Milwaukee

Bucks

Windhorst said this during an appearance on ESPN’s Get Up, and he also said that trade discussions haven’t happened. Reports from shortly after the Bucks lost to the Pacers in the first round indicated that Giannis would be “open-minded” about playing somewhere other than Milwaukee. That has led to plenty of rumors and mock trades over the past month, but there appears to be a scenario where Giannis remains with the Bucks and runs things back. They don’t have many pieces to build a contender around him, especially after Damian Lillard tore his Achilles during the playoffs. Still, this doesn’t mean there won’t be a trade. The offseason hasn’t even started yet. A lot could change over the next few weeks between the draft and the start of free agency.

No surprises here, as rumors of Antetokounmpo’s future with another team swirled as the season came to a close. Milwaukee finished the regular season 48-34 as the fifth seed in the East, and the Bucks were knocked out of the first round in a gentlemen’s sweep to the rival Pacers. With Damian Lillard out for most if not all of next season, the Bucks may choose to trade Antetokounmpo in the offseason and get a jumpstart on the impending rebuild. Fantasy managers should keep a close eye on an Antetokounmpo trade this offseason, as his future plans will be one of the biggest headlines heading into the 2025-26 season and could drastically shift fantasy values for a few other players.

Lillard suffered a season-ending Achilles tendon tear last Sunday during the Bucks’ season-ending Game 4 loss to the Pacers. The 34-year-old point guard remains without a recovery timeline, but the assumption is that he’ll miss a significant portion of next season. His status impacts Milwaukee’s entire rotation and approach to the offseason as the franchise heads into the summer with limited assets to help strengthen their roster.

Trent Jr. provided the Bucks with another outstanding display of three-point shooting on Tuesday. The veteran guard knocked down at least eight three-pointers and eclipsed 30 points for the second time in the series. His value was shown on the defensive end as well, where he collected five steals. Trent Jr. will be an unrestricted free agent this offseason. His strong postseason may help him earn a nice contract.

Green had another effective night from the three-point line. Green’s contributions from beyond the arc in Game 5 give him 18 three-pointers in the series, which account for all of his made field goals through the five games. The second-year guard out of Northern Iowa led the Bucks in scoring through the first two quarters and ended his sophomore campaign on a high note. He should remain an important piece for Milwaukee going forward but is not a player who has to be targeted in most fantasy drafts.

Antetokounmpo put together a well-rounded performance in the Bucks’ season-ending defeat. The 2021 NBA Finals MVP reached 30 points for the fourth time in the series while impressing as a passer and rebounder en route to securing his only triple-double of the opening round. The Bucks will have another early exit and a long offseason. Still, Antetokounmpo will remain a top option in fantasy leagues next season, especially for managers punting free-throw percentage.

Damian Lillard’s season-ending Achilles tendon tear meant the Bucks would have to make at least one change to their starting lineup. Porter will fill the void left by the perennial All-Star, with Green and Portis also being moved from the bench to the starting five. They replace Kyle Kuzma and Brook Lopez, as Bucks coach Doc Rivers searches for an answer that will keep his team’s season alive.

Initially doubtful for Tuesday, Smith is unavailable for what may be the Bucks’ final game of the season. The rookie would not have been part of the rotation had he been healthy enough to play.

Smith has been sidelined for this entire series, and that isn’t expected to change on Tuesday. However, he wouldn’t have been part of the rotation if he was healthy.

Brutal. Lillard’s 2024-25 season is officially over, and there’s a chance he misses all of next season due to the timing of the injury. His contract runs through the 2025-26 season and includes a player option for 2026-27 for $58 million. It’s unclear what Lillard’s extended absence will mean for fantasy owners in 2025-26, as the Bucks will likely address PG depth in the offseason. Ryan Rollins started 19 games for the Bucks in 2024-25 and would be the in-house option. As a starter, Rollins averaged 10.2 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 2.9 assists per game.