Brad Stevens / Head Coach / 59 / 0-0 record with the team
After four years in Chicago, leading the Bulls to three consecutive playoffs appearances, Stevens takes the reigns of the Bucks to bring the team back to the postseason. Holding a 167-139 record during his four-year tenure as head coach in the CSL, Stevens needs to transform the Bucks offensive game while keeping the elite defense.
Jacque Vaughn / First Assistant / 61
Vaughn's role will be working with the guards of the team and making them versatile two-way players. Ball handling and game vision combined with good timing to take the good shot is what Vaughn will try to improve on the backcourt players.
Joakim Noah / Second Assistant / 50
Noah was a good defensive big man for many years, and that is precisely what the Front Office expects from him: to teach the young bigs on the roster how to be paint defenders and keep the opponents outside the protected area. While the veteran bigs fill that role, it is time for Noah to transfer those values to the up-and-coming young players.
David Davis / Third Assistant / 46
Davis is the third assistant coach this season. At 46, he lacks previous coaching experience and will be working mainly with wing players trying to add some versatility to their games.
#2 Miles McBride / PG / 24 / 6'2" / 196 lbs
McBride took the qualifying offer to play on more season with the Bucks. He finished his four-year rookie contract leaving a good overall impression on the Front Office as a reliable backup to Troy Brown. Not a scoring guard as Brown, McBride is a more traditional pass-first point guard with very good defense and solid outside shooting. He has a strong frame which allows him to absorb contact and reads the game very well. His 58 % on true shooting hints at a potential very productive offense if he took more shots. However, given the team's construction, that may not be happening any time soon.
#3 DaQuan Jeffries / SF / 25 / 6'5" / 212 lbs
After his thre-year rookie deal as a second round selection, Jeffries signed a three-year contract worth $6M, with a team option in the final year, to return to Milwaukee. A very solid defensive perimeter player, Jeffries has added a very interesting three-point shot which is improving over time (34.2 % last season). His defense will continue to be his selling card, but minutes in the perimeter are still going to be difficult to find for the young player.
#5 Anthony Edwards / SG / 26 / 6'4" / 205 lbs
The offseason biggest acquisition for the Bucks, Edwards is about to enter his prime as a basketball player. For many his CSL career so far has been disappointing considering he is a former draft first overall selection. After seven seasons as a pro, Edwards has yet to make his playoffs debut. However, the Front Office saw him as the player to build the team around in the next iteration. The Bucks already tried to acquire him before the trade deadline during the last regular season but they couldn't. Now, they were able to pull a trade off before the draft. His excellent ball handling, great perimeter defense, ability to score and an evolving three-point shot make the Front Office think he may be the right building block.
#6 Troy Brown / SG / 31 / 6'7" / 196 lbs
Brown will enter his 13th season in the CSL, always with the Bucks, at age 31 and coming from his heavier minute season as he averaged 34.5 minutes per game missing only four contests. The veteran guard is one of the elite two-way players in the league, and the only thing preventing him from being one of the greatest players ever is his inconsistent shot. Still his production last season was elite: 21.3 points, 6.2 assists, 4. 5 rebounds, 2.0 steals, 0.5 blocks, 2.9 turnovers forced, 96.1 % of drives stopped and 0.90 points allowed per shot faced. Age may start to take its toll and his minutes will need to be monitored, but as Brandon Ingram did with him back in the day, Brown will now start sharing the spotlight with Edwards and passing the torch to his heir.
#10 Daniel Gafford / PF / 31 / 6'11" / 229 lbs
Another 31-year-old veteran who has spent his whole pro career in Milwaukee, Gafford is the elite rim protector for the Bucks. Coming off a solid season where he averaged 12.4 points, 8.8 rebounds and 2.7 blocks in 32.9 minutes per game, while allowing only 0.87 points per shot faced, Gafford is still one of the best interior defenders in the league. As with Brown, his age will mean monitoring playing time will happen, but do not expect coach Stevens to reduce drastically his presence on the court. Having fresh legs for the postseason should be the priority.
#12 Marques Bolden / C / 31 / 6'10" / 239 lbs
The third 31-year-older in a row, Bolden was the surprising factor next season. He came from Portland as a secondary piece in the Grant Williams for Markelle Fultz swap, with Lonnie Walker also involved in the deal, and while Fultz never adapted to the Bucks system Bolden had a great 46-game run with the Bucks: 19.7 points, 9.0 rebounds and 1.5 blocks in 30.1 minutes per game coming off the bench, converting 50.6 % of his field goal attempts. He signed a one-year deal worth $7M to play this season in Milwaukee. While he will likely come off the bench again, he will have his minutes guaranteed as long as he keeps producing at that level.
#17 Tre Mann / PG / 24 / 6'3" / 173 lbs
Two more years, that is the contract that Mann signed this summer to stay with the Bucks. While he barely saw the court during his first season in Milwaukee, last year his playing time increased to 17.2 minutes per game, appearing in 32 games. He mostly played during the last stretch of the season, where he showed glimpses of the player he can become: great handles, very solid defense and accurate outside shooting. At age 24 he still has room to grow, and coach Stevens may need to figure out how to use him best on the floor.
#23 Mitchell Robinson / C / 31 / 7'0" / 232 lbs
Robinson signed a one-year minimum deal to play his 11th straight season with the Bucks. A defensive specialist, Robinson is the shot-blocker with size who intimidate opponents and is efficient scoring near the rim. His lack of rebounding for his size (3.3 rebounds in 13.7 minutes per game last season would translate to 8.7 rebounds per 36 minutes) is what has historically prevent him from being a full time starter in the CSL. Still, Robinson will have his minutes when the situation calls for his skills.
#25 Nassir Little / SG / 29 / 6'6" / 205 lbs
Little will start his third season in Milwaukee established as one of the cornerstones of the franchise. A bit younger than the core but older than the up-and-coming young players, he is the bridge between the two groups in the locker room. A lockdown defender who is efficient on offense (55 % true shooting) but who struggles creating his own shot. With a crowded backcourt Little may spend more time at small forward, as he already did last season, and take care of the opponent best player.
#34 Kaleb Wesson / PF / 22 / 6'10" / 247 lbs
Wesson is one of those late second round findings the Bucks have specialized on over the years. The 53rd selection of the 2034 draft, Wesson spent his rookie season with the Wisconsin Elk. In 53 games, he averaged 16.1 points, 8.3 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1.2 blocks in 31.2 minutes per game. He was very raw one year ago, but a very good first training camp and one season with the Elk have made him improve his game. He may be ready after this year's training camp to actually play in the CSL, but coach Stevens wants to be patient with him as his potential as a scoring big man with outstanding court vision requires making sure he takes each step of the road as needed.
#35 Malik Fitts / SF / 27 / 6'8" / 232 lbs
The Bucks were surprised Fitts didn't draw more attention from teams during the summer and opted to sign a two-year deal with Milwaukee. His performance during the last two season has been excellent. Coming off the bench, Fitts has been a scoring spark with the ability to defend. Last year he averaged 11.6 points, 3.1 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.3 blocks in 23.1 minutes per game, shooting 42.2 % from beyond the arc and recording a PER of 17.9 and a TS % of 58.4.
#43 Enzo Shahrvin / PF / 24 / 6'7" / 212 lbs
Talking about second round findings, Shahrvin was the so called "Mr. Irrelevant" of the 2031 draft. Four years later he is one of the elite defenders in the CSL. His 0.86 points allowed per shot faced was the best among a brilliant defensive group of players in Milwaukee. He can block shots, generate turnovers and create second chances by crashing hard the offensive boards. If he had a better offensive game he would be an All-Star, but he does not have that scoring instinct or shooting ability. Still, Shahrvin is the kind of player that most coaches want to have on their teams.
#44 Jalen Lewis / C / 19 / 6'10" / 223 lbs
Lewis is the only rookie on the roster and another late second round selection: the 50th pick in this year's draft. The scouting department was convinced he was the player to choose due to his potential as a defensive rebounder who doesn't make many mistakes, even at a such young age. Only time will tell whether he fulfill that potential or not, but for now, he may spend his first season with the Wisconsin Elk.
#51 Jericho Sims / PF / 29 / 6'9" / 253 lbs
One of the four new faces on this season's roster, Sims joins the Bucks as a rebounding specialist. While his CSL career has not been that long, spending three years out of the league after completing his rookie contract with the Trailblazers, his traditional big man frame and skills have made the Bucks take a chance on him. Rebounding was the second major weakness of the Bucks after the Williams trade only behind offensive efficiency. Sims should help in solving that problem.
#54 Stone Gettings / PF / 29 / 6'9" / 225 lbs
Gettings rounds out this year's roster, joining the team on a one-year minimum deal. While listed as a power forward, he will more likely play at small forward given his solid handles, good defensive rebounding and outside shoot. He should help the offensive game of the team and, while not as good as a defender as most of his teammates, Stevens hopes he can at least not be a hole on defense.
These are the 2035/36 Milwaukee Bucks, starting a transition while still hoping to compete for the championship.
2020, 2023, 2027, 2035