Milwaukee Bucks: 5 goals for the 2018 offseason

1. Sign a few wings for “Bucks University”

Mike Budenholzer is known for his system basketball, his strong defenses and perhaps most of all, his development of young players. While in Atlanta, his roster was labeled “Hawks University” because of Bud’s ability to take low-value wing players and grow them into something more.

DeMarre Carroll went from castoff to an Eastern Conference Player of the Month and free agent windfall. Kent Bazemore turned into a starter on the wing after end-of-roster stints with the Golden State Warriors and Los Angeles Lakers. Taurean Prince already looks like one of the best players in his draft class.

The hope is that Budenholzer can bring this player development to Milwaukee, a team both flush with wings and in need of them. Players such as Tony Snell and Sterling Brown should benefit tremendously from Budenholzer’s presence, and perhaps even Khris Middleton can learn a thing or two.

With some roster turnover at the bottom, the Bucks will have room to add another wing or two as low-cost, low-risk, high-upside options. In a league where wing talent is scarce, having a coach and staff in place that can develop players toward greatness is a valuable tool indeed.

That is not to say that Budenholzer can wave a wand and make an NBA starter, but he clearly knows how to get the most out of talent. With Milwaukee facing financial restrictions and a lack of future draft assets, getting help on the margins will be crucial.

Next: Ranking the 5 favorites to win the 2019 NBA Finals

Overall this summer is crucial, as it marks the beginning of a new coaching era in Milwaukee and the start of a journey to show Giannis Antetokounmpo that he has the best chance to win a championship in Milwaukee. That starts with a strong offseason that prepares this team for success.