The Milwaukee Bucks are have made moves to become a true contender: by selling the farm and trading away a lot of assets to acquire Jrue Holiday, they have ensured a Giannis Antetokounmpo commitment to the long term. The Milwaukee Bucks looks like they are going to have a very distinct defensive identity: the Bucks’ roster is stocked full of good perimeter and inside defenders, and with all their length, it will be hard for most teams to score effectively inside. Their roster looks balanced, and what’s left to see is how they do this season.
Houston Rockets superstar James Harden had the Milwaukee Bucks on his list of preferred destinations. Harden and Giannis Antetokounmpo have been in the MVP race together every year, and perhaps there’s a small rivalry there. But pairing the two of them could have meant great things, as they are both MVP caliber. However, according to an article by Sam Amick of The Athletic, Harden isn’t viewed as a perfect fit in Milwaukee:
Milwaukee has no plans to pursue Harden, who sources say isn’t seen as a culture fit for their group.
There are a lot of reasons why James Harden wouldn’t fit with Milwaukee. In Milwaukee, Harden wouldn’t be able to dominate the ball as he does in Houston. Giannis Antetokounmpo is the main man there, and settling into a supporting role could be difficult for James Harden. While the potential of two superstars together is very high, perhaps the Milwaukee Bucks don’t want to destroy their chemistry. There would also be some concerns about him buying in on the defensive end.
With this report, it looks like one destination is off the table for James Harden. While the Milwaukee Bucks seem like they won’t trade for Harden, anything could happen in the league. All we can do is wait for the reports.
