027-28 and a no-trade clause. A storybook reunion home for the 35-year-old.

— Shams Charania Tweets (& Other NBA News) (@shamsbot.bsky.social) 2025-07-17T21:19:51.951029+00:00

Shams continued to fill in more details about how this signing came together, reporting the following:

“Lillard and the Trail Blazers both deeply cared about the comeback in recent weeks—with multiple meetings among the Portland franchise icon, general manager Joe Cronin and head coach Chauncey Billups to bond together and move forward united on a new deal.”

From the reports that continue to come out from Shams, it looks like Lillard will sit out the entirety of the 2025–26 season, using it to rehab his torn Achilles. Throughout this process, Dame returning home to where his family and kids are was of the utmost importance to him. That truly seemed to be on his mind the most, with him reportedly getting offers of both the mid-level exception and veteran’s minimum from NBA contenders. The details of all of this are still being worked out by Dame’s agent and the Blazers, which will also affect the cap hit the Bucks will carry on their books for his stretched salary.

While there have been questions about who Blazers GM Joe Cronin has run the team over the last few years, he has done some good work with the Dame and Jrue Holiday trades. In those trades, they got Toumani Camara, Robert Williams, and other assets. Now they have Dame, Holiday, Camara, Williams, and three first-rounders from the Bucks (unprotected in 2029 and two pick swaps).

FROM SHAMS: Portland traded Damian Lillard for Jrue Holiday, Toumani Camara, assets in 2023 – then Holiday to Boston for Robert Williams III, Malcolm Brogdon, assets (one led to Deni Avdija). Now, Blazers have Lillard and Holiday, plus Avdija, Williams, Camara, a 2029 first, two MIL swaps.

— Shams Charania Tweets (& Other NBA News) (@shamsbot.bsky.social) 2025-07-17T21:45:06.372906+00:00

It’s a bit of a storybook potential end for Dame’s career, for him to come back to the team where he made his mark in the NBA. Personally, I’m glad he didn’t go to the Boston Celtics, after Jayson Tatum had been recruiting the free agent point guard to play for the C’s. It was bad enough to see one former fan favorite All-Star point guard in Celtics green, but I don’t think Bucks fans would have been able to handle seeing Dame there either.

While the partnership was short between Dame and Giannis, it was one of the most entertaining two-year stretches for the Milwaukee Bucks. Having two of the best 75 players to ever play the game, and the feeling of seeing that tweet hit our phones was sensational. While it never lived up to that hype and hope due to injuries to Giannis and Dame, it was still fun to watch them play together.

We wish Dame a speedy recovery back home in Portland and can’t wait to see him at Fiserv Forum in 2026.

Source: https://www.brewhoop.com/2025/7/17/...ree-agency-milwaukee-bucks-giannis-shams-espn

 

[Milwaukee Bucks]

Bucks Reacts Survey Results: Fans prefer starting Kevin Porter Jr.

Photo by Mike Mulholland/Getty Images

Fans wanted Beal too, but alas...

In Reacts this week, we asked you some more questions about the Bucks’ somewhat new-look backcourt for 2025–26 now that Cole Anthony has officially signed. While Anthony has been a starting point guard in the past, it’s been a few years since he moved to the Magic’s second unit, which was where Kevin Porter Jr. plied his trade for the Bucks after arriving last February. In fact, it was Ryan Rollins who drew the starting gig most of the time when new/old Portland Trail Blazer Damian Lillard was out. Of the two returning options and the new guy, who’s the preference?

I do agree that KPJ is the best option of the three, though I hope to see Rollins get a lot of time in the backcourt too. The beauty of Milwaukee’s point guard situation is that while it’s lacking in star power, it’s versatile; Anthony is more confined to the one, but the other two are combo guys. Either can handle or play off-ball, though Rollins is the ballhandler I’m the least confident in among their options at point. That being said, Rollins is also the best defender of the trio, so it’s my hope he can evolve into the youthful, athletic point-of-attack defender Milwaukee has been searching for since Jrue Holiday and Jevon Carter left town.

As I’ve mentioned, a few weeks ago, 65% of voters thought the Bucks needed a different starting point guard than KPJ. In the interim, Rollins re-signed and Anthony joined, so did Porter win some favor during that time? Did some of that 65% swing towards him, upping the 35% of people who wanted him to start to 54%? Or is he just the best option of what Milwaukee has on hand? I’d be curious to hear your rationale if you thought they needed a different starting PG, but now also think KPJ should be the guy.

We also asked about if you wanted Milwaukee to sign a higher-profile name who at that point, hadn’t officially hit the market. But Bradley Beal’s buyout befell Bucks backers on Wednesday with news that he’d then sign with the Clippers, as had been rumored. That was enough time, however, to see whether or not most voters wanted him, and it appeared they did:

Beal reportedly signed with Los Angeles using their taxpayer mid-level exception of around $5.7m, which was a sum Milwaukee couldn’t quite match after committing most of their room exception (a different form of the MLE available to teams who create cap space, as Milwaukee did to sign Myles Turner) to Porter. Since Beal had to give back about $13.9m of the two years and $110m remaining on his contract to the Suns, it makes sense he’d opt for the two-year, $11m deal from the Clippers and recoup as much of his losses as possible.

Had the Bucks been able to land him, he would have provided a needed credible second scoring option next to Giannis, but it would have created quite the logjam at the two with Gary Trent Jr.’s return and AJ Green sticking around. I suppose all three guys could also play the three, but the Bucks would then be pretty small as all of them are listed at 6’4” or 6’5”. It’s a moot point, in any case.

Brought to you by FanDuel.

Source: https://www.brewhoop.com/2025/7/18/...n-porter-jr-starting-point-guard-bradley-beal

 

[Milwaukee Bucks]

Summer League Recap: Heat 93, Bucks 92

Photo by Logan Riely/NBAE via Getty Images

Heat win in a nail-biter

In a game that featured very few of each team’s best players, fans were well entertained, with the Heat running away with a close one over the Bucks, 93-92. For Milwaukee, Tyler Smith finally broke out of his slump, notching 21 points (on 4/6 from three) and five rebounds. Miami was led by Vlad Goldin, who had 18 and 10 on the night. Bucks drop to 1-4 in Vegas.

NBA.com Box Score

Game Recap​

The Bucks got off to a hot start from three-point range, with Markquis Nowell starting 2/2, as well as triples from Tyler Smith and Malik Williams; they led 14-11 at the first timeout. Bogoljub Marković entered the game and made a few nice connections with the aforementioned Smith, who already looked the best he had in Vegas in this one. For the Heat, it was Erik Stevenson keeping them afloat with a game-high 11 points at the end of one. Heat up 29-24.

After not playing at all in Milwaukee’s prior games, Terrence Edwards Jr. showed some stuff early in this one, starting the second with an and-one layup in traffic. The lanky John Butler Jr. also got in on the act with a corner three and an immediate block down the other end, which was nice to see. For the most part, though, scoring dried up significantly for both teams; the game was tied at 37 with five minutes to go. The Bucks got down four after another Stevenson triple but battled back off the back of two nice finishes at the rim from Marković to force the Heat timeout late in the period. Game tied at 52 going into the locker rooms.

The Bucks had multiple defensive breakdowns to start the half, allowing the Heat to take a five-point lead. To make matters worse, Tyler Smith missed two golden opportunities at the rim; a lack of strength is the main thing holding Smith back at the moment. Cormac Ryan kept the Bucks in it as coach Jason Love ran him off various off-ball actions, with Wade Taylor IV nailing the triple to tie it up at 71 late in the third. Unfortunately for Milwaukee, Miami went on a 6-0 run to end the quarter, punctuated by a Dain Dainja hammer over Bogi. Heat up 79-73 after three.

Stanley Umude nailed a tough three to start the fourth, bringing the Bucks within three, but a silly foul in response by Nowell resulted in three FTs for the Heat. And finally, the heavens opened up for Tyler Smith, who hit consecutive contested threes to put the Bucks up two halfway through the final frame. Both teams went blow for blow for the next few minutes, with the Heat leading by two going into a timeout with 3:54 left. Following a foul and a subsequent technical from Miami, the Bucks found themselves up three with two minutes left. Vlad Goldin then made consecutive trips to the line to put the Heat up one with less than a minute remaining. However, Milwaukee’s Markquis Nowell nailed a high floater off the backboard after the shot clock ran down. Then, after a jump ball, John Butler Jr. got on the wrong side of Goldin and gave him a lane to the hoop, which he took and scored. David Joplin missed what would have been the game-winning three.

Stat That Stood Out​

The summer Bucks turned the ball over 17 times in this game. A few of those possessions would have been handy in a game they lost by one point.

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Source: https://www.brewhoop.com/2025/7/18/...e-recap-summer-league-tyler-smith-vlad-goldin

 

[Milwaukee Bucks]

How does Damian Lillard returning to Portland affect the Bucks’ cap sheet?

Photo by Rio Giancarlo/Getty Images

The set-off provision removes some dead money from Milwaukee’s books, but not much

As you might have heard, news came yesterday afternoon that erstwhile Bucks point guard Damian Lillard is returning to the Pacific Northwest on a three-year, $42m deal with the Trail Blazers, who will use their full mid-level exception to accommodate him. Of course, Milwaukee waived their two-time All-Star at the beginning of the month in order to create enough cap room to sign new center Myles Turner in free agency, consequently stretching the two years and $112.6m remaining on his contract over five seasons. That amounted to $22.5m in dead money on the Bucks’ cap sheet from now until the end of the 2029–30 season—not exactly ideal.

But, of course, Lillard was going to miss most of next season, so in a way, that was going to be tens of millions of dead cap anyway. In fact, reports after yesterday’s signing indicate that he’ll miss all of next season as he recovers from his torn Achilles sustained at the end of April in Game 4 of Milwaukee’s first-round series with Indiana. So Dame stands to make plenty of money next year to be back with the team that drafted him in the city that he calls home and loves—a pretty great outcome for him! But how much money? And how does that affect what the Bucks owe him?

Well, I’m a sicko who reads legal documents littered with gobs of confusing jargon for fun, and to figure it out, I consulted Article XXVII (that’s 27, in case you weren’t around for the Super Bowl in 1993) of the NBA’s collective bargaining agreement so you don’t have to. You’re welcome. Let me try and paraphrase what it says about teams who waive-and-stretch a player, who then signs a contract with another team:

• The team has their yearly liability reduced if they employ their “right of set-off,” also known as the set-off provision.
• The former team’s new liability to their former player is calculated based on the salary of his new contract for each season he would have been under contract with his former team.
• The waived-and-stretched salary (for someone who isn’t a rookie) for the player’s former team is reduced by half the difference between his new salary in each of those seasons and the salary of a player with one year of service, spread out over the length of the stretch.
• The set-off begins after the regular season of the league year in which the player signed his new contract.

Clear as mud, right? Let’s apply this to Lillard’s specific situation. Regarding the first point, since Dame would have only been under contract with the Bucks until the 2026–27 season at the latest (had he exercised his player option for that year), we are only using his Blazers’ salary in years one and two of his new deal. While none of these numbers are official, let’s say that he is earning $13.3m this upcoming season and $14m the season following (the full MLE allows for a salary of up to $14.1m in year one with 5% annual raises). In that case, the order of operations is:

1. $13.3m - $2.0m (one-year player salary) divided in half: $5.6m
2. $14m – $2.2m (one-year player salary in 2026–27) divided in half: $5.9m
3. $5.6m + $5.9m = $11.5m

That $11.5m is then divided by five—the number of years the Bucks stretched Lillard for, and the result is deducted from the total the Bucks owed Lillard prior to his Blazers signing, spread out over the five years they will be paying him. So instead of owing $90.1m more if he hadn’t signed this contract, they owe him $80.8m instead. That amounts to a reduction of $2.3m per year, meaning the Bucks will have a cap hit of $20.2m for Lillard each season from 2026–30.

Milwaukee is also paying Vasilije Micić $680k per year in waived-and-stretched salary between now and summer 2028, meaning they will have $20.9m in dead cap for the following two seasons (through summer 2028), then $20.2m for the two seasons after that. Comparatively, prior to the Portland contract, that number would have been $23.2m for each season between now and summer 2028: a net savings of $4.6m for Milwaukee in that timespan and $9.2m overall.

If you’re curious, here is the estimated amount Dame himself will receive from Portland and Milwaukee combined in the years ahead, based on a three-year, $42m contract:

• 2025–26: $33,5m
• 2026–27: $34.2m
• 2027–28: $34.9m
• 2028–29: $20.2m
• 2029–30: $20.2m

That amounts to $143.0m between now and summer 2030. From his perspective, Lillard effectively turned a two-year, $112.6m contract into a three-year contract worth that amount: not quite another $42m on top of what he would have gotten if he never signed another NBA deal, but still a nice hunk of change. He’ll still get paid through 2030, and even if he were to sign another contract at one point, Milwaukee would still get their $2.3m break.

In the short term, this changes exactly nothing for the Bucks. They’re still paying Lillard the same amount this year, so no savings until next summer. From there, it could be the difference in some luxury tax payments or with regard to any eventual hard cap they face, but like this year, they may not be a taxpayer in 2026–27, since if they stay under the tax line for another season, they reset the clock on repeater penalties. But if they find themselves hard-capped at the first or second apron sometime in the future, they now have $2.3m more breathing room than previously.

Source: https://www.brewhoop.com/2025/7/18/...land-trail-blazers-dead-cap-set-off-provision

 

[Milwaukee Bucks]

Milwaukee Bucks vs. Miami Heat Summer League Preview: 1 more for the road

Photo by Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images

The Bucks and Heat battle for their second win in Vegas

The Milwaukee Bucks and Miami Heat both aim to end their disappointing Summer League campaigns tonight by securing their second win in Sin City; both teams currently sit at 1-3.

Where We’re At​

After beginning their Vegas campaign on a high note when Jamaree Bouyea nailed a game-winning three against Denver, the summer Bucks have dropped their following three games to the Cavs, Clippers, and Bulls. Of course, two-way guard Mark Sears hasn’t played yet due to a calf complaint, while Milwaukee’s other two-way guard Jamaree Bouyea has missed the last two games with a thigh contusion (I doubt either plays tonight). So, it’s not like the Bucks have had their full complement; still, losing sucks. Hopefully, that changes against the Heat.

Miami is on a back-to-back tonight after losing by 20 to Detroit yesterday. First-round pick Kasparas Jakučionis has been up and down throughout Summer League, dropping 15 points on 4/12 shooting against the Pistons. But it was Myron Gardner who stood out yesterday, dropping 19 on efficient 7/11 shooting, including 4/5 from deep. Miami also has G League veteran Erik Stevenson, who can get hot within a moment’s notice if the defence isn’t paying attention.

Injury Report​

Like I mentioned above, don’t expect the Bucks to risk either Sears or Bouyea for a game that means very little. That said, we’ll know for sure about injury updates closer to gametime. I suppose there’s a chance Chris Livingston might get sat down, having shown enough in Vegas to earn himself another contract in the Cream City.

Player To Watch​

For Miami, I’d keep an eye on Erik Stevenson. Having watched a lot of the Wisconsin Herd last season, I know this guy has extraordinary shooting ability; the Bucks will have to be aware of him at all times. For Milwaukee, it will be the final opportunity for Tyler Smith to make up for what has been a pretty disappointing showing in Vegas; more than anything else, I’m just looking for assertiveness from Smith.

How To Watch​

ESPN+ or ESPN 3 and FanDuel Sports Network Wisconsin at 6:00 p.m. CDT.

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Source: https://www.brewhoop.com/2025/7/18/...-preview-start-time-tv-schedule-injury-report

 

[Milwaukee Bucks]

NBA’s investigation into Kevin Porter Jr. reaches conclusion

Photo by Ron Hoskins/NBAE via Getty Images

League says KPJ earned a four-game suspension, but also says the suspension has already been served

The NBA’s investigation into Milwaukee Bucks guard Kevin Porter Jr.’s domestic violence incident back in 2023 has officially concluded, with the NBA determining that Porter would have received a four-game suspension. The reason I say “would” is because, according to Law Murray of The Athletic, the NBA and NBPA have agreed that, based on Porter not playing at all in the 2023–24 season, he has already served his suspension.

News @theathletic.com The league’s investigation into Kevin Porter Jr.’s 2023 domestic violence incident has concluded, resulting in a four-game suspension. Based on the facts and circumstances, the NBA and NBPA have agreed that the suspension is deemed to have been served.

— Law Murray (@lawmurraythenu.bsky.social) 2025-07-17T17:49:34.103Z

This means that Porter will not miss any time during the season stemming from this investigation. For those who may have forgotten the incident itself, here is a quick rundown. Porter was arrested in September of 2023 and charged with assault and strangulation of his girlfriend, former WNBA player Kysre Gondrezick. Porter, who was on the Houston Rockets at the time, traded him and two future second-round picks to the Oklahoma City Thunder for Victor Oladipo and Jeremiah Robertson-Earl (one of those future seconds ended up being the Bucks' 2028 second-round pick). Once the trade was completed, KPJ was promptly cut by the Thunder, leading him to miss the 2023–24 season. Murray wrote the following for The Athletic in an article in July of last year:

“[In January of 2024], Porter reached a deal with prosecutors in a Manhattan court, pleading guilty to misdemeanor assault and a harassment violation in the case. As part of the deal, according to the Associated Press, Porter must complete a 26-week Abusive Partner Intervention Program, abide by a limited order of protection, attend all court dates, and have no further arrests. After a year, if Porter complies, he will be allowed to withdraw the plea, effectively clearing his criminal record.”

Gondrezick has since denied that Porter beat her to the degree in the police report and accused prosecutors of pushing a “false narrative.” She told the New York Post in October that she and Porter’s altercation lasted “for not even 10 seconds” in their room at the Millennium Hilton.

Now that everyone is caught up, here’s how I view this situation. While I can understand the reasoning of the NBA deciding that he already served what they deemed as a four-game suspension in a practical sense, from a moral stance, I can’t abide by it. Yes, Porter missed an entire season and lost out on a ton of money at the time, much longer than the four games. The NBA has had so many issues in determining the proper punishment for domestic violence, and when you look at other suspensions for less horrid actions, it’s mind-boggling how they determined four games as enough. Bryan Toporek, a senior multiplatform editor at Bleacher Report and contributor at Liberty Ballers, rightly called out how Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid was suspended for three games for shoving a reporter who brought up his son and dead brother:

Joel Embiid got a three-game suspension for shoving a reporter who brought up his son and dead brother in a column. Kevin Porter Jr. got a four-game suspension for this.

— Bryan Toporek (@btoporek.bsky.social) 2025-07-17T17:53:38.736Z

I do think that three games were the proper punishment for Embiid. Regardless of what the reporter said, you can’t put your hands on anybody. Which is why Porter is only getting one more game for beating his then-girlfriend is what troubles me. Here’s a comparison that is a little bit more at home for Bucks fans: Bobby Portis got suspended for 25 of the final 28 games of the regular season for violating the league's PED policies. We came to find out later that it was an accidental usage of a drug that had a similar name to the league-approved painkiller because one of his assistants got them confused. Hardly seems fair to suspend a player for over a quarter of the season for something accidental.

At the bare minimum, Porter should have received a 41-game suspension for his transgressions. If it were up to me, and as much as I like Porter’s game from a pure basketball perspective, he shouldn’t be in the league. There is no place in the NBA for that kind of behavior, and the only reason we can excuse it or ignore it is because he dribbles a basketball well. It’s hard for me to say complete banishment, because I’ve been taught growing up that there is room for second chances and redemption. Heck, it’s part of the reason I love Avatar: The Last Airbender and Star Wars so much—stories of redemption. Yet, I’ve also been taught that there are lines you don’t cross, and beating women is one of them.

It’s another common theme of sports leagues seemingly refusing to take domestic violence seriously, and it’s disgusting that it seems to be the norm. The funny thing is that they could have determined that he earned a year’s suspension, but said that since he missed the 2023–24 season, the suspension had already been served. Yet, they decided to give themselves a PR headache and not do the right thing. The NBA needs to take a long, hard look at itself and do some self-scouting of its domestic violence polices.

Source: https://www.brewhoop.com/2025/7/17/...s-conclusion-milwauke-bucks-suspension-served

 

[Milwaukee Bucks]

Grading the Bucks’ Summer League players

Photo by Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu via Getty Images

Who surpassed expectations, and who fell short?

Following another disappointing Summer League performance by the Bucks, Finn and Jack have graded each of the team’s main contributors in Vegas. Let us know in the comments where you agree and/or disagree!

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Andre Jackson Jr.: C​

Photo by Logan Riely/NBAE via Getty Images

AJax was the biggest letdown of Summer League for the Bucks. As a third-year wing who has started 51 NBA games, he was supposed to play a step above the inferior Vegas competition and get shut down after a couple of games. Instead, he rode the struggle bus, averaging just 5.5 points along with 2.5 turnovers while taking a concerning 3.0 field goals per game. His scoring aggression was nonexistent, and as his unthreatening offensive game is the main thing holding him back, that was frustrating to see. Now, to his defense, his role at the NBA level is not anything more than a fifth option. He was playing his part, focusing on the aspects that earn him minutes for the parent team, and Summer League is unkind to off-ball players. Still, seeing him at least let more than 1.5 threes fly per game would have been encouraging, especially because his shot has gotten better over time. Don’t forget he’s a 38.5% career shooter from deep, albeit on very low volume. Overall, though, Jackson’s future with the Bucks is now in jeopardy, and he’ll need to show some signs of growth soon to keep his roster spot.

Chris Livingston: A-​

Photo by Logan Riely/NBAE via Getty Images

After being waived by the Bucks before Summer League, Livingston played about as well as anyone could have reasonably expected in Vegas, earning another one-year contract with Milwaukee. He averaged the 13th most points (20.8 PPG) and shot an impressive 38.1% from three on considerable volume (5.3 attempts per game). Suffice to say, he did just about all he could do on his end to earn another chance. Still, questions remain regarding just how translatable Chris’ game is to the NBA level. He has the perfect body type to beat up on smaller players—the likes of which Summer League is filled with—but that style of game is improbable to translate at the NBA level. Therefore, he must, at a minimum, be able to shoot from deep at a good clip. Despite his percentages in Vegas, I still have real questions about that, given the way the shot looks. The other thing he must succeed at is defence; he has the bulk, but nobody really knows about his foot speed and game smarts because he hasn’t had a chance to showcase those elements of his game in the league yet.

Tyler Smith: C+​

Photo by Logan Riely/NBAE via Getty Images

I won’t sugarcoat it, Vegas was rough for the 20-year-old Smith, who struggled to get going offensively for the bulk of the tournament. He averaged 9.8 PPG and 3.8 RPG on 31.3% from the field and 20.7% from three. It wasn’t pretty. Now, I do think there needs to be some context added as to why Tyler struggled so badly. Firstly, shots weren’t falling; maybe that’s some of his fault for not being locked in enough to his mechanics, but perhaps that’s just how the cookie crumbled. Call me crazy, but I still believe in him 100% as a shooter; the shot is too pretty for me not to. Also, I think he was one player in particular who was hurt badly by not having a true PG next to him for the final three games. The other primary reason he struggled is a lack of strength. Many of Tyler’s mistakes boiled down to him being pushed around by bigger players; he won’t be touching an NBA court until he rectifies that. At the same time, he is so young that as long as he remains committed to the weight room, I still believe he’ll be an NBA contributor.

Bogoljub Markovic: B​

Photo by Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images

Our first look at Milwaukee’s newest draft pick gave us a reason to believe in him. The barely 20-year-old (his birthday was July 12th) power forward got off to a slow start, scoring zero points against Denver and five against Cleveland, but he found more comfort with each game, dropping a combined 35 points through his last three games. By the final contest, he was throwing down double-clutch dunks in transition and finishing tough and-ones off drives. Markovic’s IQ and feel are some of the main selling points of his game, and they were on full display in Vegas. He understands how to play the game at the pro level. Of course, he’s definitely behind the curve strength-wise, and he looked thin out there in NBA company. His physical disadvantages muted his impact on the glass and on defense. Don’t expect to see Bogi on the Bucks during the upcoming season, as spending a year in Europe bulking up will be what’s best for him. However, once his body is ready, this kid could be a gem.

Jamaree Bouyea: A​

Bouyea is entering the second year of his two-year, two-way contract with the Bucks. Unfortunately, Jamaree only played two of the five games in Vegas due to an injury. Still, he certainly played well in the games he did appear in, averaging 16.5 PPG and 4.0 APG on efficient shooting. He also showed his flair for the dramatic with a game-winning three to secure Milwaukee’s only win of Summer League. The team noticeably declined when Bouyea got injured; without him, there was nobody to calm the team down, initiate sets, and get guys open looks the way he could. Look, at 26 years old, Jamaree’s basically a finished product as a no-nonsense third-string or backup point guard. The lack of size at 6’2” (and even that listing seems generous) is always going to limit his ceiling at the NBA level, but he’s undoubtedly a nice guy to have on the roster in case of an injury. Good performance from him in Vegas.

Pete Nance: A-​

Chris Livingston led the scoring charge, and Jamaree Bouyea had the flashiest moments, but Pete Nance was pound-for-pound Milwaukee’s best player during the week in Vegas. Everything the big fella did out there can translate straight to a real NBA game. He’s a legitimate floor spacer—he found the bottom of the net 40.9% of the time from beyond the arc during the tournament, and 37.5% during his 13 games with the Bucks and 76ers last season. Nance is also a sharp defender who makes timely help rotations and can move his feet on the perimeter. He blocked 2.2 shots a game in Vegas. His ancillary skills, such as screening and high-post passing, are also intriguing. Milwaukee’s frontcourt rotation is loaded, with Giannis, Myles Turner, and Bobby Portis all capable of playing around 30 minutes per game. Still, the team should feel confident about having Nance as injury insurance.

Stanley Umude: B+​

Photo by Logan Riely/NBAE via Getty Images

After playing last season on a two-way with the Bucks, Umude is swaying in the wind right now as a free agent. The appeal of Stanley is that at 6’6”, he profiles well as a three-and-D guy, having shown a good ability to shoot from deep in previous stops. For the most part, I think Umude played well in that archetype; he shot 10/20 from deep in the five games, and his defence was solid. The part of his game, though, that has always been lacking is his creation off the bounce. If the opponent can stop him from shooting, he has very little ability to make the next play—that didn’t change in Vegas. To get another opportunity at the NBA level, he’ll need to add a string or two to his bow. Maybe that’s shooting off screens or becoming a slasher. For now, though, it’s safe to say we’ve likely seen the last of Stanley in Bucks green.

Cormac Ryan: C+​

Photo by Logan Riely/NBAE via Getty Images

Ryan was somewhat of a confusing evaluation for me. His first game against Denver was easily his most impressive, shooting 6/11 and 3/6 from deep. But after that, Cormac struggled to shoot efficiently, going 9/35 for the rest of the tournament. I must admit, I did get a little frustrated with how he was playing (and more specifically, how the coaches were using him). They seemed to be running Ryan off screening actions as if he were Ray Allen or something. The number of tough shots he took did not seem at all commensurate with his shooting ability. I’d much rather they had funnelled those opportunities elsewhere. On the other hand, I do think he made some nice plays as a connector with his off-ball movement, passing to waiting players under the hoop or around the three-point arc. In closing, it’s clear that Cormac isn’t an NBA player at this stage of his career.

Markquis Nowell: B​

Photo by Logan Riely/NBAE via Getty Images

Summer League teams often lack true playmakers, which is why the on-court product can appear sloppy. Jamaree Bouyea was alleviating that problem for the Bucks, but when he went down with an injury, Markquis Nowell stepped up to stir the drink and did so admirably. The team operated smoothly with him on the floor, putting together multiple significant runs, because he’s a gifted ball handler and floor general. Off-ball scorers like Jackson Jr. and Smith probably would have looked even worse without Nowell on the floor. That’s why he gets a positive grade here. Unfortunately, he’s listed at 5’8”, and that’s generous. He’s so small that Jahmir Young, a 6’1” guard for the Bulls, was able to bully him. On top of that, he’s an inefficient scorer, and he shot just 27.6% from the field in Vegas. Nowell is a March Madness legend and a G League killer, but he’s just not built for the NBA, literally.

Malik Williams: C-​

In my Summer League preview article, I marked Malik Williams (and Jean-Jacques Boissy, who didn’t play a single second) as most likely to earn a two-way contract. On paper, that outcome would have made a lot of sense, as he’s an athletic stretch five, the type of guy who would fit nicely next to Giannis. However, he looked flat-out awkward in Vegas, inexplicably bricking open threes and floaters alike, shooting just 25.0% from outside and 45.0% from the field overall. His rebounding and defense were solid, but not much to write home about. In 2023–24, Williams had a seven-game stint with the Toronto Raptors, during which he shot a putrid 26.5% from the floor, including 27.6% from two-point range on 4.1 attempts. If inefficiency is a trait, not a trend, for the 27-year-old, then he’s probably just not an NBA player.

Source: https://www.brewhoop.com/2025/7/21/...n-jamaree-bouyea-tyler-smith-andre-jackson-jr

 

[Milwaukee Bucks]

Shoot first, answer(s) later: An off-season Questions & Antlers

Photo by Ryan Stetz/NBAE via Getty Images

A wild off-season raises many questions—what are yours?

Back after a somewhat extended hiatus: our Questions & Antlers series! Stepping into the answerer antlerer chair this time is Zac Day, one of our newest contributors.

When Damian Lillard tore his Achilles in Game 4 of the Bucks’ first-round series against the Indiana Pacers, not only did it signal a likely series loss, it also felt like a fatal blow for the Milwaukee Bucks as playoff threats (okay, participants)—and a harbinger of a full-blown rebuild.

Bereft of assets and cap space, the looming free agency period didn’t seem to offer much in the way of meaningful change, let alone hope for the immediate future. Enter Trader Signer Jon. Gunslinger. And we all know how things panned out:

• Bang! Myles Turner, Cole Anthony, and Gary Harris are now Bucks!
• Bobby Portis, Gary Trent Jr., Kevin Porter Jr., Ryan Rollins, Taurean Prince, Jericho Sims, and Chris Livingston are all re-signed and reloaded.
• Gone (but never forgotten) are Lillard and Bucks stalwarts Brook Lopez and Pat Connaughton.

Yes, Horst worked his magic and suddenly the Bucks have gone from old and slow to youthful and athletic—a shift that bodes much better in today’s quick-and-the-dead NBA.

So, with the 2025–26 roster all but set (unless Horst somehow has another round in the chamber) and Summer League in the books, it’s over to you, our readers. What’s been ticking away in your minds? What itch has yet to be scratched? More precisely: what questions do you want answered about your Milwaukee Bucks?

Fire away in the comment section and stay tuned for the “antlers.”

Source: https://www.brewhoop.com/2025/7/22/...-questions-answers-nba-free-agency-off-season

 

[Milwaukee Bucks]

A new look coming for Brew Hoop in August

Our coverage remains the same but with a new look

In just a couple of weeks, Brew Hoop is switching to a new platform as part of SB Nation’s network-wide move to a new publishing platform. This will change the look of the site and also make it faster and more reliable on any device you use. This is an upgrade.

When you land on the site, it will look cleaner – less clunky, with more white space, a better ad experience with faster load times – but will still have all the usual articles, analysis, and news by all the folks you know.

Community discussion and content created by you will be more prominent in the new design. The best comment threads will be easy to find, and staff and commenters alike will be able to start conversations whenever they like with a brand new tool.

We’re planning on an early August reveal, so we wanted to give you a heads up. You’ll hear more from us when it’s almost here. The site will look a little different, feel a little faster, and, most importantly, have a bigger role for you, the community.

So, stick around and check it out!

Source: https://www.brewhoop.com/2025/7/24/24472158/a-new-look-coming-for-brew-hoop-in-august

 

[Milwaukee Bucks]

2025–26 NBA Eastern Conference Preview

Photo by Chris Schwegler/NBAE via Getty Images

A closer look at projected risers and fallers in the East

Well, we’re in the doldrums of the NBA offseason. The opening of free agency (which was busy for the Bucks) and Summer League came and went. Teams may continue to sign free agents and extend eligible players, but this time of year gets pretty quiet. With that in mind, we might as well look ahead to how the 2025–26 season might shake out.

If you’re anything like us at Brew Hoop, Bucks fans are probably feeling a bit uncertain about the future. We’ve had a disappointing run the last few years, with the team not quite living up to the lofty expectations that came with our 2021 championship run. While we have to be grateful for that, the manner in which the team has stalled out these last couple of seasons has justifiably left a bad taste. After this Eastern Conference preview, I am going to take a closer look at the Bucks to identify effective playstyles that might suit this reshaped roster, as well as how the front office might continue to improve the team moving forward. Stay tuned for more offseason insights!

Seeding methodology​

While this list is one ultimately of my own creation, I called on the support of the Brew Hoop staff to send me their 2025–26 projections. I used that additional input to influence my final rankings and kept every pick within the range surveyed. It’s junk science, but it helps to have some general consensus. While some picks were easier (all of us picked the Bucks between five and seven, with the majority picking six), some were truly tricky (we had six differing opinions on the 76ers, all the way from a four seed to an 11 seed). Keep in mind these are projected rankings for the end of next regular season; teams on tighter timelines with legacies to preserve (like the Bucks or Celtics) will be out for blood come playoff time.

Enough chatter, let’s take a look at the season ahead!

2025–26 Eastern Conference preview​

1. Cleveland Cavaliers (last season: 1)​

If the Cavs don’t break up the band, it’s hard to imagine they’ll fluctuate significantly from what was an excellent regular season run last year. They certainly underestimated the Pacers, but some untimely injuries to their stars didn’t help. Still, the Cavs will have one of the strongest starting lineups in basketball top to bottom, with legitimate weapons off the bench to boot. They also acquired Lonzo Ball, who if healthy, should boost the second unit. Most of the Brew Hoop staff agreed that the Cavs will finish first in the regular season next year.

2. New York Knicks (last season: 3)​

With injuries to the best players from Boston (whom they beat) and Indiana (who beat them), the Knicks should have a great chance of securing the two seed based on the fact that they should be able to retain most of their core, and they should all be healthy to start the season. The Knicks hired a steady and respected coach in Mike Brown, and it will be interesting to see how he utilizes the core pieces of Jalen Brunson and Karl Anthony-Towns. Regardless, All-NBA talent paired with a fairly cohesive core group, going up against many teams missing star players or in a rebuild, gives the Knicks the clearest path to the two seed.

3. Detroit Pistons (last season: 6)​

Health is the name of the game, and last year, the Pistons ascended to a level that probably surprised even themselves. Their young core, headed by Cade Cunningham, is only getting better, and with a promising six-game series against the ECF-losing Knicks, the future looks bright. In a big hit to the Pistons’ success last year, former Buck Malik Beasley won’t likely be playing basketball anytime soon due to a myriad of off-court gambling accusations. However, the Pistons shored up some of that scoring void with the additions of Duncan Robinson and Caris LeVert. With Tyrese Haliburton and Jayson Tatum down, plus Damian Lillard out of the picture, this is the logical time for the Pistons to leap past teams that placed ahead of them last season.

4. Orlando Magic (last season: 7)​

With one of the first big moves in free agency, the Magic shored up one of their glaring weak spots: shooting. The addition of Desmond Bane and good health should make the Magic a dangerous team in a weakened East. Swarming, discombobulating defense is their forte. Plus, having a true superstar in Paolo Banchero gives this team a combination of talent and continuity that many teams will lack. They struggled with health last season, and they lost a bit of depth, but with a wide-open East, a top-four seed has never been more in reach for the young Magic group.

5. Atlanta Hawks (last Season: 8)​

Hawks teams over the past few years exemplify how difficult it is to string together consistent winning seasons in the NBA. Any time they gain traction and have a solid season, it seems like they just as quickly slide back to irrelevance. That said, with nice off-season acquisitions, the Hawks are reloaded and looking to make waves. The upside is there—Trae Young is still a borderline All-NBA talent, Dyson Daniels took a huge leap, plus they acquired Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Kristaps Porzingis, and Luke Kennard. The on-court fit should be great, so I can see the Hawks grabbing a five seed. However, the above teams have better continuity, so I don’t quite have them snagging home court.

6. Milwaukee Bucks (last season: 5)​

Expectations for where the Bucks end up this season are understandably complicated. With that in mind, half of the Brew Hoop staff think the Bucks will end up a six seed, with a quarter placing them at five and the remaining quarter placing them at seven.

What we thought would be a season mostly without Dame turned into one definitively without Dame, after his contract was waived and stretched to sign Myles Turner. Other free agency moves like shoring up their young talent (Kevin Porter Jr., Gary Trent Jr., Ryan Rollins, and Jericho Sims all coming back), extending veterans (Bobby Portis and Taurean Prince), and adding capable pieces (the aforementioned Myles Turner, plus Cole Anthony and Gary Harris) have made this team younger and more athletic than they have been in years. Yet, based on how they struggled against good teams last season, it still feels like the Bucks lack the top gear to unseat the home-court teams, even in a weakened East.

We’re still hoping the front office pushes to acquire another high-level piece this offseason or at the deadline. A lot of responsibility also rests on Doc Rivers’ shoulders to experiment with the lineup, allow young players to rise to the moment, as well as build a system that plays to Giannis’ and the roster’s strengths. Speaking of Giannis, there’s some good news: on any given night, the Bucks should still have the best player in the East, and arguably the world. The conference is truly as wide open as it has been in years, and if there’s any season to learn and grow as you go, it’ll be the 2025–26 season.

7. Indiana Pacers (last season: 4)​

From “Yes ‘Cers” to “oh no, sir” in a moment, one of the most ascendant teams of the decade suffered a brutal loss when Tyrese Haliburton went down with a ruptured Achilles in the Finals. To make matters worse, their bitter rival (that’d be our dear Bucks) snagged one of the biggest fish in free agency from them in Myles Turner. While the Pacers remain a well-coached team with solid depth, it’s hard to replace the offensive engine that Haliburton provides and the defensive anchor that Turner is. That said, Rick Carlisle is as crafty as they come, and it’s not unlikely to imagine they’ll put together a good enough regular season to compete next year. Had they retained Turner and Haliburton were healthy, I’d have undoubtedly seeded them in the top three.

8. Boston Celtics (last season: 2)​

There’s a common theme in this territory: good teams last season who are going to be hampered by injury this season (and in the case of the Celtics, money). Superstar Jayson Tatum will be out for most of the regular season, and with the Celtics running into the realities of the second apron, Kristaps Porzingis and Jrue Holiday were shipped out. However, the Celtics did grab Anfernee Simons in the Holiday trade, a young and capable scorer. They’ll still have All-NBA talent in Jaylen Brown and excellent rotation players. I would be surprised if they missed the playoffs and expect them to grab at least a play-in spot.

9. Miami Heat (last seas: 10)​

A lot of us at Brew Hoop had the Heat finishing at nine or 10, and that wouldn’t surprise me one bit. They, like the Raptors below, seem to have some positional redundancy, with Tyler Herro, Andrew Wiggins, and new addition Norman Powell all excelling in similar spots on offense. Wiggins (a potential player for the Bucks to target) has succeeded in a more flexible role with the Warriors, and he’s a solid defender, so it might work. Plus, Bam Adebayo is still a top-tier big in this league. All that said, the Heat never really got rolling last year, and they haven’t made many moves beyond Powell, so a fringe playoff team seems like a good spot.

10. Toronto Raptors (last season: 11)​

In a surprise move, the Raptors parted ways with former NBA Executive of the Year Masai Ujiri this offseason, so free agent movement for them has been minimal. They have a fair bit of talent, but most of it is concentrated on the wing, with Scottie Barnes, Brandon Ingram, and RJ Barrett creating some redundancy. It feels likely that one of them is moved, and signs point to Barrett as the odd man out (whom some of us at Brew Hoop would like for the Bucks to target). I think there is enough in the core to challenge for a playoff spot, but the Raptors weren’t healthy or particularly cohesive last season, so it’s hard to imagine they’ll take a huge leap.

11. Philadelphia 76ers (last season: 13)​

In a bucket of what-ifs this season, the 76ers might just claim the most uncertainty. What if they get fully healthy and reclaim a top-four seed? What if Joel Embiid continues to deteriorate and play fewer than half the games in a season? What if “The Process” continues with cutting losses and trying again? Everything is on the table for Philly, and I wouldn’t be surprised if they make the playoffs, and I wouldn’t be surprised if they don’t. Hence, a spot right on the edge of the play-in. Don’t get it twisted: when healthy, they boast a ton of talent and Tyrese Maxey is the truth. But they’re aging, there’s no timeline for Embiid’s return, Paul George had another surgery this offseason, and they haven’t played competitive basketball in some time. If Embiid returns healthy, though, they can certainly take on the play-in teams at least.

12. Chicago Bulls (last season: 9)​

Similar to the Nets, but with a bit of late-season spark that complicated the approach to the offseason, the Bulls are caught in a parbaked rebuild. On the one hand, they have some promising young players that are finding their footing (Matas Buzelis, Coby White, Josh Giddey), but on the other, they sent Lonzo Ball to the Cavs and have other potentially valuable pieces that might be worth cashing in on (like Nikola Vucevic). It’s not hard to imagine the Bulls put together another top-10 season in the East, but I expect this year to be a bit rocky as they look ahead to a year or two in the future.

13. Washington Wizards (last season: 15)​

The Wizards finished last season with the worst record in the NBA, so they can’t go much lower. With that in mind, I expect them to be better, marginally. Washington still has a slew of picks, a bunch of youthful roster potential, and some tradeable vets like Khris Middleton, CJ McCollum, and Malcolm Brogdon, who also seem slightly redundant. I expect at least one of those three to get shipped this offseason or at the deadline. While they will very likely fall short of the playoffs, the Wizards’ approach to rebuilding feels more purposeful and promising than some competitors.

14. Brooklyn Nets (last season: 12)​

Though the rhythm of the rebuild has been unpredictable, the Nets are definitely looking toward the future. They don’t have a very complete team, and right now, it seems like securing assets to build for the future is their best move. After many deadline rumors, Cam Johnson was traded to the Nuggets for Michael Porter Jr., a talented but more limited option. Cam Thomas rumors also swirl, but it feels increasingly beneficial for him to return for this season and look elsewhere next year. What remains to be seen is how hard they try to stay near the bottom of the league to benefit their draft outcome.

15. Charlotte Hornets (last season: 14)​

The Hornets are a tough nut to crack. Injuries ravaged their season as badly as any team in the league, with Brandon Miller, LaMelo Ball, Grant Williams, and Mark Williams (traded to the Suns this offseason) all missing significant time. In theory, and even as of a couple of seasons ago, they weren’t bottom-of-the-East bad. But it feels like whatever experiment they have been running has reached its end, and it might be time to capitalize on tradable assets while they still hold some value. That said, when healthy, they have exciting players with serious talent, and it’s well within the realm of possibility for them to snag a play-in spot.

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How did I do? We’re curious to hear your Eastern Conference seeding for next year. How do you think the 2025–26 season will shake out?

Source: https://www.brewhoop.com/2025/7/25/...ukee-bucks-boston-celtics-cleveland-cavaliers

 

[Milwaukee Bucks]

Bogoljub Markovič to return to Mega Basket

Photo by Logan Riely/NBAE via Getty Images

The 47th overall pick averaged eight points per game during NBA Summer League

It looks like we will have to wait at least one more year before we see 2025 Milwaukee Bucks second-round draft pick Bogoljub Markovič on an official NBA court. Per a release by his European pro team, Mega Basket, he will return for at least one more season. Markovič did show some flashes of potential during his time in the NBA Summer League, averaging 8.0 PPG, 2.2 RPG, 1.4 APG, shooting 48% from the field in those five games.

Per the Release, #Bucks' 47th overall pick Bogoljub Markovic will return to Europe to play at least one more season with Mega Basket. Article from me to come soon. www.bcmegabasket.net/2025/07/28/m...

— Jackson Gross (@jgrossreporter.bsky.social) 2025-07-28T17:03:37.567Z

As the offseason wore on, it seemed more and more likely that Markovič would be heading back to Europe. The Bucks re-signing Chris Livingston and bringing in Cole Anthony after his buyout with the Memphis Grizzlies filled the NBA roster to 15 players, and all their two-way contracts are filled as well. Even if the Bucks had waived Andre Jackson Jr.’s remaining contract, I doubt the Bucks would have picked Markovič to fill that 15th slot (it would be more likely they bring back Thanasis Antetokounmpo instead).

It was clear during his time in the Summer League that Markovič wasn’t ready to handle playing against NBA competition. While he did show flashes of decent three-point shooting and an ability to drive down the lane, he needs a lot of work on the defensive end. Physically speaking, there were times when he was bullied by stronger and more athletic players, especially against the Cleveland Cavaliers. Another year across the Atlantic should hopefully give Markovič time to bulk up and hone his skills so that he might be ready to join the NBA in 2026.

Source: https://www.brewhoop.com/2025/7/28/...ket-milwaukee-bucks-nba-draft-stash-jon-horst

 

[Milwaukee Bucks]

Don’t give up on Bogoljub Markovič

Photo by Logan Riely/NBAE via Getty Images

The sell for this year’s 47th pick, featuring exclusive quotes from an interview with Markovič

The Milwaukee Bucks’ Bogoljub Markovič, the 47th pick of the 2025 draft, is officially staying in Serbia for the 2025–26 season. This is disappointing news for those who wanted Milwaukee to bring in an NBA-ready rookie. People are already losing hope that he’ll ever suit up for the Bucks, calling him the next Hugo Besson. If you’re in that boat, then pump the brakes and hear me out. I’m certain that Markovič will eventually become an impact player for this team, and I’m going to tell you why you should feel the same way.

At NBA Summer League in Las Vegas, I got the opportunity to speak one-on-one with Bogi, and his demeanor really stood out. He has plenty of belief in himself, but it’s a humble, measured type of confidence, where you can tell he really has a grasp on where he’s at as a player and what it will take for him to succeed. On top of that, he deeply understands the game of basketball and how it’s played in the NBA. Remember that one time Milwaukee drafted a young foreign kid with a modest and driven mindset? That guy is now the greatest player in franchise history.

While there are some parallels between Markovič and Giannis Antetokounmpo, the newest Buck actually models his game after a different MVP. “I would like to play like (Nikola) Jokic, maybe (Lauri) Markkanen,” he said. “Do I have enough talent for that? We’ll see.”

The influence of both European All-Stars is evident in Markovič’s game. The 20-year-old is a sharpshooter with an impressive combination of size and fluid movement, so it’s easy to project him to become a jumbo off-ball weapon on offense like Lauri Markkanen. In a post-draft article, I likened Bogi to Chet Holmgren and Kyle Filipowski, two guys who also fit that mold. Unlike Markkanen, though, he’s an advanced passer for his position, and that’s how the Jokic imprint shines through. Markovič is unselfish with a team-first mindset, and he has the instincts and IQ to make the right reads and set up his allies.

“First off, the whole team has to have one same idea. When we get that done, for me, I’m talented enough to just read it naturally, I don’t think too much. It’s just about the team having one idea,” he said about how he reads the floor to make plays. “Obviously, when you have different teammates, they have different ideas. So if I know a player well, if he likes to cut, or if he likes to stay at the three-pointer, it makes my job easier.”

The concept of memorizing the tendencies of teammates in order to find them up in their spots is very point-guardish. Once again, Nikola Jokic’s influence on Bogi is unmistakable. However, despite hailing from the same Serbian basketball club as the three-time MVP, Markovič hasn’t had much contact with the Joker. The Mega Basket ties definitely run deep, though, as he said he’s spoken with Nikola Đurišić, Nikola Topic, and Nikola Jovic, and mentioned he spent some time hanging out with Đurišić (who is on the Hawks) during Summer League. On his impression of Las Vegas, and America in general, Bogi said, “it’s cool. It’s a bit fun, but I’m not here for anything other than basketball, so I don’t care. Maybe someday, if I come back without any basketball games, it’s going to be a lot more fun. But right now, I don’t pay attention.”

Markovič is a focused, hard-working hoopshead. He loves the game, he’s wanted to be in the NBA since he was nine, and he’s willing to grind to become the best player he can be. His drive, self-reflection, and brains were all clicking when he spoke about his defense, which will likely be his swing skill. He says he’s most comfortable hedging and recovering against screens when he’s playing center, the coverage he primarily runs for Mega Basket. “We’ve done it a lot. I’ve practiced it a lot. With my quick feet, that is the most efficient [thing] I can do, but I’m open for anything coach wants me to do.”

In the NBA, Bogi will likely slot in as more of a four than a five, as his perimeter-oriented skillset and thinner frame make him more suited for that spot. On his ability to play the power forward, he said that the “NBA is the best league in the world. On both positions, at every defensive coverage I have to get better at. Stronger and quicker feet. So what I can do and what I can do now, it’s two different things. But at the four, I also think I can play.”

“What I can do and what I can do now, it’s two different things” is a simple but unbelievably wise description of what potential actually represents in basketball conversations. Bogi can become a multi-talented defender, and he knows it, but he must improve significantly to get there. The same thing can be said about him being a good player in this league, and if you aren’t sold on that yet, consider this: on July 12th, Markovič turned 20 years old, meaning in three years, he’ll be 23. For reference, that’s how old Andre Jackson Jr. is right now. Think about how much growth he could do in a three-season span, and then how he would still just be 23 after.

Yes, Markovič is something like an unsolved 1000-piece puzzle right now. However, the picture on the box is incredible, and both he and the Bucks organization are ready to put together the pieces. It may take some time, but eventually, Bogoljub Markovič could be an important contributor to this team. And considering his talent and motivation, the only thing that could stop him from reaching that point is if people give up on him. The bottom line? Believe in Bogi.

Source: https://www.brewhoop.com/2025/7/30/...ukee-bucks-nba-serbia-nikola-jokic-draft-pick

 

[Milwaukee Bucks]

Shots fired, answers now: An off-season Questions & Antlers with Zac Day

Photo by Mike Mulholland/Getty Images

You asked the questions, here are the antlers

Alright, this one was fun—and a little intimidating. Brew Hoopers, you certainly tossed up some lobs. Let’s see if I can throw them down.

Kuzma, Kuzma, Kuzma​

aguynamedjr asks: To what degree was Kuzma’s half season with the Bucks last year an outlier… and with a full training camp can they incorporate him better and utilize his strengths while minimizing his weaknesses?

I’ll start by saying I was supportive of the trade that brought Kyle Kuzma to the Bucks. For the record, Khris Middleton will forever be one of my favourite Bucks and absolutely deserves to have his jersey hung in the rafters, but it was clear his body just couldn’t let him do what the team needed over the last couple of years (at least not for prolonged periods). The move also gave the team flexibility that has shaped the roster into what it is now. This said, it’s hard to call Kuzma’s half-season with the Bucks an outlier. Offensively, he shot the ball as he always has:

• 46% from the field with the Bucks vs 45% for his career.
• 33% from three (career 33%).
• 54% true shooting (career 54%).

Notably, however, after shooting just 43% overall and 28% from three over his first 17 games as a Buck, Kuzma shot 49% overall and 37% from three in the final 16 regular-season games. If nothing else (and playoffs aside), there’s at least some hope in that.

Defensively, Kuzma’s rebounding went the opposite direction. After hitting the boards early for the Bucks, grabbing 7.0 RPG across those initial 17 games, this dropped to just 4.1 RPG over the final 16 games of the regular season. Overall, his defensive rating with Milwaukee was 114.0—sitting comfortably between his career best (105.2 with the Lakers in 2019—2020) and career worst (120.8 with the Wizards in 2023–24). Again, there’s at least something in this that suggests under the right circumstances (i.e., a strong defensive team) Kuzma can be positively impactful.

Taking this all into consideration, I think Kuzma is who he is—someone who can get hot offensively and adds some value with his athleticism and versatility, but too often clanks it off the rim or makes ill-advised decisions trying to do too much. To me, this sounds like a rotational player who has to come off the bench. More importantly, does it to Doc? For more on optimizing Kuzma, read here.

Jman2926 asks: Horst said that they want Kuz to play more minutes at the four. Would this mean he comes off the bench or moves from the 3 to 4 when Gianni’s sits?

Tao~of~Hoop asks: What is Kuzma’s best avenue to contributing to this team (provided he’s not traded)? Obviously there are only so many minutes at the 4 with Giannis around, and he’s been a below average shooter and overall very inefficient playing the 3. Sounds like he’s been working on his game, do you think he can be a serviceable starting SF?

As I wrote above, I feel Kuzma has to come off the bench for this team to be most successful. There, he can play the non-Giannis minutes at the four and hopefully find more success against lesser talent. Playing well in this role would be beneficial all-around, helping Kuzma secure more playing time, increasing his trade value, and reducing Giannis’ minutes—a must considering the load he’ll be shouldering. As far as playing the three, I’m sure Kuzma will get minutes there, considering the team’s lack of bigger wings, but I hope this will be situational.

naveed211 asks: What progress has been made toward a Kuzma trade?

While everyone (including this writer) has been clamouring for a Kuzma trade, I presume he will be with the team to start the season and Jon Horst’s recent comments to The Athletic’s Eric Nehm indicate as much (even if this was just posturing). The reality is that Kuzma’s play, primarily in the postseason, plummeted his trade value so much that it would likely take assets just to move him. While I’m open to doing this, it absolutely must be for the right player, and the trade deadline might offer more options than there are now. In the interim, hopefully Kuzma (and Doc) can find a role that both helps the team and restores some value.

Depth and lineups​

4Reggie asks: if Doc and Jon are serious about playing fast, pressuring full court, and increasing 3 point volume, I think their best chance is to be going 9, 10, or 11 deep every other game and overwhelming teams with fresh legs. Am I giving Doc too much credit at trying to be innovative?

Southern Marxist2 asks: How many Bucks will play meaningful minutes usually? Do you think Giannis will average greater than 32.0 minutes per game?

I think the roster speaks to this intention. Doc has to have noticed what Indiana did to them the past two years—not to mention the ever-increasing league-wide pace and space trends—and with so many players with the ability to contribute, it just seems logical. I see the regular rotation as something like this:

This depth and youth should enable high-intensity, faster-paced basketball on both sides of the court. Plus, with the similar talent level across the roster, there should be plenty of internal competition, which is always a good thing—it’s not as if there are a bunch of players who warrant minutes based solely on reputation. I look forward to seeing who earns them. As for Giannis, 32 minutes per game would be a nice sweet spot.

DonVinchi2 asks: Would this be a good starting lineup? CA, KPJ, GTJ, GA, MT

While this might be the most dynamic line-up (shout-out to naveed211) that the Bucks could put out in terms of a collection of individuals who can flat-out create offensively (though Portis is better than Turner at this), I feel it is a redundant use of resources. The Bucks have four ball-handlers—Giannis, Kevin Porter Jr., Cole Anthony, and Ryan Rollins—who I’m comfortable with against ball pressure. Having three of these in at the same time turns at least one of them into an off-ball catch-and-shoot type. While Anthony and Porter Jr. can do this to some extent, I’d much rather start AJ Green, who has significantly greater shooting gravity and is also more switchable than Anthony defensively. This gives the starting line-up a bit more size too, and would enable Anthony and Rollins to split second-unit ball-handling duties. I see them complementing each other well there.

Stepping up​

DonVinchi2 asks: Who’s gonna step up to the plate this season? Will it be KPJ, Green, Portis, Trent, or Turner?

All of the above! I’m very much in the “let’s do-it-by-committee” camp, where the second-best player can be any one of these guys (or even Anthony or Kuzma) on a given night. Across the season, I’d wager Trent Jr. and Porter Jr. will have the second and third highest points per game average, as they can create their own shots more than, say, Myles Turner (who will likely be as important, if not more, overall). Honestly, the committee approach bodes well for unpredictability and camaraderie—to echo Hear District’s Kris Johnson, there’s something about this team that has me juiced.

The defense​

Air Giannis asks: My biggest question with our recent injection of youth (relative to Brook leaving and Turner replacing him) is how exactly our defense will change? The drop started to get figured out and exploited by faster and high IQ players. How exactly will Turner being the anchor change our defense?

This one intrigues me the most. Theoretically, Turner steps into Brook Lopez’s void and offers the same as what he did—elite rim protection—with improved mobility, which should enable him to be more effective on switches and when isolated. Overall, I actually think the drop being “figured out” had less to do with Lopez and more to do with the changes to the team’s perimeter defenders. Losing Jrue Holiday, among others, hurt more than anyone has properly acknowledged. Playing Prince out of position didn’t help either. Now, with more solid (if not plus) perimeter defenders, especially ones with more speed and athleticism, I foresee the drop—should the team continue to use it—to return to its more effective ways. On the other hand, the Indiana Pacers found success pressuring full court, denying the ball, and getting through screens (dare I say, energy and effort?). A blend of the two, including some of the zone that proved effective at times last year, should give the team enough options to make life difficult for opposing offenses. I, for one, am ready to welcome a return to the gritty defensive identity that made Bucks basketball so successful—and fun to watch!

Nano606 asks: Who are going to be our point of attack defenders?

naveed211 asks: My question is can our defense at the point of attack help them enough for us to be a good defense overall.

My starting line-up features Porter Jr., Trent Jr., and Green. While none of these guys are lock-down, All-Defensive types, they can all hold their own—their respective defensive ratings were 108.0, 114.0, and 107.6. For comparison, Derrick White’s was 109.5 and Lu Dort’s was 107.3. Off the bench, Ryan Rollins (108.6)—with his 6-foot-10 wingspan and athleticism—has the best physical attributes to become a lock-down point of attack defender, and I’m excited to see how he follows up a semi-breakout 2024–2025 season. Jon Horst’s recent comparison of Rollins to George Hill just seems so perfect—both in archetype and for the Bucks’ future. I’m excited! Either way, the starting line-up doesn’t project to have anyone that opposing defences can hunt, meaning the team shouldn’t be exposed by the need to over-help as frequently as it has in years past. In brief, I see defensive symbiosis being more important to the team’s defensive success than a single point of attack defender.

Looking forward: picks and extensions​

Ham Slamwich asks: We don’t own a second round pick until 2099. What is the history of buying second round picks? Are there trends? Historic hits?

I couldn’t help laugh at the first part of this—the asset cupboard certainly is bare. Trading cash for second-round picks is relatively common, but often happens as part of larger deals involving other picks and/or players. Teams are also limited by the annual cash cap ($7M in the 2024–2025 season). As far as the Bucks go, they traded the 38th pick in the 2016 draft (eventual three-time champ Patrick McCaw) for $2.4M. League-wide, more notable hits include:

• Kyle Korver (51st pick)—the famous copy machine tale!
• Marcin Gortat (57th pick)
• Jordan Clarkson (46th pick)
• Darrell Arthur (27th pick—not technically a second-round pick).

So, this is a possibility, but the Bucks’ recent draft history doesn’t offer a ton of optimism for this strategy. Having said this, could you imagine if a bought second-rounder found another Malcolm Brogdon or Luc Richard Mbah a Moute? Here’s hoping Bogoljub Markovič’s return to Europe can help him evolve into Ersan Ilyasova.

Marcus.Aurelius asks: What’s the best case “win/win” scenario for extending AJ Green? He wants to stay with MKE, but we’re likely looking for a discount.

The best case is Green signing a long-term, team-friendly deal that looks even better after he seizes a starting position and has a career year. That is, get it done now, Horst. My thoughts on what this might look like, including deals similar players have received, can be found here.

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So, what do you think—did I flush them home or clank them off iron?

Source: https://www.brewhoop.com/2025/7/31/...tlers-kyle-kuzma-myles-turner-starting-lineup

 

[Milwaukee Bucks]

How Milwaukee can optimise Kyle Kuzma next season

Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images

Might as well make lemonade, eh?

There has been a lot of discussion around Kyle Kuzma since he arrived in Milwaukee midway through last season, including from yours truly. Most of that discussion has been centred around why Kuzma is a bad fit and should be traded ASAP. While I concur with that sentiment, I think there is a decent chance Kyle spends the entire upcoming season with the Bucks. Therefore, I wanted to write about two overarching strategies I believe the coaching staff should lean on to inform how they make decisions regarding Kuzma:

Strategy #1: Play Kuzma almost exclusively at his natural position​

Kyle Kuzma is optimised as a power forward. Why? Firstly, he physically profiles as a power forward (duh). Secondly, the PF position optimises his skill set. We kind of know the defence is just going to be there. On offence, the higher (or lower, depending on how you look at it) Kyle plays on the positional spectrum, the less he must succeed as a three-point shooter (where he shoots 33.4% for his career). Of course, he’ll still need to make threes playing the PF, but he’d be relied upon more to do that if he were playing the SF.

Now to address the elephant in the room: Kuzma would have to come off the bench because, well, the Bucks already have a certain someone who plays that position. My reaction? Tough luck. As I ranted about in a recent episode of Deer Diaries (A Milwaukee Bucks podcast presented by us, the staff at Brew Hoop), the Bucks are trying to win a championship; there is no time for worrying about egos and hurt feelings. For what it’s worth, Kyle has been nothing but a great teammate since he got to Milwaukee. Even if his ego took a little hit coming off the bench, I think he’d fall in line.

And if he doesn’t fall in line? Respectfully, who cares? Kuzma isn’t exactly pivotal to the Bucks’ success or plans moving forward; he has very little leverage. The harsh reality that Jon Horst will never admit, but one that is obvious, is that he did not trade for Kyle because he believed he would help the team return to contention. Objectively, he is a bad fit with this team. Kyle was traded to the Cream City because his contract released the Bucks from apron hell, allowing Horst to do all the weird and wacky things he did this offseason.

In all likelihood, Kuzma’s next most important purpose will be for Horst to utilise his $20m expiring contract in 2026–27 to acquire someone who fits better on this team. To put it bluntly, they should only use Kyle to the extent that he is not hindering the team. I have little faith that he will significantly impact winning, but he could certainly impact losing. And a key component of how Kyle could impact losing is by Doc playing him out of position to meet some playing time quota that is commensurate with his so-called “reputation.” Giannis played 34 minutes per game last season; play Kuzma the 14 minutes Antetokounmpo sits, plus 5–10 minutes elsewhere, and call it a day.

Strategy #2: Put Kuzma in positions to play to his strengths as often as possible​

Passing​

As I alluded to above, Kuzma’s game is not entirely translatable to winning basketball; lack of shooting ability is the primary reason for that. However, one element of his game that I believe in is his passing (even though his career turnover average is just 0.5 below his career assist average of 2.7). Regardless, my favourite part of his passing chops is his ability to know where help is coming from in situations where there is a numerical advantage. For example, look at this play:

To the naked eye, this play seems simple, but I don’t think it is. Giannis gets doubled and makes the next pass; Nembhard rotates over. The pass after that is to Lillard, but Kuzma recognises that Haliburton—who was guarding Trent in the corner—tries to shoot that gap before he has even caught the ball, leaving Trent open. From that point, Lopez makes the correct read by diving to the hoop, forcing Turner to cover him, and Kyle skips it to Trent.

You must have patience and an instinctual understanding of rotations to make that pass. It’s numbers-advantage plays like the one above where Kuzma can shine. But how can they get Kyle in those situations more often? Well, one tried and true method is to pair him in actions with lethal shooters who he can screen for, and crucially, who can screen for him:

There are many advantages to pairing Kyle with shooters, but the main benefit is that it forces his defender to guard him closer than they would otherwise, as they must be aware of the shooter. That allows Kuzma opportunities to do a lot more with the ball, whether that be to screen and play out of the short roll, or even just opening up driving lanes where he can use his size more effectively.

Cutting​

Another reason Kyle is optimised off the bench is that it opens his game as a cutter, which is another strength of his. Putting Kuzma in lineups where he is the only subpar shooter allows him the requisite space to intuitively cut into open spaces because the other four players attract each of their defenders. For example, one of Kyle’s primary scoring methods last season was cutting to the hoop after Dame drew two and hit the centre in the short roll (whose shooting gravity warranted the help defender to step up and guard them):

I do want to note that while Myles Turner can play the Brook role here, the ease of which this play was executed will be harder to replicate this upcoming season because 1) there is no Dame to warrant that level of defensive attention up top and 2) Denver runs a coverage with Jokic whereby they willingly sacrifice that short-roll pass. This play is much harder to replicate against OKC, for example.

Still, the general concept of Kuzma being the only subpar shooter will produce these sorts of opportunities in the flow of general play. With Giannis out there, yes, it’s still possible to make this play. However, Antetokounmpo must be the one passing it in the short roll because, while he doesn’t have the shooting gravity, he demands tight coverage due to his incredible length and athleticism. Regardless, this play shows how the court becomes a little more cramped when both he and Kyle share the court:

Attacking in transition​

Another reason Kuz is optimised when Giannis is sitting is that it opens his ability to either get an early outlet or grab-and-go off his defensive rebound and negate any need to run half-court offence:

The general idea is that you start the game with Giannis performing the grab-and-go stuff at an exceptionally high level, and then you take him off for Temu Giannis (sorry, I had to). Of course, it’s not as if playing both players simultaneously would negate the Bucks’ ability to play in transition. However, both players are trying to play with a spaced court, and this becomes difficult when neither is a respected shooter.

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Look, we know Horst is going to be aggressive at the deadline like he always is. Any significant deal is likely to involve Kuzma. But whether that deal comes at the deadline or a year from now, the Bucks must have a plan for how to optimise Kyle as long as he’s on the roster. That plan might require being somewhat ruthless to maximise the good in Kuzma’s game while minimising the bad. I believe Kyle can positively impact this team, but Doc and the coaching staff will need to put him in a position to succeed.

Source: https://www.brewhoop.com/2025/7/28/...cks-nba-kyle-kuzma-giannis-washington-wizards

 

[Milwaukee Bucks]

Bucks bring back Cream City jerseys, add new floor design

Photo by Don Juan Moore/Getty Images

The 2019–20 threads return.

If you've been following this team for more than five years, you likely remember the Bucks' cream-colored City Edition jerseys. The first iteration was from 2017–18, which was the inaugural year of the NBA's City-branding program and Nike's initial year as the league's jersey supplier. Those were a bit non-traditional without any text, but set a pattern which would be duplicated on the Bucks' next black Statement Edition (aka third) jerseys, ones they wore in Game 6 of the 2021 NBA Finals:

Photo by Gary Dineen/NBAE via Getty Images

I liked these a lot. While we didn't really know it at the time, that set was only around for one season, as the Bucks went to the Robert Indiana MECCA court-inspired designs the year after. But in 2019–20, the cream base returned with a much more traditional look, including a script "Cream City" that echoed Milwaukee Tools' branding (I liked these a lot too):

Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images

That would be the last of the cream we'd see... until today. The Bucks are bringing back this very jersey for 2025–26 as their City Edition, after five seasons in which four of their City Edition threads had a blue base. Per the team, the jersey is unchanged from its previous version five years ago. I believe that the only other team to reuse a City Edition jersey was Utah; they kept their prior year's design in each season from 2017–20, and again from 2020–22.

Why the long layoff? Well, you might recall seeing some glitching during Bucks games played in the NBA's Covid-induced bubble in late summer 2020. As relayed by chief marketing officer Dustin Godsey to the great Paul Lukas of UniWatch, the cream coloration interfered with the new digital ads the league was projecting on courts for viewers:

Up until that point, there had been no issues. So we wore the “Cream City” uniform for a game in the bubble—I think it was August 2, 2020. Because of the unique situation there, with every game being played on a neutral site, teams were able to digitally put their arena naming rights onto the court during their local TV broadcasts. And because of that, in that first game of wearing cream down in the bubble, we started to realize it was kind of like the meteorologist wearing a green shirt while standing in front of the green screen—a pixelation effect.

Here's how it looked at times:

So Milwaukee (and other teams) couldn't wear off-white or cream jerseys as long as the ads were around, because obviously, the ads couldn't be the things subtracted from this dilemma. Fans began to tire of the blue after the third or fourth time the Bucks used it, and I imagine merch sales of blue apparel were dropping too. There were one or two designs I really liked in blue, but I'm not sad to see it be relegated to a supporting role for at least another year. Cream is one of the Bucks' two primary colors—they're unique among NBA franchises (and sports franchises in general) in that regard—and it makes sense to highlight it.

Therefore, it's good news for many that during this past regular season, our friend Justin Garcia from WTMJ and Locked On Bucks reported that the glitch had been fixed. Naturally, that prompted speculation on the Bucks returning to cream, and today we got our confirmation. Just not a new design, but a very well-done previous one reintroduced.

That's not all, though. In conjunction with the cream set, the Bucks will pair it with an alternate court design:

If I'm not mistaken, Milwaukee was the first team to introduce a secondary floor just after their 2015 rebrand, with the black court that paired with their jersey set of the same color. Since then, they've gone through a few primary and secondary floors, including a blue one that replaced the damaged primary floor for much of the season a couple years ago, until a new primary was built.

While I think having the geographic coordinates of Fiserv so prominent is a bit cheesy (I’m just not a fan of using coordinates in branding) or “City Edition” under the rim, the rest is outstanding. The court is patterned with bricks: a nice touch that puts their own spin on classic parquet floors. Closer inspection reveals that the city’s street grid is overlaid onto the midrange between the three-point arc and key. I know the Bucks aren’t the first team to do this, but as a fan of maps, I liked it everywhere.

How do you feel about this return to an old jersey and the new floor? Or the use of "cream city" in general? I personally think it's cool and I enjoy the historic nature of it (derived from the cream-colored clay brick that many pre-20th-century Milwaukee buildings are constructed from). However, it was not popular until more recently, and many Milwaukeeans still don't even use the term. My mother is a Milwaukee native and never knew of it until the last ten years. Like her, some wrongly assume it deals with Wisconsin's dairy industry, an understandable mistake. So I get the resistance to it, but as a nickname, it is not new, and nearly as old as the city itself.

Source: https://www.brewhoop.com/2025/8/1/2...am-city-jerseys-nba-city-edition-court-design

 

[Milwaukee Bucks]

Giannis publicly states his loyalty to Bucks

Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images

Again, Giannis confirms he wants to stay, despite what the national media continues to profess

This morning, Shams Charania of ESPN continued to beat a dead horse on his Get Up appearance, stating that Giannis Antetokounmpo is “continuing to evaluate his future,” and that in regards to staying with or leaving the Bucks, there is “nothing set in stone.” More of the same clickbait narrative that ESPN, and particularly Shams, seems keen on furthering this summer for whatever reason (*coughMARKETSIZEcough*). Yada yada yada.

Far be it from Shams and ESPN to actually report something that Giannis himself did or said. For example, his comments on a live stream in Greece last month, his interview and Instagram post from Brazil back in June, or any other public indication Giannis has made recently about his desire to stay in Milwaukee. That would be too easy! And it doesn’t drive engagement for them. Especially not when he makes an even firmer declaration of his loyalty, like he did two days ago,

On Saturday, Giannis attended the National Sports Collectors Convention in Rosemont, IL with his brothers Thanasis, Kostas, and Alex. There they had an eBay Live panel where Giannis was shown an autographed card from early in his career. The group discussed how he developed his signature; given the length of his name, his John Hancock was originally a bit more elaborate, so he shortened it over time to “GA 34.” Why? Here’s what he said:

“Maybe I [signed my full last name] the first, like, I don’t know, maybe like a thousand, first thousand autographs that I gave away. And then I was like, ah no, I can’t be doing this for the rest of my life. Like, I want to have a long career, I’m gonna play like 15–20 years in the NBA, I can’t be doing these autographs, so...”

At this point, an intrepid attendee (who we’ll assume to be a Milwaukee fan) shouts, “all in Milwaukee!” And Giannis replies, with a wink:

“All in Milwaukee, baby.”

The fan then lets out a triumphant “yeah!” as Giannis continues with the discussion about the card. A massive salute to this guy who perhaps ventured across Wisconsin’s southern border to check out the Antetokounmbros’ panel and had the great idea to blurt this out. You can view the entire stream here.

Not lost on me is the irony that this event occurred just outside Chicago, where Shams is from and continues to live. A greater expenditure of digital ink is due on Shams and ESPN’s choice vis-a-vis Giannis this summer, but for at least the foreseeable future, how about we (and by “we,” I am very much including Shams and his bosses) again just take the man at his word? Like Bucks fans have for many years now.

Source: https://www.brewhoop.com/2025/8/4/24480835/giannis-antetokounmpo-entire-career-milwaukee-bucks

 

[Milwaukee Bucks]

The chapter of errors: 15 biggest mistakes of the Milwaukee Bucks (2002–2025)

Being a Milwaukee Bucks fan is quite a rollercoaster ride. From the highs of the 2021 championship title to numerous lows and decisions that have long caused discomfort, like a bad case of indigestion. Every sports organization has its share of missteps, but the Bucks, over the last two decades, have managed to collect a sizeable number of true blunders: those personnel and strategic decisions that fans would prefer to forget, yet journalists bring up at every opportunity with an ironic smile. It is time to examine the 15 biggest—in my opinion—mistakes of the Milwaukee Bucks from 2002 to 2025.

You might ask, why the specific year of 2002, for our story on the Bucks’ errors. Well, the reason is quite personal. You see, 2002 was when I started my university studies in Poland. I was studying English philology, which means a lot of Noam Chomsky’s generative grammar, US history, and literature. It was a time very different from today: basketball was truly my obsession, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. In the early 2000s, Polish basketball fans were just starting. There were some basketball forums and simple websites appearing, but it was hard to find other fans for one specific NBA team, especially a team not always in the Finals spotlight. It felt like looking for something very rare. I wanted a team that didn’t have many fans in Poland. A team whose stories I could truly make my own. This way, I could be far from the usual talks about the Lakers or the Bulls. This is how I found the Milwaukee Bucks.

Because of my English studies, I was very interested in translating articles from English to Polish. Back then, there were no online translators, no simple copy-paste. It was a really engaging process. I would sit with a printed-out article, a heavy Polish-English dictionary and thesaurus, a highlighter, a pen, and a pencil. For hours, you would work on each sentence. You would look at the grammar, think about the right words, and slowly build the text in Polish. These habits, I must say, are still with me today. They shaped how I work, not just with translating, but with any detailed analysis.

So, in 2002, I truly started to support the Milwaukee Bucks. Through good times and bad times. My loyalty became strong: for some time, off and on, I even ran a website about the Bucks. But because of other duties—work, family, and children—I was never able to dedicate myself to it as much as it deserved.

And that’s why, for me, 2002 is not just a random start for this analysis. It’s the exact moment when my personal journey with the Milwaukee Bucks truly began.

We will count down from 15th to first, where the absolute peak of inglorious blunders awaits us. Sit back comfortably and prepare for a journey through years of unsuccessful drafts, disastrous trades, contracts that cry out for vengeance, and other stories spiced with a touch of sarcasm and bitterness. Here are the 15 biggest Bucks blunders—a cautionary tale, but also for entertainment because, after all, you have to laugh not to go mad.

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15. $50m down the drain, aka Miles Plumlee’s contract (2016)​

Let’s start with an example that proves sometimes in the NBA, you can win the lottery, despite poor on-court performance. In the summer of 2016, when the league was flooded with a freshly inflated salary cap, many clubs were handing out multi-million-dollar deals left and right. The Milwaukee Bucks decided not to be outdone and cast a favorable eye on Miles Plumlee—a center who, over the previous season, was averaging a “staggering” 3.2 points and 2.4 rebounds per game. In normal circumstances, the statistics of a backup who barely scores three points per game do not compel one to reach for their wallet. But that summer, logic went on vacation to Świnoujście, and the Bucks offered Plumlee a four-year contract worth 50 million dollars. Yes—fifty million for a third-string player primarily known for being one of the three Plumlee brothers in the NBA (and by no means the best one).

Bucks fans were tearing their hair out, and analysts rubbed their eyes in disbelief. Did someone in Milwaukee confuse Miles’ cash figures with his brother Mason’s highlights? Or perhaps the Bucks’ general manager was watching old footage of Miles’ university exploits, not realizing that was five years and several clubs ago? The contract remained a fact—Plumlee suddenly became a rich man, and in Milwaukee, a miraculous transformation into a productive big man was expected. Unfortunately, as was easily predictable, no miracle occurred. Plumlee averaged around 2.0 points and 1.7 rebounds per game in the 2016–17 season, completely failing to justify his enormous salary. With each statistically invisible night, fan frustration grew, and they ironically chanted slogans like “we want value!” whenever Plumlee appeared on the court.

The situation became so awkward for the club that after just a year and a half, the Bucks found a way to shed the problem. In February 2017, they traded Plumlee to Charlotte, taking back two other expiring contracts (Roy Hibbert and Spencer Hawes). In other words, they gave him away for a bag of chips. While they managed to free themselves from further years of overpaying Miles, a bitter taste remained. The Bucks had to pay for Hawes’ contract buyout for a few years (stretch provision and similar financial tricks), which somewhat limited their flexibility.

Plumlee’s contract went down in history as one of the most confusing club moves of the decade. It was difficult to defend it with even the strangest statistic—unless we count the average earnings per point per game, in which Miles set a world record. This mistake taught the Bucks (and the entire league) that giving big money to mediocre players after one decent month of play is like handing out Oscars to extras for appearing in the background of a scene. Well, $50m is not pocket change, and Plumlee should erect a statue of former Bucks GM John Hammond in his garden.

If you ever have a bad day, think of Miles Plumlee: the guy made a fortune, though he never came close to the level of even a solid backup. For the Bucks, however, it was a lesson that sometimes financial restraint pays off. It’s a shame they had to learn this in such a costly way—but don’t worry, this is just the beginning of the list; there will be even more expensive and painful mistakes ahead in terms of sports.

14. The phantom of the great Thon: drafting Thon Maker with the 10th pick (2016)​

The NBA Draft is like a lottery, but some try to win it with overly risky tickets. In 2016, the Milwaukee Bucks held the 10th pick in the draft and decided to go all-in—they selected Thon Maker, a 19-year-old (allegedly) prospect from Sudan/Australia, whom most scouts knew primarily from… YouTube clips. Maker gained fame as a tall (7’0”) kid with excellent mobility who supposedly hit threes in practice, dribbled like a small forward, and blocked shots like a true center. The problem was that most of these revelations came from heavily edited videos and rumors circulating online. Furthermore, there were serious doubts about Maker’s true age—some suggested he might be 2–3 years older than stated (which makes a huge difference for a basketball player whose potential is based on development). His camp, however, promised golden mountains, and the Bucks—likely encouraged by the personal enthusiasm of then-coach Jason Kidd—made a selection that many experts euphemistically described as “bold.”

On the draft board, there were still names of more proven and promising players, such as Domantas Sabonis, who was selected right after Thon with the 11th pick and, as we know, grew into a league star (a multiple-time All-Star and a pillar of subsequent teams). The Bucks, however, believed Maker was a hidden diamond. Unfortunately, it quickly turned out he was more like a millstone dragging them down.

The initial summer practices and preseason games still sparked some hope—Thon hit threes, ran like a gazelle, and seemed to have the energy to learn the game. His rookie season in 2016–17, however, started very slowly. Kidd did give him a spot in the starting five towards the end of the season (quite surprisingly), but it was more of a psychological move than a reward for form. Maker’s statistics from his first year: 4.0 points and 2.0 rebounds per game. Nothing to write home about. In his second season, he played a bit more, but progress was cosmetic (4.8 PPG, 3.0 RPG). Sure, he had a great game in the 2018 playoffs against the Celtics when he suddenly blocked 5 shots in one game, causing havoc in the paint—but that was a flash that rather highlighted his everyday mediocrity than convinced anyone there was more to him.

His shortcomings became increasingly evident. Physically, a skinny-as-a-stick Thon allowed stronger opponents to push him around. Technically, his shot was erratic, and his coordination left much to be desired. Mentally, he often looked lost in plays, reacting with delay. It’s hardly surprising, given how modest his pre-NBA experience was. Meanwhile, Sabonis—the one the Bucks could have drafted instead of Maker—blossomed first in Oklahoma City and then in Indiana as a strong power forward/center with excellent rebounding and high basketball IQ. The comparison between the two became increasingly painful for Bucks fans: Sabonis was racking up double-doubles like clockwork, while Maker was logging… another DNP in the game protocol.

The Thon Maker story ended rather ugly in Milwaukee. Dissatisfied with his diminishing role, he (through his agent) requested a trade in the 2018–19 season. He had ambitions to play more—a paradox, as he hadn’t proven he deserved it. The Bucks granted his wish and sent him to Detroit (as part of a three-team trade) in exchange for Stanley Johnson. Maker did not have a career after leaving Milwaukee—he similarly warmed the bench in Detroit, then bounced around the league’s “minimums” and eventually fell out of the NBA before five years had passed since the draft. In the background, there were more reports suggesting he might actually be older than his reported age of 23 on the day his contract wasn’t extended.

For the Bucks, drafting Thon Maker remains a cautionary tale against overestimating “soft” factors and pretty stories in the draft. When we sarcastically replay those famous clips today of Thon supposedly outplaying a chair in practice (yes, there was such a legend—that he trained one-on-one with a chair, which Bill Simmons used to ridicule at every opportunity), it’s easy to sigh: how could we have fallen for that? Well, potential sometimes blinds common sense. The Bucks bought a pig in a poke—or rather, a scrawny, useless guy in a tall body—and missed out on acquiring a valuable player.

The bottom line? Maker with the Bucks: no season with even 5.0 points per game, no game element mastered enough to become a reliable rotation player. Meanwhile, others in that draft shone: Sabonis became an All-Star, Caris LeVert (20th pick) scored 18 PPG, even Pascal Siakam (27th pick) became MIP and an NBA champion. In Milwaukee, a feeling of disappointment and a wasted pick remained. Placed 14 on our list, because there were more spectacular mistakes, but this one has something symbolic about it: we believed in a phantom of greatness that was never there.

13. The joy and downfall of high-flying Larry: The Larry Sanders saga (2013–2015)​

This story started so beautifully… In 2010, the Bucks drafted Larry Sanders with the 15th pick, a skinny, raw, but incredibly athletic big man from VCU. For the first two years, nothing suggested a revelation—Sanders mostly committed fouls and got frustrated, though he did have spectacular blocks. Then suddenly, in the 2012–13 season, Larry’s defensive talent exploded: an average of 2.8 blocks and nearly a double-double (9.8 PPG and 9.5 RPG) per game. Sanders grew into one of the best rim protectors in the league, a candidate for the Most Improved Player award, and overall a bright spot on a mediocre Bucks team. He was energetic, spirited, and fans loved his gesture after a blocked shot: a hand lowering an invisible “curtain” (symbolically: end of the show). It seemed Milwaukee finally had a center for years—a guy who might not become the next Mutombo, but would be a solid defensive pillar, perhaps even a Defensive Player of the Year in the future.

The club didn’t hesitate: in the summer of 2013, Sanders was offered a contract extension—4 years, $44m. Larry signed, and the Bucks breathed a sigh of relief, convinced it was a safe investment. After all, who wouldn’t give that kind of money to a player averaging almost three blocks per game at barely 24 years old? Everything was going according to plan… for a few weeks. Unfortunately, this is where the “downfall” part begins.

The new 2013–14 season brought a dramatic turn. First, Sanders broke his thumb as a result of—get this—a fight in a nightclub. Yes, he got into a brawl in a Milwaukee venue, reportedly over spilled champagne or other trivial matters. It ended with thumb surgery and several missed games. When he returned, the Bucks’ game was already falling apart (that season they ultimately finished with the league’s worst record, 15–67), but glimpses of Larry’s old form were expected. Meanwhile, he played inconsistently, and in one game, he took a powerful elbow to the eye from James Harden, resulting in a fractured orbital bone. Another break. Bad luck? Yes, but at the same time, disturbing signals emerged—that Sanders was not fully committed, that off-court problems were overwhelming him.

In the meantime, he also received a suspension for marijuana (a positive test—5 games out). He finished the season with only 23 appearances and poor stats (7.7 PPG, 7.2 RPG). Well, it happens—as some thought. As long as the 2014–15 season brings a rebirth. No such luck. In the following season, Larry played 27 games at a very average level, and then… suddenly disappeared from the team in January 2015. Literally—he left the team, asked for a break, then announced he no longer felt a passion for the game and had mental health issues. The Bucks were in shock, as were the fans.

On one hand, empathy: Sanders openly spoke about anxiety, depression, and burnout, which was not yet common in the NBA. On the other hand, frustration: the team is paying someone millions, and he prefers to raise fish and make music (as Sanders declared a desire to develop artistic passions). Ultimately, the club and player reached an agreement: the contract was bought out in February 2015. Larry waived part of the money owed, but the Bucks still had to pay him a significant sum spread over several years (for several seasons, his amount was accounted for as dead money on their cap sheet). It was an investment disaster: a player paid as a future defensive star left at age 26, having played barely 50 games after signing the deal. No trace of the promised “big man of the future.”

The story of Larry Sanders is material for a separate book chapter (perhaps even a film). In the context of our list of blunders, it’s a case where the mistake wasn’t obvious at the time it was made—who could have predicted such a sudden career collapse? But from the perspective of the Bucks organization, one could ask: should they not have better investigated the player’s character and surroundings before investing $44m in him? There were signs that Sanders had temper problems (e.g., he often got into verbal altercations with referees: once, while ironically applauding referees’ decisions, he was ejected from a game, and as he left, he blew ironic kisses to the crowd). Perhaps they could have sensed beforehand that he was a ticking bomb?

It’s easy to say in hindsight. In any case, the Bucks were left in the lurch—without their defensive anchor, but with a hole in their budget and ridicule from the media. Sanders tried a brief comeback in subsequent years (five games in Cleveland in 2017) but quickly disappeared again. Today, he is remembered as one of Milwaukee’s biggest “what ifs.” Had he maintained his form and development, he could have been a cornerstone of the team built around young Giannis. Instead, he became a cautionary tale against excessive optimism.

From our ranking’s perspective, this is an unusual mistake, as it resulted from a combination of events and personal problems, not a purely athletic talent evaluation error. Nevertheless, four years of paying someone to sit at home and meditate instead of playing under the basket is a spectacular misstep. Number 13 on the list—because although Sanders once brought us joy with his blocks, the ending of this story was painful and costly for the Bucks.

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Stay tuned over the coming weeks for 13 through number one, as we count down the Bucks’ biggest blunders.

Source: https://www.brewhoop.com/2025/8/4/24479416/15-biggest-mistakes-of-the-milwaukee-bucks-2002-2025

 

[Milwaukee Bucks]

Welcome to the new Brew Hoop: A fresh look, fewer ads and a new feature

Things will look a little different around here today.

A few weeks ago we told you something new was coming to Brew Hoop and today it’s here. Things are cleaner, faster and easier to use. There are the same writers, coverage, comments, and community you’ve come to rely on, now with less clutter and clunkiness.

Let’s dive in. If you scroll down the page on your phone or computer, it’s smoother. You’ll notice that the most talked-about stories have a bigger font displaying the number of comments. You’ll also see a section called Active Conversations to point you to the busiest conversations right now.

But there’s two changes we’re most excited to tell you about:

Fewer ads for logged-in users​

Our loyal readers and commenters are the heartbeat of our communities, and with this new design we’re excited to offer them fewer ads when they’re logged in. Specifically:

• Video players will no longer chase you down the page. Just scroll past one and it will be gone.
• Full page pop-ups that would sometimes interrupt your commenting experience have been disabled.

You can log in or sign up here and check it out.

A new feature by the community, for the community: The Feed​

Today we’re launching a brand new space for you to come together. The Feed is a running stream of posts and updates from you, the community, mixed in with links and updates from the team and our staff. Think of it as our community’s group text where you can easily grab your phone and share a link to a story, post a question or write your own post on the day’s news.

You can find it in two places:

• On the homepage, adjacent to the top stories. Community participation is core to who we are, so we want it right on the front page to share your stuff.
• A devoted homepage for The Feed where you can see the full stream of posts coming in from the community. You might want to bookmark that.

Log in or sign up here and you can start posting on The Feed and seeing fewer ads immediately.

Today’s launch is a big deal for our community, and it’s also a kickoff of broader efforts to build around the community we have here. Soon you’ll get alerts when someone replies to your comment or your post on The Feed, with more to come thereafter. We want to put the community in the driver’s seat, so let us know what you want in the comments below or in The Feed.

If you want to dig into more of this updated experience, head over to this post on sbnation.com from SB Nation’s Head of Product Ed Clinton, where he expands on the changes in our ads and design. Ed will be responding to questions in the comments. If you have any questions about how to log in to our new system, check out this article from last week.

Source: https://www.brewhoop.com/bucks-news...hoop-a-fresh-look-fewer-ads-and-a-new-feature