MILWAUKEE BUCKS

The Bucks stumbled through two consecutive first-round exits to Indiana in 2023-24 (49-33) and 2024-25 (48-34), with the Damian Lillard experiment never clicking alongside Giannis Antetokounmpo. Lillard suffered a torn Achilles in the 2025 playoffs and was waived in July 2025, while Khris Middleton was dealt to Washington mid-season for Kyle Kuzma. The disappointing 2025-26 campaign (32-50, missed playoffs) prompted a full teardown: Milwaukee traded Giannis and Bobby Portis to Miami in July 2026 for Tyler Herro, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Kel'el Ware, Kasparas Jakucionis, and a haul of draft picks, ending the two-time MVP's 12-year Bucks tenure and shifting card focus from established stars to young prospects like Herro and the team's rebuilding pieces.

Where they stand: The 2025-26 season ended with a franchise-altering reset after Milwaukee finished 32-50 and missed the playoffs for the first time in years. The Bucks traded Giannis Antetokounmpo to Miami on July 6, acquired Tyler Herro, multiple young players, and draft capital, then drafted Brayden Burries, signed second-rounder Bogoljub Markovic to a four-year deal, and brought back Gary Trent Jr. on a four-year, $64 million contract. With training camp two months away and new head coach Taylor Jenkins installed, Milwaukee enters the 2026-27 season in full rebuild mode around a younger core.