3 Big Questions For Milwaukee Bucks’ Training Camp

The NBA season is nearly upon us with the Milwaukee Bucks tipping off their preseason schedule this Saturday, October 1st against the Memphis Grizzlies. They’ve already been engaging in training camp for several days and are quickly ramping up for the 2022-23 NBA season that lies ahead.

The Bucks fell short of their ultimate goal last season and bowed out to the Boston Celtics in seven games in the second-round of the playoffs. However, Bucks’ fans want you to know there is an asterisk next to the L, considering Khris Middleton didn’t play a single minute in the entire series.

Milwaukee is only focused on what they can control and what lies ahead. With training camp in full force, three big questions are staring the Bucks right in the face.

Are they done tinkering with their roster?

Milwaukee has been linked to some of the significant trade candidates in recent months. These rumors suggest they are/were poking around players such as Kevin Durant, Jordan Clarkson, Jerami Grant and now, Jae Crowder. It’s clear they are still looking for ways to upgrade their roster.

The Bucks brought back most of their team from last season with two exceptions: The drafting of MarJon Beauchamp in the first-round and free agent signing of Joel Ingles. Otherwise, they have their entire core returning and are hopeful they can get the job done this postseason.

It will be interesting to see if general manager Jon Horst can improve his team via trade (their only realistic path toward adding an impactful player). The Bucks have very limited trade assets that either make financial sense or are attractive to other teams. Grayson Allen and his $8.5 million salary might be their best current asset from a salary standpoint. They also lack a first-round pick to attach to any deal and would have to rely upon the plethora of second-rounders they’ve accumulated. It’s safe to say any trade would be difficult to pull off with their bare cupboard of assets.

Who will take a step forward this season?

Bobby Portis spoke assertively on Media Day about his work in the gym this offseason to improve his game. He talked about his struggles against the Celtics in the playoffs and how it was eye-opening for him and vowed to come back a much better player this season.

That would be wonderful for Milwaukee who needs some of their young(ish) guys to step up and carry their weight in the postseason. We’ve seen their offense get bogged down in the playoffs due to an overreliance on Giannis Antetokounmpo, Khris Middleton and Jrue Holiday on the offensive end of the court. Adding another offensive playmaker would vastly improve their offense.

Pat Connaughton is another player to keep your eye on. He had an entire offseason to cook in the lab and has improved his game every season since coming to Milwaukee. The next step in his development is to add some shot-creation of his own to his game.

How can they keep everyone fresh and healthy?

Injuries derailed the Bucks in both the regular season and playoffs last year. Brook Lopez went down with a back injury after the first game and only played in 13 regular season games. Middleton then went down in the first-round of the playoffs and missed the entire seven-game series against the Celtics.

Budenholzer always has this on his mind and will prioritize the health of his players once again. Don’t be surprised to see even lighter loads for his core, considering the ages of guys like Middleton (31), Holiday (32), Serge Ibaka (33), Lopez (34), Ingles (34), Wesley Matthews (35), and George Hill (36).

Experience is definitely a strength of this team, but with that experience and old age comes an increased risk for injury. Budenholzer and his staff will have to be more mindful as ever about the workload and health of his team. That could be the single-biggest factor that determines how far the Bucks can go in the playoffs.