The Milwaukee Bucks just raised their first NBA title in 50 years. Which lessons can the small market Portland Trail Blazers learn from the Bucks?
The Bucks can now celebrate after a monster performance from Giannis Antetokounmpo got them across the line in six games over the Phoenix Suns. The Bucks, a small market team like the Blazers, lifted their first title in 50 years after going all-in over the last two seasons.
Here are 3 lessons that the Portland Trail Blazers can learn from the Milwaukee Bucks
Lesson #1 – you have to take risks to win an NBA title
The Blazers, in a lot of ways, are a risk-averse front office when it comes to making moves to improve the team. They have made no big moves in the last nine seasons.
The Bucks, in contrast, went all-in on this core of players and continued to upgrade the roster over the last few years to surround Giannis with complementary talent.
When Khris Middleton was a free agent in 2019, the Bucks gave him a huge extension, and he then had the best season of his career. Ironically, they signed ex-Blazer Pat Connaughton on minimum deals and then extended him, and he played a big role in this playoffs.
They needed one more forward defender for this title run, so they traded picks and some young players to the Houston Rockets to bring in PJ Tucker.
The main move they made though, was the monster deal for all-world defender Jrue Holiday.
They moved Eric Bledsoe, four first-round picks, and two pick-swaps to bring in Holiday.
The Bucks used every single asset in their arsenal to improve the team, taking massive risks along the way.