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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

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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