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How Detroit Pistons’ offseason compares to the Eastern Conference elite

By Jon Young

DETROIT, MI - NOVEMBER 23: Andre Drummond #0 of the Detroit Pistons celebrates with Blake Griffin #23 of the Detroit Pistons after winning the game against the Houston Rockets on November 23, 2018 at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan. 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Chris Schwegler/NBAE via Getty Images)
DETROIT, MI - NOVEMBER 23: Andre Drummond #0 of the Detroit Pistons celebrates with Blake Griffin #23 of the Detroit Pistons after winning the game against the Houston Rockets on November 23, 2018 at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan. 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Chris Schwegler/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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TORONTO, CANADA – MAY 25: Malcolm Brogdon #13 of the Milwaukee Bucks handles the ball during the game against Danny Green #14 of the Toronto Raptors during Game Six of the Eastern Conference Finals on May 25, 2019 at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Ron Turenne/NBAE via Getty Images)
TORONTO, CANADA – MAY 25: Malcolm Brogdon #13 of the Milwaukee Bucks handles the ball during the game against Danny Green #14 of the Toronto Raptors during Game Six of the Eastern Conference Finals on May 25, 2019 at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Ron Turenne/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Losing Brodgon looms Large

Key Losses: Malcolm Brodgon, Nikola Mirotic, Pau Gasol

Key Additions: Kyle Korver, Wes Matthews, Robin Lopez

Milwaukee was the best team in the NBA last season and there is no reason to expect that they shouldn’t maintain that status this year. They have an MVP in Giannis Antetokounmpo who is still improving his game. They have a versatile wing in Khris Middleton – who was an after thought in the Brandon Jennings-for-Brandon Knight swap – and a host of players who let it fly from beyond the arc. So it doesn’t appear that the Bucks are ready to climb down from their Eastern Conference hierarchy. But the Bucks did take a step back when they lost the quietly efficient Malcolm Brodgon in a sign-and-trade with the Indiana Pacers.

Brodgon was the Bucks best 3-point shooter (42.6 percent on 3.8 attempts per game) and at times appeared to be the third best player on their roster. That especially looked like the case in the playoffs as Eric Bledsoe once again took a step back and failed to be the scoring punch the Bucks needed next to Antetokounmpo and Middleton.

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The timing of Bledsoe and Brodgon will also draw some comparisons. The Bucks gave Bledsoe a four-year, $70 million dollar contract extension and then didn’t match the Pacers offer for Brodgon to avoid luxury tax repercussions. Bledsoe’s deal was done in March in the midst of a stellar regular season, a few months before his playoff woes. Would they do it differently if they had the chance?

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Milwaukee also lost Nikola Mirotic, who decided to leave the NBA for the Euroleague. Mirotic was another player who could stretch the floor and make defensives pay for double teaming Giannis. Milwaukee traded Tony Snell who, despite a minutes dip, still had an efficient season from beyond the arc.

The Bucks’ offseason was far from a bust however. They won the race for Kyle Korver and snagged a solid role player in Wesley Matthews on a two-year deal. They re-signed Brook Lopez, who was one of the league’s most surprising players in his debut season in Milwaukee last year, and locked up Middleton long-term. The Bucks also retained George Hill, who helped stabilize the bench unit and took on an increased role in the playoffs amid Bledsoe’s struggles.

The Bucks had a lot of questions going into free agency and they were able to answer almost all of them. The team is built to succeed for a long time, but losing Brodgon will hurt.

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