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The 2025 offseason for the Milwaukee Bucks has been defined by sharp pivots and high-stakes decisions. This was driven largely by the challenge of navigating Damian Lillard’s substantial contract. With the nine-time All-Star expected to miss the entire 2025-26 season recovering from a torn Achilles tendon, the Bucks were handcuffed by $50-plus million in dead money that threatened to smother an already thin roster.
A Bold Offseason Built on Desperation and Hope
Their audacious decision to waive and stretch Lillard’s remaining two years and $113 million over five seasons broke traditional norms. However, it also spoke to the urgency of the situation. This bold move opened the door to sign Myles Turner, a rim-protecting big man who fits naturally alongside Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Despite the acquisition of Turner and re-signing several role players including Gary Harris, the Bucks' roster remains a work in progress. This raises lingering questions about whether the franchise can reignite its championship core in the short term or if rebuilding is an unavoidable path. The Lillard stretch felt like both a desperate attempt to compete now and a tacit admission of failure. Above all, though, it reflects Milwaukee’s ongoing commitment to holding onto Giannis by any means necessary.
Hardened by Reality, Shaping a New Direction
As the summer progressed, Milwaukee’s moves remained functional rather than transformational. Waiving Lillard wasn’t just a financial string-pull. It cleared critical space to sign Turner to a four-year, $108.9 million deal. They replaced veteran Brook Lopez with a younger big man primed to complement Giannis’ interior dominance.
However, these additions don’t elevate Milwaukee into serious title contention just yet. Their gambit hinges on Giannis staying put and motivated amid reports the superstar considered his options early in the offseason. From a longer-term lens, the continuous sacrifice of draft capital and the messy contract stretches limit Milwaukee’s financial agility and risk stalling an inevitable rebuild. The roster’s thinness past its core pieces amplifies the urgency to explore more substantial roster upgrades as the calendar ticks closer to the 2025-26 campaign.
Here we will look at and discuss the perfect move that the Milwaukee Bucks must still make in the 2025 NBA offseason.
The Bucks’ Perfect Move: Signing Malcolm Brogdon
With Myles Turner now firmly anchoring the frontcourt, Milwaukee’s most pressing need lies in backcourt leadership and stability. That's particularly true at the point guard position. Damian Lillard’s injury and looming absence opened a glaring hole. Enter Malcolm Brogdon, a perfect candidate to fill this void in the 2025 offseason.
Brogdon is a veteran 6'4 combo guard currently a free agent. He is expected to find a new home after parting ways with the Washington Wizards. Although Brogdon struggled with injuries over the past two years, appearing in only 61 total games, his consistent production and professionalism remain highly valued. Over 24 games with Washington last season, he averaged a well-rounded 12.7 points, 4.1 assists, and 3.7 rebounds per game. That showcases his efficiency with shooting splits of 43.3 percent from the field, 28.6 percent from three, and 88 percent from the free-throw line.
More than just scoring, Brogdon excels as a solid floor general. His career assist-to-turnover ratio of 2.7 ranks among the best for guards. Brogdon demonstrates smart decision-making and ball security. Defensively, he is adept on the perimeter, capable of guarding multiple positions. That's a key asset for a Bucks team relying heavily on versatile switchability. Brogdon’s ability to orchestrate offense, score at three levels, and maintain defensive discipline makes him a natural fit to run the Milwaukee offense alongside Giannis.
Why Brogdon Makes Sense for Milwaukee’s Contender Window
Milwaukee currently has roughly $20 million in cap space under the luxury tax threshold. They could deploy much of their mid-level exception toward signing Brogdon. His contract demands are expected to be more modest than the $22.5 million he earned last year. That could fit neatly into the Bucks’ financial strategy post-Lillard stretch.
The Bucks’ roster transition underscores the need for a reliable lead guard who can create shots without depending heavily on volume scoring. Brogdon offers that balance, being at his best when attacking defenses directly and facilitating ball movement without forcing the issue. Bringing him back to Milwaukee would shore up the backcourt depth behind Kevin Porter Jr and Andre Jackson Jr. Both lack the same playmaking pedigree.
Perhaps most importantly, Brogdon’s professionalism and veteran leadership align well with Milwaukee’s culture. He has been a respected locker room presence on previous teams and the kind of steady influence that helps keep a contender focused during a long grind.
Impact on Milwaukee’s Offseason Puzzle
Adding Brogdon creates a far more balanced Bucks roster equipped to support Giannis with competent shot creation and perimeter defense. His presence maximizes the value of other role players around perimeter shooting and complements Myles Turner’s interior defense perfectly.
Furthermore, securing Brogdon sends a clear signal to Giannis that Milwaukee is committed to winning now. He could bridge the gap between their depleted backcourt situation and championship aspirations. It reduces pressure on Porter Jr and others to develop into primary creators too quickly. He would allow the team to stay competitive while maintaining some roster flexibility.
A Calculated Masterstroke
The Milwaukee Bucks’ 2025 offseason has been littered with tough decisions and bold financial maneuvers, but the perfect move is signing Malcolm Brogdon. He is the ideal backcourt answer to offset Lillard’s absence, bring veteran savvy, and improve Milwaukee’s offensive and defensive balance.
This signing could stabilize the Bucks at a critical position, reinforce their contender status, and keep Giannis Antetokounmpo grounded in Milwaukee with a competitive roster around him. In a season where every move counts, Brogdon’s arrival might just be the key to unlocking a Bucks team still hungry for an NBA championship run.
