The Big Question: Can Milwaukee Make the Playoffs Without…

By the Bucks Nightly Desk · Wednesday, October 7

Milwaukee is 0-0 and in Oklahoma City for its second preseason game, fielding a roster built almost entirely after last season ended in a 32-50 finish and a missed playoff berth. The trade that remade the roster and the coaching change that preceded it are now the whole season's argument.

Bucks Nightly artwork — Illustration by Hoops Nightly.

Last season

Milwaukee finished 32-50, missing the playoffs for the first time since 2016-17. The offense ranked 24th in the league, the defense 26th, and Milwaukee's rating sat 25th of 30 at minus-6.1. Antetokounmpo played only 36 games before Doc Rivers resigned. Rollins averaged 17.3 points and 5.6 assists; Turner scored 11.9 a game.

April 30

Taylor Jenkins became head coach that day, hired away from the Memphis Grizzlies to replace Doc Rivers, who had resigned mid-season. He inherited a roster still built around Antetokounmpo, Turner, Rollins and Kuzma — a roster that would not survive the summer intact.

June 23

Milwaukee sent Antetokounmpo and Bobby Portis to Miami. Back came Kasparas Jakucionis, Kel'el Ware, Jaime Jaquez and the guard who now runs Milwaukee's offense, Tyler Herro. The draft that followed added Brayden Burries at No. 10 and Nate Ament at No. 13. Of the regulars from a year ago, only Turner, Kuzma, Rollins and Gary Trent Jr. remain.

This week

Milwaukee lost its first exhibition 97-116 at home to Minnesota on October 5, with Rollins scoring 15 and Ware adding 14 points and 12 rebounds. Jenkins said afterward he was not satisfied with the defensive effort, exhibition or not, and ran a hard practice the next day. Tonight brings Oklahoma City, which went 64-18 last season and is already on the second night of a back-to-back.

Right now

Milwaukee carries $193.8 million in salary, over the $165.0 million cap but under the $200.4 million tax line; Herro's $33.0 million and Turner's $26.6 million lead the books. Most picks through 2030 are swap rights, and the 2030 second is owed to Orlando. Last year's 32-50 team was bottom-ten on both ends, and only Turner, Kuzma, Rollins and Trent Jr. remain from it. The honest read: not a playoff team yet, not until Herro and the new arrivals settle in.

Next Milwaukee's next test is October 11 at Charlotte, then the games that count begin October 21 at Washington.

What did the Bucks get in the Giannis Antetokounmpo trade?

Milwaukee received Tyler Herro, Jaime Jaquez, Kel'el Ware and Kasparas Jakucionis from Miami in exchange for Antetokounmpo and Bobby Portis on June 23, 2026.

Are the Bucks a playoff team this season?

Not based on last season's underlying numbers, which ranked 25th in the league; this year's answer depends on how fast Herro and the new arrivals mesh with Turner, Kuzma and Rollins.