Bucks facing the impending questions of who comes back

Following their late-season defeat on Saturday in the sixth game of the Eastern Conference finals, many Milwaukee Bucks players expressed the belief that they were about to make facing something important.

The number of them remaining to be part of this effort will be a topic of discussion within and around the team this summer.

Khris Middleton, who is expected to withdraw from the final year of his contract, Malcolm Brogdon, Brook Lopez and Nikola Mirotic will all be free agents this summer. Of these, only Brogdon is a restricted free agent.

George Hill will also likely call on a free agent since the Bucks can save $ 17 million – and pay him only $ 1 million – if they give it up before the end of June.

All newcomers have positioned themselves to potentially receive significant increases, making the work of General Manager Jon Horst difficult. He often stated that he wanted to keep the core of the team, but that he would have to overcome the difficulties of the NBA salary cap to achieve it.

On Monday, during his last media interview, Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo is clearly expressed.

"I want everyone to come back," he says. "Super great team, selfless players, they play basketball the right way, they are winners, and we had a great atmosphere.

"I'm going to let my team-mates know for sure, but I do not want to be part of the decisions of the office, because I'm always going to take the side of my teammates, but obviously I feel like the team is back. we have a chance to win, that's all that matters to me. "

Middleton, the Antetokounmpo runner over the last six seasons, is vying for the biggest salary. At the end of his first star season, Middleton could get a maximum contract this summer, which would bring his 2019 earnings to $ 20 to $ 32.7 million (30% of the $ 109 million salary cap) of dollars).

On Monday, Middleton said his decision will be based primarily on what is best for him and his family, with the second priority being the adjustment of the situation. He reiterated that Milwaukee had been a "privileged place" in which he had grown up and prospered until now in his career and that he and Antetokounmpo had together an unfinished business.

"Whenever you do not play with someone you've been with all the time, you're always wondering or asking the other partner:" Can we do that? & # 39; ; " Middleton said, noting that the Bucks have gone from one of the worst teams to one of the best over their six years together.

"We always thought we could do it with the guys around us, it'll be interesting, it'll be fun to see what happens."

Brogdon, who was first-time freestyle after three seasons on a contract of less than $ 4 million, is focused on maintaining his summer routine of improving, whatever happens events. As a restricted free agent, the Bucks can match any offers that Brogdon receives.

Lopez noted that he "absolutely wanted to be here" while Hill explained his thought process before an uncertain summer.

"For me, money is never really important," said Hill. "It's good, but I never grew up with it. I do not come from a family where everything is given in life. Money is not the big deal.

"I think it's stability, being in a place you're looking for, the city that kisses you and your family, and things like that.

"These are my greatest things I'm looking for."

Did Milwaukee give him that?

"Absolutely yes."

Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer knows something about free will. He spent two seasons as president of the Atlanta Hawks Basketball Operations during his coaching career before joining the Bucks a year ago.

He knows that keeping a team together can be a challenge, but he just relies on Horst this summer and supports him, rather than setting the tone. Asked about free will, Budenholzer jokingly asked to make recommendations on the best local beer gardens before continuing, praising Horst's leadership, decision-making and collaborative approach.

"In the end, Jon is the boss and general manager," said Budenholzer, "He has a lot of work and a lot of responsibility this summer, but to be by his side and help him get through everything I can to help Jon is exciting. "

On the mark

Antetokounmpo's three-point shot is still not quite comparable to Kevin Durant's.

But the Bucks star has seen a clear improvement in his long distance shot in his first season under Budenholzer and the coaching philosophy of letting go.

Antetokounmpo scored 1 in 16 for three points in October and 5 for 35 in November. But he finished strong, with 15 for 41 in April and 9 for 29 in May.

"My point in three points will obviously improve with time and time spent with coaching staff," said Antetokounmpo. "Shooting in the off season will make things better.

"I think that just having the year, all this year become just comfortable and do it almost like my first nature and do not even think about it or hesitate, I think that it has me a lot Hopefully that can be extended where I left this place year. "

For the season, Antetokounmpo was 52 for 203 (25.6%) beyond the bow. He is a career scorer of 27.7% out of three, but his record of the previous season was 180 attempts in 2016-17.

"The numbers speak for themselves," Budenholzer said. "I just tend to (look at) confidence and body language.

"The willingness to shoot them in my mind is the biggest indicator of the progress we have made."

Budenholzer pointed out that Antetokounmpo managed to score three points in the fifth game against the Toronto Raptors to get the Bucks in 92-90 with just over four minutes left.

"When you take big shots in the fifth game of the Eastern Conference finals and you realize them, it's my best indicator of his growth and progress as a shooter." said Budenholzer. "He and I both know that there is still a long way to go, but it's exciting to think of all that he can improve as a shooter."

Fill their cups

It will not be the typical off-season for some Bucks players as the FIBA ​​World Cup is scheduled from August 31 to September 7. 15 in China.

Middleton is one of the names of the group of players from the United States team that is available for a spot on the board. He welcomed the opportunity.

"I do not have an official word or anything yet," Middleton said. "I hope to have the opportunity to represent the US team. It would be really dope."

Antetokounmpo (Greece), Ersan Ilyasova (Turkey) and Nikola Mirotic (Spain) could also play for their country.

"It's a great honor for anyone to play for his national team," Budenholzer said.

The coach of the Bucks knows that it is important for the players, although Budenholzer wants to make sure that they will not be exhausted before the start of the NBA season.

"Just keep working with them and understand how they manage their body, go in and out," Budenholzer said. "It's a good, healthy conversation."

Antetokounmpo said he did not think about the World Cup, but after the defeat of the Bucks in the final phase of the Eastern Conference.

Beer leagues

Hill had the lightest moment with the team's exit interviews. The Bucks guard has boasted of his skills in beer consumption.

The Packers offensive lineman, David Bakhtiari, set the bar high because of the beer that he tasted in the crowd during the Bucks playoffs.

"I went to a baseball game yesterday, me and Pat (Connaughton)," said Hill. "They somehow asked me if I were going to drink a beer since they do it during our games.

"I just did not think it was appropriate even 24 hours after the loss of drinking beer."

But Hill assured that his abilities were not in doubt.

"I'm probably like the best shooter of all time (beer)," said Hill. "Then we will have to fight, the linemen and me when they come back."

He then challenged Bakhtiari.

"I can beat him for sure," said Hill. "We are going to fight, but I have to go to Lambeau first."