The Milwaukee Bucks made some bold moves in the offseason to try to compete for a championship. Milwaukee decided to use the waive-and-stretch provision on Damian Lillard, but it will cost them $22.5 million over five years. They used the cap space they freed up to sign Myles Turner.
Turner’s stats are down from last year, and the Bucks will miss the playoffs this season. Because of that, the Bucks have decided to make a massive decision about the future of head coach Doc Rivers. According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, Rivers is out as head coach.
That means that the Bucks will start the offseason by making a hire at head coach after three terrible seasons under Rivers.
The Milwaukee Bucks Part Ways with Doc Rivers
GettyMilwaukee Bucks head coach Doc Rivers reacts during a game. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images)
Rivers was just 97-103 in his three seasons with the Bucks. With him, the team was unsuccessful in the playoffs. They were bounced in the first round of the playoffs in consecutive seasons by the Pacers before missing the postseason this year. Now, Milwaukee will make a change,
Rivers is still owed eight figures next season as the head coach. The amount of money that they are paying for Lillard and Rivers to not be part of the franchise is staggering. Now, there is a looming decision on the future of Giannis Antetokounmpo that needs to be made.
If the Bucks decide to trade Antetokounmpo, they will be fully in a rebuild. Milwaukee will try to get as many assets as possible in any trade for Antetokounmpo, and that will be the start of a rebuild for them. If Antetokounmpo isn’t on the roster next year, Turner will be the best player as of right now.
Milwaukee Was Failed by Doc Rivers
GettyMilwaukee Bucks head coach Doc Rivers yells to his team during a game. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images)
Rivers’ message never seemed to take hold in Milwaukee. Shams Charania had a massive article about the turmoil that the team had gone through this entire season. This was a change that was almost certainly going to happen once the regular season ended.
Rivers failed to develop a second star next to Antetokounmpo who could reliably deliver. He also was never able to get the team to commit to the style of play he wanted them to. This season, the Bucks had the seventh-worst offense in the league. That is the best way the Bucks are able to win games, so taking such a massive step back was unacceptable.
Jon Horst recently signed an extension as the GM of the franchise, so he is likely going to be safe this offseason. The Bucks will turn to him to execute a strong Antetokounmpo trade, even if most of the moves he has made in the last three years have gone extremely poorly.
Rivers will likely retire as a head coach now. It is highly unlikely he is coaching for another team next season.
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