The Milwaukee Bucks made a shocking move during the offseason when they opted to waive and stretch the remaining $103 million left on Damian Lillard’s deal to help them sign Myles Turner.
Damian Lillard tore his left Achilles tendon in Game 4 of the 2025 NBA playoffs against the Indiana Pacers and is set to miss the entire 2025-26 season.
Rather than wait for his return, the Milwaukee Bucks felt it was a better decision to part ways with Lillard and get Giannis Antetokounmpo a new teammate who can help him for this season.
Myles Turner was a key piece in helping the Pacers reach the 2025 NBA Finals as the stretch big projects to be a perfect pairing with Antetokounmpo.
Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty ImagesJeff Teague thinks Giannis Antetokounmpo is going to have ‘a crazy year’
While the Milwaukee Bucks did make some moves this offseason, they still aren’t on many people’s radar when it comes to coming out of the East.
For as good as Antetokounmpo is, there are many questions about his supporting cast.
However, Jeff Teague thinks Antetokounmpo is going to have a big year and called the Bucks ‘an Allen Iverson team,’ where Antetokounmpo will take over and facilitate everything.
“I think Giannis is going to have a crazy year. He’s going to thrive.
“Now that he don’t have to worry about a superstar point guard like Dame. He ‘had to make that work, you’re a bad star if you don’t make this work’.
“It sucks that Dame tore his Achilles but if they didn’t win I think they would have traded Dame anyway, it would have blown up.
“Now you got a chance to do whatever he likes to do. Everything is the dynamic he needs.
“Nobody can stop Giannis. It’s all set up, it’s an Allen Iverson team, everybody else going to play defense, when I pass it to you, be ready to shoot.”
Can the Milwaukee Bucks make some noise in the Eastern Conference?
If Antetokounmpo has an MVP-type season and the Bucks’ role players are able to hit shots then Milwaukee could be a sleeper team.
The Eastern Conference is expected to be wide-open so that gives the Bucks a shot to sneak up on teams.
The success of the Bucks falls solely on Antetokounmpo and his mindset going into the season. If he is locked in and truly has a monster year then the Bucks have a chance.
However, if Antetokounmpo isn’t engaged and is unhappy with the current situation in Milwaukee then it could only be a matter of time until things fall apart and trade rumors start back up again.