Everything changed in Milwaukee the moment Jon Horst decided to "stretch and release" Damian Lillard’s massive contract. Seriously. If you’ve been away from the NBA for a few months, looking at the current Milwaukee Bucks roster might actually give you whiplash. The era of the "Big Three" with Dame and Brook Lopez is officially dead, buried under a mountain of dead money and a frantic pivot toward a youth-infused, defensive-minded supporting cast.
It’s January 2026. The Bucks are sitting at 17-24, hovering around 11th in the East. Honestly? It’s been a rough ride.
The Giannis Paradox: MVP Numbers in a Losing System
Giannis Antetokounmpo is still the sun that this entire universe revolves around. He is currently averaging 28.8 points and nearly 10 rebounds a game. That’s absurd. It’s also clearly not enough. Earlier this season, he dropped 37 on the Wizards in the opener, and we all thought, "Okay, maybe this works." But since then, the defensive breakdowns have been constant.
Without Brook Lopez’s drop-coverage brilliance, the paint is way more accessible. The Bucks aren't the fortress they used to be. Giannis is forced to be everywhere at once. He’s the lead fast-break initiator, the primary help defender, and often the only guy who can create a bucket in the half-court when things get stagnant.
The New Faces: Myles Turner and Kyle Kuzma
The biggest shift on the current Milwaukee Bucks roster is the arrival of Myles Turner. Getting Turner for four years at $107 million was a massive gamble. He’s the "Brook Lopez replacement," but he’s a different beast. Turner brings more mobility and is currently one of the few bright spots on defense, but he hasn't quite gelled as the secondary scoring option everyone hoped for.
✨ Don't miss: Why the New Orleans Saints Injured Reserve List is the Only Stat That Matters Right Now
Then you’ve got Kyle Kuzma. Coming over from Washington, he was supposed to bring that "championship DNA" and some much-needed wing scoring. He’s been... fine. 12.6 points per game isn't exactly setting the world on fire, but he’s basically the third or fourth option in a rotation that feels like it's still being built on the fly.
The Rotation at a Glance
If you look at how Doc Rivers is actually playing these guys, the depth chart is a bit of a jigsaw puzzle:
📖 Related: IPL 2025 Most Runs: Why Sai Sudharsan Stunned Everyone
- Point Guard: Ryan Rollins and Kevin Porter Jr. are splitting most of the heavy lifting. Rollins has been a surprise, averaging 16.2 points, but the lack of an elite, veteran floor general is palpable.
- Shooting Guard: A.J. Green has moved into a much larger role. He’s shooting the lights out occasionally (like that 22-point preseason outburst), but he’s being asked to do a lot for a guy who was a specialist just a year ago.
- The Bench: Bobby Portis is still the mayor of Milwaukee. He’s the emotional heartbeat, coming off the bench for 13 points and 6.5 rebounds. Behind him, you’ve got guys like Cole Anthony and Gary Harris trying to stabilize a second unit that often bleeds points.
Why the Ja Morant Rumors Won't Die
You can’t talk about the current Milwaukee Bucks roster without mentioning the trade rumors. With the team underwater in the standings, the whispers about trading for someone like Ja Morant or Zach LaVine are getting loud. Some fans think it's the only way to save the Giannis era. Others? They think it’s a desperate move that will leave the cupboard completely bare.
The reality is that Milwaukee is currently 23rd in offensive rating. They can't score. When Giannis sits, the offense falls off a cliff. Watching them play the Timberwolves recently was a perfect example—as soon as Giannis checked out, a close game turned into a 20-point blowout.
💡 You might also like: The 2006 New England Patriots Roster: Why This Bridge Year Was Actually Brilliant
The Antetokounmpo Family Business
Yes, they are still here. Thanasis is still on the roster, currently the oldest player on the team at 33. Alex Antetokounmpo is on a two-way contract. It’s a unique dynamic that has always been part of the Milwaukee experience, but as the losses pile up, critics are looking at every roster spot through a microscope.
Looking Ahead: Can They Fix This?
The path forward is narrow. Doc Rivers has to figure out a way to get the defense into the top 15 if they want any chance at the play-in. Right now, they’re 20th. That’s just not going to cut it when you’re also 26th in points per game.
What you should do next:
Keep a very close eye on the February trade deadline. The Bucks have exploratory talks happening with Sacramento involving Bobby Portis and potential targets like Malik Monk. If they don't make a move to improve their perimeter creation soon, this season might be the one that finally forces the front office to have a "hard conversation" with Giannis about the long-term future.
Monitor the injury report for Taurean Prince; his neck injury has sidelined a key wing defender they desperately need back by late February. Check the box scores specifically for Kevin Porter Jr.'s assist-to-turnover ratio—if he can't stabilize the point guard position, the Bucks will likely have to overpay for a veteran via the buyout market.