The Milwaukee Bucks are coming into this season following an active offseason and many new faces on the roster. The Bucks traded former Finals MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo to the Miami Heat, and from there have committed to their rebuilding phase. 

Milwaukee also added Tyler Herro, Kel'el Ware, and Jaime Jaquez Jr. from the Miami Heat as part of the Giannis deal. The Bucks also picked twice in the lottery in the 2026 draft, selecting guard Brayden Burries from Arizona and forward Nate Ament from Tennessee. 

The odds of them making the postseason are much lower without Giannis, but they aren't zero. Milwaukee is hoping their returning pieces, along with their new additions, could surprise teams next season. 

With Giannis Antetokounmpo playing just 36 games last season, the Bucks finished the 2025-2026 season with a 32-50 record, good for 11th in the Eastern Conference. 

Last season, the Bucks also saw young guard Ryan Rollins have a breakout season, seeing a significant increase in playing time and scoring over 17 points per game. Milwaukee added Tyler Herro to the backcourt, who could have a bounce-back season after missing out on an All-Star appearance in 2026. 

In terms of the frontcourt, the addition of Kel'el Ware has been overlooked by some, and he could bring a big boost inside for the Bucks. Last season, he finished averaging a near double-double and has shown his explosiveness inside. 

Overall, the Bucks' success will depend on how well and how quickly the roster meshes together. Milwaukee has a mix of veteran talent and young players who will need playing time, and it will be interesting to see how they will coexist with one another. 

The floor of this team is low considering where they're at as a franchise and how competitive the East is, and they may finish 14th or 15th in the conference. 

While Milwaukee has a low floor, they also have a relatively low ceiling as a roster. Rookie guard Brayden Burries turned heads with his performance in the Summer League, and it's clear he may be a contender for Rookie of the Year. 

Other players like Kel'el Ware and Jaime Jaquez could be in for better seasons in 2026, but the issue the Bucks may run into is a lack of a first option on offense. Tyler Herro could be that player for them, but he has run into consistency and health issues in recent seasons. 

If Herro can find his way to being a formidable first option for the Bucks in a season full of uncertainty around the roster, Milwaukee may shock teams around the NBA. 

In terms of their ceiling, Milwaukee could finish as high as the seventh seed in the East this season. Their roster may not be cut out for a deep playoff run yet, but getting a taste of winning could be all this team needs to kick-start their rebuild.