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Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks had the best record in the NBA before the 2019-20 season was suspended due to COVID-19. Not only were the Bucks on their way to clinching the No. 1 seed in the entire playoffs again, but Giannis was the front runner to repeat as league MVP.
Bucks fans are praying the season resumes in the summer because their team had an amazing opportunity to redeem themselves from the 2019 playoffs and win the championship. To recall, Milwaukee had a 2-0 series lead on the Toronto Raptors in the 2019 Eastern Conference Finals, but Kawhi Leonard and the Raptors won four games in a row to upset Antetokounmpo and the Bucks.
If the 2019-20 season is forced to be canceled altogether, it would definitely be a buzzkill in Milwaukee. However, it would provide general manager Jon Horst an opportunity to improve his roster since no team is perfect.
There are a plethora of things Horst has to focus on but there are three main objectives he should accomplish first.
3. Trade Eric Bledsoe
Horst made the big gamble in 2017 by acquiring Bledsoe from the Phoenix Suns. The explosive guard has averaged 16.4 points and 5.3 assists since coming over to Milwaukee.
While those are good numbers for any starting point guard in the NBA, it's production that quite doesn't live up to the contract that Bledsoe signed with the Bucks last season. The former Sun was making $15,625,000 this season and is scheduled to make $16,875,000 next season.
Bledsoe has also struggled for the Bucks in the postseason. He's shooting just 42.0 percent from the field and 25.5 percent from 3 in 22 postseason games with Milwaukee. The Bucks are better off trading Bledsoe for more shooters to surround Giannis and Khris Middleton with since George Hill is the better player anyway and under a team-friendly deal.
2. Sign Giannis Antetokounmpo to supermax extension
The Bucks can offer and sign Giannis to the supermax extension this summer, although the amount of money they can give the Greek Freak has decreased due to COVID-19's effect on the overall economy.
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If Giannis doesn't sign the extension, he can become an unrestricted free agent in the offseason of 2021. Rumors about him leaving for Miami or Los Angeles will only heat up if Antetokounmpo declines the supermax offer from the Bucks.
Antetokounmpo was averaging 29.6 points, 13.7 rebounds, and 5.8 assists for the Bucks prior to the season getting suspended. He was shooting 54.7 percent from the field, 30.6 percent from beyond the arc and 63.3 percent from the free-throw line.
Giannis loves living in Milwaukee and playing for the Bucks, but the guy wants to win multiple championships at the end of the day. Horst will have to sell him on a vision that will end with a title.
1. Re-sign Kyle Korver and get more shooters
Korver signed a one-year deal with the Bucks last summer in free agency. He shot 41.5 percent from beyond the arc in the 50 games he played this season.
Giannis commands double and triple teams when he puts his head down and drives to the basket. The more shooters the Bucks can surround Antetokounmpo with, the better. Teams can't leave Korver open from 3, so Giannis tends to drive to the hole on his side of the floor since he'll have an easier path getting to the basket.
Guards are going to be draped all over Korver, giving Giannis more room to get to the lane.
