As the Milwaukee Bucks enter the postseason, they should be prepared to face more than just formidable opponents — they’re also faced with existential questions about the franchise’s future. What could be next for Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard?
What Does the Future Hold for the Milwaukee Bucks?
Former NBA veteran Marcus Morris had some words to say about the Bucks going forward.
“If I’m Giannis, and we don’t get past this first round, I think I’m going to sunny Miami,” Morris said. “It’s wide open over there, you can start something new. It’s a really big market. It’s wide open, and you can talk about Dame as well. Do both of them somehow slide to a new team in Miami? We’ve seen crazier things happen.”
Morris is not wrong. Crazier things have happened, and if anything, this past NBA season has been a culmination of the most inconceivable events and trade announcements in recent memory. Morris presents a bold take, but it’s not a baseless one.
"Do both [Giannis and Dame] somehow slide to a new team?"@MookMorris2 believes Giannis Antetokounmpo should go to the Miami Heat if the Bucks lose in the first round 👀 pic.twitter.com/9FLRG6U3Oh
— First Take (@FirstTake) April 14, 2025
The Bucks’ 48-34 record this season marks a continued decline since their 2021 championship run. They were bounced in the first round by the Heat in 2023 despite a league-best 58-24 record, and now Milwaukee finds itself in a 4-5 matchup against a young and hungry Indiana Pacers team.
To make matters worse for the Milwaukee faithful, the Bucks don’t even hold home-court advantage as the fifth seed. Another early playoff exit would not only be a massive disappointment but also a potential catalyst for a dramatic change of scenery in Milwaukee, Wisc.
The rumor mill around the Bucks’ superstar, Antetokounmpo, has been quietly swirling in the past year. While the former MVP has publicly stated his desire to win more titles, his patience to do so in a Bucks jersey may start to wear thin.
“He’s got his one,” Morris said about the Greek Freak. “Now, is it time to try something new? A new challenge? Do I go to a new team? Do I go to a bigger market?”
Antetokounmpo isn’t the only Bucks star whose future is up in the air. Lillard, who joined the Bucks last offseason in a blockbuster trade, was expected to be the missing piece to another NBA title. However, inconsistent chemistry, untimely injuries, and an overall mediocre season have led to more questions than answers.
Milwaukee’s midseason acquisition of Kyle Kuzma was a clear last-ditch effort to pull the team together, but the pieces have yet to click.
Morris suggested Miami. On paper, the prospect looks as sunshine and rainbows as the city itself — a fresh start at a storied franchise with cap space, young talent, and a willingness to invest. The idea of Antetokounmpo and Lillard both taking their talents to South Beach might sound far-fetched, but today’s NBA has made sure that nothing is out of the realm of possibility.
Furthermore, Lillard had already expressed an interest in the Heat before, during his trade fiasco with the Portland Trail Blazers.
It’s not an exaggeration to say that Milwaukee’s future rests on their upcoming playoff performance. If the Bucks fall short yet again, the front office will have some decisions to confront. “There’s so many questions to be answered,” Morris said.
Luckily for Milwaukee, those answers may be arriving as soon as the Bucks’ first-round matchup against the Pacers on Saturday, April 19.