MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN – APRIL 05: Myles Turner #3 of the Milwaukee Bucks during the first half of the game against the Memphis Grizzlies at Fiserv Forum on April 05, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by John Fisher/Getty Images)

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Anne Erickson

By Anne Erickson

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When it comes to franchises that made big changes this offseason, one obviously stands out. The Milwaukee Bucks knew this day would come eventually, but that didn't make it any easier.

Trading Giannis Antetokounmpo officially brought one of the greatest eras in franchise history to a close. It was wild. For 13 seasons, everything in Milwaukee revolved around Giannis. Now the Bucks are trying to figure out what life looks like without the player who defined the organization for more than a decade.

It's not all sad, though. The return gives them plenty to work with, when you analyze it. Milwaukee picked up Tyler Herro, Kel'el Ware, Jaime Jaquez Jr. and Kasparas Jakucionis in the deal, giving the roster a healthy mix of proven contributors and younger talent.

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MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - APRIL 05: Myles Turner #3 of the Milwaukee Bucks during the first half of the game against the Memphis Grizzlies at Fiserv Forum on April 05, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by John Fisher/Getty Images)

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They also added Brayden Burries and Nate Ament through the draft, bringing in two lottery picks who won't have to shoulder everything right away. That's one advantage of having a roster with experienced players already in place.

Myles Turner, Ryan Rollins, AJ Green and Kevin Porter Jr. are all back, giving Milwaukee a rotation that looks much deeper than it did at the end of last season. The signing of Gary Trent Jr. raised some eyebrows around the league considering the team's depth, but it also speaks to the Bucks' desire to stay competitive.

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So, in the end, no one is pretending replacing Giannis will be easy. Players like him don't come around very often, and his impact reached every part of the organization.

But, the Bucks had to move forward eventually. They might as well get something huge for him, which they did. Now the focus shifts to seeing which players emerge as part of the next core. The names have changed, the expectations have shifted and a new chapter has officially begun in Milwaukee.

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