The Milwaukee Bucks enter the 2025-26 NBA season at a firm crossroads. On one hand, they have parted ways with Damian Lillard and made multiple moves to usher the team into a new era, continuing to build around their superstar, Giannis Antetokounmpo.
### New Additions and Roster Moves
The Bucks have most notably added Myles Turner in free agency, alongside newcomers Cole Anthony, Gary Harris, and Thanasis Antetokounmpo. They also re-signed key players including AJ Green, Kevin Porter Jr., Bobby Portis, Taurean Prince, Ryan Rollins, Jericho Sims, and Gary Trent Jr. This revamped roster presents a more balanced and disciplined outlook, filled with shooters surrounding the dominant force that is the Greek Freak.
### Is It Enough to Keep Giannis in Milwaukee?
However, the critical question remains: is this roster construction adequate to keep Giannis in Milwaukee beyond the upcoming season? At 30 years old, Giannis is determined to be on a team capable of contending for championships. Unfortunately, that goal still appears highly unlikely for the 2025-26 campaign.
### Playoff Prospects and Challenges
The Bucks seem poised for another early playoff exit. The prediction is two-fold: not only will the Bucks fail to demonstrate the postseason progress that Giannis expects, but they will also likely lose their biggest star at the end of the season.
Giannis has already indicated he will stay for the entire season, making a mid-season trade improbable. Last season, the Bucks finished with a respectable 48-34 record, good enough for the fifth seed in the Eastern Conference. However, the team’s issues were glaring: inconsistent defense, a half-court offense overly reliant on Giannis powering his way inside, and a roster devoid of another elite playmaker following Damian Lillard’s devastating Achilles injury.
### A “Rebuild on the Fly”
Since then, Milwaukee has pivoted into what many view as a “rebuild on the fly.” The acquisition of Myles Turner provides a noticeable boost. Turner replaces Brook Lopez as a rim protector, averaging 2.0 blocks per game last season, and as a floor spacer, shooting 39.6% from deep, per Basketball Reference. Additionally, Cole Anthony, Gary Harris, and Gary Trent Jr. bring much-needed shooting to the team, while Kyle Kuzma and Bobby Portis serve as frontcourt glue.
Yet, despite Turner’s fit, this remains a collection of decent pieces—not a championship-caliber core.
### Giannis Antetokounmpo Can’t Do It Alone
Giannis continues to perform at an otherworldly level, posting averages of 30.4 points, 11.9 rebounds, 6.5 assists, and leading the league with 243 dunks last season. Under Doc Rivers’ system, the “Point Giannis” role is expected to resurface, with Kevin Porter Jr. and Cole Anthony taking on secondary playmaking duties.
Milwaukee’s best chance may lie in leaning heavily on defense — turning games into slow, physical battles where Turner protects the rim, Portis dominates the glass, and Giannis handles everything else. While this approach might sustain regular-season success, postseason triumphs seem unlikely without enough offensive firepower beyond Giannis to compete against the NBA’s elite teams.
### The Uncertain Future
In hindsight, the decision to waive and stretch Damian Lillard’s contract might be viewed as a desperate move. If Milwaukee exits the playoffs early again, even after another heroic season from Giannis, what motivation will he have to remain?
The championship window Giannis opened has effectively closed. The core that won with him is gone, the front office’s draft cupboard looks empty through 2030, and many teams will be eager to make a run at acquiring Giannis should he become available in a trade.
### Conclusion
Given these realities, another early playoff exit in 2025-26 seems likely, which in turn increases the probability of Giannis leaving Milwaukee. The two-time MVP who delivered the franchise’s first championship in half a century may ultimately decide it’s time to chase another title elsewhere.
https://clutchpoints.com/nba/milwaukee-bucks/most-realistic-bucks-bold-prediction-2025-26