The best version of the Milwaukee Bucks next season involves the team re-signing Khris Middleton and Brook Lopez to make another run with this group of players. With their core intact, this team has the talent, the two-way attack, and the continuity to challenge for a title.
The issue with that plan is twofold. One, the price to bring both back at market value will send this team rocketing into the luxury tax. Even if the Bucks’ owners are willing to pay that much money in a small market for a team that just lost in the first round, starting in 2023-24, being deep into the tax will trigger draconian team-building restrictions.