Bucks could move Doc Rivers to consulting role after season

There may be changes coming with the Bucks.

According to Marc Stein of The Stein Line, there is a growing belief around the league that Doc Rivers may not return to Milwaukee’s bench next season.

Instead, Rivers could remain with the organization in a different capacity.

“The rising expectation in league coaching circles that Doc Rivers will not be back on the Bucks bench next season,” Stein reported, via All City, noting that the team could shift him into a consultant-type role.

Rivers has one year remaining on his contract, but there are ways to navigate that if both sides are open to a transition.

Nothing is finalized. But the chatter is picking up.

Milwaukee enters the regular-season finale at 32-49 and will miss the playoffs, a disappointing outcome for a team that entered the year with higher expectations. 

To be clear, the situation isn’t viewed as entirely his fault.

The Bucks have dealt with ongoing uncertainty surrounding Giannis Antetokounmpo, with trade speculation and internal questions lingering throughout the season. That noise isn’t expected to go away anytime soon.

Rivers, meanwhile, remains a respected figure across the league, with a long track record that includes stops in Boston, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Orlando and now Milwaukee.

He is also said to have a strong relationship with Bucks part-owner Jimmy Haslam. So even if he’s not on the sideline next season, he may not be going far.

Either way, it feels like something is coming.