NBA Trade Rumors: Bucks Eye 'a Change or 2' to Roster Around Giannis, Damian Lillard

If your name isn't Damian Lillard or Giannis Antetokounmpo, your time in Milwaukee may soon be ending.

ESPN's Brian Windhorst reported Bucks coach Doc Rivers is looking to make changes to the "core pieces" of the roster.

"There's starting to be rumblings that Doc Rivers is looking for a change or two to some of their core pieces," Windhorst said on First Take. "Not Dame or Giannis, but potentially looking at another maneuver they could make to alter their team. I think they could be active in the trade market coming up. I think it's less likely than Philly or New York that they could make this big move, but don't forget about Milwaukee."

Khris Middleton, Brook Lopez and Bobby Portis are the only names on the roster besides Lillard and Antetokounmpo who could be considered "core" pieces. Middleton has spent much of the last two seasons battling injuries and is clearly a diminished version of his former self at age 32. While he's still a rock-solid role player on the wing, the Bucks are paying him $31.7 million next season and $34 million in 2025-26.

That's not exactly the type of contract other teams are champing at the bit to take on.

Lopez is a more realistic trade candidate, given he's on an expiring $23 million contract and remains effective as a rim protector and floor spacer. While his athletic limitations force the Bucks into playing drop coverage against pick-and-rolls, he'd fit with any team that uses the drop as their base defense.

Rivers may want to start employing more aggression against pick-and-rolls, which would leave Lopez as the odd man out.

Portis is only making $12.7 million next season, so it's hard to think of a real shakeup that would involve him. Plus, he's underpaid for his contributions; it wouldn't make much sense to move on from him this summer.