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How the Milwaukee Bucks should fill their open roster spots this off-season

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How the Milwaukee Bucks should fill their open roster spots this off-season


The Milwaukee Bucks have five open roster spots with 10 guaranteed contracts heading into the 2024 NBA off-season. Let’s look closer at these spots and what the team could do with them.

Which players fit the five open roster spots?

Currently, the Milwaukee Bucks have two draft picks in the upcoming 2024 draft – 23rd and the 33rd overall. There are also five unrestricted free agents – Malik Beasley, Patrick Beverley, Jae Crowder, Danilo Gallinari and Thanasis Antetokounmpo. The Bucks also have three two-way roster spots available that were filled last season by TyTy Washington, Ryan Rollins and Jaylin Galloway.

Who stays? Who walks? Will there be trades?

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The Bucks currently have only four young players on their roster. Since head coach Doc Rivers and general manager Jon Horst prefer to have a roster with veterans who mainly play, it is fair to say that either Chris Livingston or MarJon Beauchamp could very well be traded, along with one of their draft picks, for a proven and much-needed defensive wing player to play at the two spot or perhaps a young, athletic center.

Out of all the Bucks’ unrestricted free agents, the only one they should consider re-signing is Patrick Beverley. He has a connection to Doc Rivers, having played for him in the past. There’s no need to re-sign Gallinari, as he’s as good as gone. The same goes for Crowder. His departure will hopefully be mutual.

Both Crowder and Gallinari’s age, lack of speed and lateral movement is glaring. Beasley is most likely gone as well, as another team will overpay him more than the minimum, which the Bucks cannot afford. A.J. Green will most likely slide into the starting two guard spot with Beasley’s departure.

What happens with Andre Jackson Jr. and MarJon Beauchamp?

Andre Jackson Jr. should have a much bigger role next season and hopefully will be a regular in the rotation. His energy, spark and defensive prowess is evident from the moment he steps on the court. He has more than proved his worth as a rookie and should have a much bigger role in his second season.

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As for Beauchamp, he is the major wild card on next season’s roster. Doc Rivers alluded to the fact that he really didn’t get a good look at him since he became the head coach as he was injured during their limited practice sessions, although he might have the most potential of all the younger players. His trade value isn’t exactly ascending right now, so unless he’s packaged in a trade with a draft pick and they get an automatic rotational player in return, the Bucks might not receive much for him.

Draft picks dilemma

As mentioned above, the Milwaukee Bucks have two draft picks in the upcoming 2024 draft. It is highly unlikely that the Bucks will use both picks to draft two different players. By trading the 33rd overall pick for two future second round picks, this would help the Bucks try and recoup the five second round draft picks from the disastrous Jae Crowder trade in February of 2023.

Should the Bucks decide to keep one or both draft picks, two potential targets should be Dayton forward DaRon Holmes II and Indiana center Kel’el Ware. The Bucks are in dire need of youth and athleticism up and down the roster, and a backup center such as Ware and/or power forward such as Holmes would most definitely fill the need for a young big man.

Drafting either one of these guys would be a score, although knowing Jon Horst, he doesn’t appear as though he would want to go into a new season with a reserve rotation mostly consisting of young players, as we know how much he values established veterans, especially aged 35 and up.

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Draft picks and realistic free agent signings

If the Bucks keep both draft picks and draft two athletic bigs, they then need to focus on the free agent market. Kevin Porter Jr. would be an excellet addition to the roster in terms of his youth and athleticism. If the Bucks can sign him for the minimum, they must explore this option.

If Malik Beasley signs elsewhere, which appears likely, there other free agent options the Bucks should explore signing, specifically ball handling point guards. Players that stand out who are also solid defensively are Lonnie Walker IV, Dennis Smith Jr., Kris Dunn and perhaps Kendrick Nunn. Any of these guys would be a huge improvement as backup point guard.

Shooting guard Kelly Oubre Jr. would be a dream scenario signing, but he will command big money, which Bucks might not be able to afford. Draft night is just around the corner, and it will be interesting to see what unfolds for the Milwaukee Bucks, in terms of filling out and completing the remaining roster spots for next season.



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Milwaukee, WI

Milwaukee Bucks injury report: Is Giannis playing tonight vs. the Jazz?

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Milwaukee Bucks injury report: Is Giannis playing tonight vs. the Jazz?


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The Milwaukee Bucks host the tanking Utah Jazz tonight, March 7, at Fiserv Forum in a must-win game that also sees the Bucks on a four-game losing streak. They have also lost five of their last seven games to fall further out of the postseason picture in the Eastern Conference.

“‘Cause this league, anything can happen,” Bucks guard AJ Green said after the team shot around Saturday morning. “We’ve lost four in a row. Somebody else can lose four in a row, we win four in a row and we’re right back there. So just control the controllables, focus on us.”

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The Bucks are 26-35 overall and even with Giannis Antetokounmpo returning to action this week, the offense has continued to struggle. The team has scored fewer than 100 points in four of those five losses. Milwaukee’s defense, one of the poorest in the league all season, has remained sievelike as well, allowing 120.1 points per game in over the last seven.

Utah would appear to be a good team to break a losing streak against, as the Jazz are efforting to finish with one of the league’s worst records. At 19-44, they have the fifth-worst mark in the league. If their pick falls out of the top eight in May’s NBA draft lottery, it will go to Oklahoma City as part of a 2021 trade.

That said, the Jazz have the seventh-best scoring offense in the league and young guards in Keyonte George (24 points per game) and Ace Bailey (12.4) that could give the Bucks trouble. Utah does own the league’s worst scoring defense, however.

Is Giannis playing?

Yes.

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The Bucks superstar is no longer on the injury report after returning from a nearly six-week absence due to a right calf strain. Antetokounmpo is playing under a minutes restriction, however, and logged just under 26 minutes in his first two games on March 2 and March 4.

Is Doc Rivers retiring?

On March 5, Rivers’ former ESPN colleague Stephen A. Smith said on a SiriusXM radio that the Bucks’ head coach was going to hang it up after the season.

Following his team’s practice on March 6, Rivers issued somewhat of a denial.

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“No, I’m not getting into that,” Rivers said. “That’s something that’s; I think he feels that way, but not from me.”

Smith offered his take on Rivers’ future when he was asked if Ja Morant would be helped by being coached by the Hall of Fame finalist if he were to be acquired by the Bucks in the offseason.

“It’s not gonna be Doc Rivers because Doc Rivers is gonna retire at the end of this season,” Smith said. “Doc Rivers has been coaching for close to 25 years, this is it for him. He’s gonna step away.”

NBA playoff standings

The Bucks are out of the postseason picture entirely. Here are the play-in standings in the Eastern Conference heading into game play on March 7:

No. 7: Miami (35-29): The Bucks and Magic have split the season series 1-1. Milwaukee travels to Miami on March 12.

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No. 8: Orlando (33-28): The Bucks and Magic have split the season series 1-1. The Bucks host the Magic on March 8.

No. 9: Atlanta (32-31): The Bucks and Hawks have split the season series 1-1. Milwaukee travels to Atlanta on March 14.

No. 10: Charlotte (32-32): The Bucks own the tiebreaker over the Hornets having won the season series 3-1.

No. 11: Milwaukee (26-35): The Bucks have had better luck against the play-in teams to date, as they are just 5-14 against the top six seeds in the conference.

“I think you can look at (the standings) and just see what it is but you gotta then come back to the now,” Green said. “We have a game today. How can we get better today? What do we need to work on. We gotta win today. Just keep controlling what we can and worry about ourselves.”

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  • Taurean Prince, out (neck surgery)
  • Kevin Porter Jr., out (right knee swelling)

Bucks probable starting lineup

  • Guards: AJ Green, Ryan Rollins
  • Forwards: Ousmane Dieng, Giannis Antetokounmpo
  • Center: Myles Turner

What time is the Bucks game?

The game is set to tip off at 7 p.m. CT.

What channel is the Bucks game on?

The game will be simulcast locally on FanDuel Sports Network Wisconsin and WMLW The M with Lisa Byington, Wesley Matthews and Melanie Ricks on the call.

Bucks vs. Jazz odds

Milwaukee is a 9.5-point favorite over Utah with the over/under set at 231.5 points, per BetMGM.



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I am disappointed that Dan O’Donnell is still on the air | Letter

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I am disappointed that Dan O’Donnell is still on the air | Letter



WISN radio host Dan O’Donnell casually jokes about harming an elected official. This is hypocrisy and moral bankruptcy. Language like this does not belong in any civil society.

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I am appalled by WISN-AM host Dan O’Donnell’s recent social media posts, in which he suggested “taking out the Supreme Leader of Minnesota” and shared a mocking image of Gov. Tim Walz (“Milwaukee radio host says to ‘take out’ Gov. Tim Walz,” March 4).

This is not political commentary — it is dangerous, irresponsible, and disgusting.

Even more outrageous, O’Donnell has publicly defended pardons for convicted or alleged fraudsters, including high-profile cases from the Trump administration, yet he casually jokes about harming an elected official. This is hypocrisy and moral bankruptcy. Language like this does not belong in any civil society.

Our community deserves media voices that uphold decency, honesty and public safety, not ones that normalize threats and spread fear. I demand that leaders and media outlets reject this kind of rhetoric and make it clear that it will not be tolerated.

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Laura J. Nigh, Wauwatosa

I am disappointed Dan O’Donnell is still on air at WISN

I am disappointed that Dan O’Donnell is still on the air. I further ask the Milwaukee County District Attorney to charge him for calling for violence against a public official. His apology is not enough.

David Schmitz, Baileys Harbor

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Here are some tips to get your views shared with your friends, family, neighbors and across our state:

  • Please include your name, street address and daytime phone.
  • Generally, we limit letters to 200 words. 
  • Cite sources of where you found information or the article that prompted your letter.
  • Be civil and constructive, especially when criticizing. 
  • Avoid ad hominem attacks, take issue with a position, not a person.
  • We cannot acknowledge receipt of submissions.
  • We don’t publish poetry, anonymous or open letters.
  • Each writer is limited to one published letter every two months.
  • All letters are subject to editing.

Write: Letters to the editor, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 330 E. Kilbourn Avenue, Suite 500, Milwaukee, WI, 53202. Fax: (414)-223-5444. E-mail: jsedit@jrn.com or submit using the form that can be found on the on the bottom of this page.



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Arizona Diamondbacks 0/2, Chicago White Sox/Milwaukee Brewers 6/6

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Arizona Diamondbacks 0/2, Chicago White Sox/Milwaukee Brewers 6/6


Record 7-7. Change on 2025: +0.5. 5-inning record: 4-9-1.

The D-backs found themselves swept on both sides of today’s split squad double-bill, with fairly weak line-ups in both games. Starting off at Salt River Fields, a pair of three-run homers did all the damage as the White Sox blanked the D-backs 6-0. They were allowed by Landon Sims and Joe Ross; the latter came in to relieve Daniel Eagan with two outs and two on in the second, and didn’t. The best of the relievers for Arizona was likely Andrew Hoffman who struck out three batters in a scoreless seventh. The Diamondbacks were held to four hits and two walks: Angel Ortiz had the only extra-base hit, a double, as the team went 0-for-5 with runners in scoring position.

Over in Maryvale, the team did at least pick up a five-inning win, leading 2-1 at that point. But the Brewers scored five unanswered runs to beat the D-backs 6-2. Mitch Bratt started, and walked four over 2.2 innings, but gave up just one run on one hit, with two strikeouts. Bryce Jarvis tossed two scoreless, but Juan Burgos, John Curtiss and Taylor Rashi allowed five runs on six hits and two walks, over their three frames. Gavin Conticello and Demetrio Crisantes each went 2-for-3, while DH Manuel Pena had a homer and drew a walk. LuJames Groover drove in Arizona’s other run with a groundout.

Tomorrow, it’s back to one game: that comes at Salt River Fields against the Giants, with a 1:10 pm first pitch, and Kohl Drake starting for the Diamondbacks.

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