The Milwaukee Bucks' season is over, and that shouldn't come as a surprise. 

Superstar forward Giannis Antetokounmpo suffered five injuries over the course of the season, as the team — which was among the shallowest in the league — never made a serious push for the postseason. 

Head coach Doc Rivers is no longer with the organization, a hiring mistake that should never have taken place to begin with, and now begins the biggest and most important summer in years, as the Bucks navigate the future of Antetokounmpo. 

If he's kept around and signs an extension, it'd have to be due to a sharpened roster around him, which Milwaukee will struggle to put together. 

If he isn't, which as of right now seems like the more realistic option, it's very likely due to the aforementioned roster, which is thin, lacking in quality and just overall ... bad.

 2025-2026 finish 

Record: 32-50, 11th in the Eastern Conference

Highlight of season

Game 82, when the season mercifully ended, and Rivers reportedly exited the team seemingly minutes after the final whistle. Is that too negative? Maybe, but that's the takeaway. These Bucks just didn't have enough juice, weren't healthy enough and looked every bit like a dead pigeon in Central Park that no one wants to touch. 

Players signed for next season 

Giannis Antetokounmpo 

Myles Turner 

Kyle Kuzma 

Bobby Portis 

Ryan Rollins

A.J. Green

Key free agents

Kevin Porter Jr (player option) 

Ousmane Dieng (restricted free agent) 

Projected salary

(Includes only player contracts and not cap holds or roster charges.) 

$119,430,526 (Damian Lillard's dead money not included.) 

Projected draft pick

No. 10

Draft focus: It's very, very simple. The Bucks can't afford to think about positional need or any specific need other than talent. Take the approach of finding the best player available and don’t look back. It does not even matter if the player shares the same position as Antetokounmpo. This organization is in dire need of talent, wherever he plays. 

Roster-building tools

The Bucks should be able to access the non-tax mid-level exception this summer, which should fetch a solid talent. They will have to hope, with every fiber of their being, that they hit the same way Atlanta hit on Nickeil Alexander-Walker. Those are the type of team-friendly deals that will help any organization pressed up against the wall. 

Needs and goals

Everything. There isn't a singular need as much as there is a need for talent and more human beings capable of playing quality basketball. If Antetokounmpo remains, you can however narrow the need to veterans with experience. If he's traded, youth will be of the pathway. But overall, the Bucks can't get picky. They enter this summer as beggars, not choosers.