Bucks remain focused on adding to roster, as opposed to fire sale

The Bucks may be struggling, but they are not signaling a teardown.

According to Eric Nehm of The Athletic, Milwaukee has informed other teams that it is looking to add to its roster in an effort to stabilize a season that has gone sideways.

The Bucks entered the week at 11-16, with Giannis Antetokounmpo sidelined by a calf strain. Yet the organization continues to operate with the belief that improvement is still possible.

Speculation around Antetokounmpo’s long-term future has grown amid the team’s uneven play, but Nehm reports the Bucks are considering a significant addition that could reinforce their commitment to competing. Antetokounmpo remains under contract through the 2027-28 season, with a player option in the final year.

Milwaukee was aggressive in the offseason, signing center Myles Turner and stretching and waiving Damian Lillard’s contract over a five-year period. Despite those moves, the roster remains unbalanced, particularly on the wing. Taurean Prince is currently out with a neck injury, and the Bucks are heavy on guards standing six foot five and under.

Financially, Milwaukee has some flexibility. The Bucks sit more than $11.5 million below the luxury tax line, per Spotrac, and roughly $19.5 million below the first tax apron, per ESPN’s Bobby Marks. That room could allow the team to absorb additional salary, likely from a club looking to shed money.

Nehm notes the most realistic path would involve taking on a larger or longer contract. However, Milwaukee’s limited draft capital, with only one future first-round pick available, complicates the picture as the trade deadline approaches.

For now, the Bucks appear intent on adding rather than retreating.