As the Milwaukee Bucks fumbled away a hard-fought, seven-point lead in Game 5 against the Indiana Pacers in the waning moments of overtime, they did not just lose the matchup. This heartbreaking defeat also crushed their playoff run, marking their second straight first-round exit. Nine-time All-Star Giannis Antetokounmpo, who had missed at least some of those prior playoff games, was fully healthy for this series. However, Milwaukee’s starting point guard, Damian Lillard, was not. The Bucks’ superstar missed the first game while recovering from deep vein thrombosis. While he returned for Games 2 and 3, Lillard tragically tore his Achilles in Game 4, piling up on Milwaukee’s misery.

It has been a rollercoaster ride for Giannis Antetokounmpo and Co., who’ve seen both highs and lows throughout the campaign. However, now, after back-to-back first-round exits, stare into the abyss. With this, the fate of Milwaukee’s superstars is in the air. In fact, the fate of second-year head coach Doc Rivers is also in question. The Bucks’ head coach has posted a 65-53 regular season record during his tenure in Milwaukee, and a poor 3-8 playoff record. While a few people think firing Rivers might be an easy fix, it’s way more complex than that. On the other hand, Doc Rivers’ son, Austin Rivers, has urged the team to make one move that would lead them toward success.

“I would like him to start somewhere, but instead of being a coach for hire with this team that has a win-or-bust mentality, it’s not fair to him. He keeps getting blamed for stuff. He keeps getting in situations where, if they lose, people are like, Is he going to get fired or not? That shouldn’t be the question. If you’re a good coach, why are you in question to be fired all the time? Because the team that you’re coaching has that aura around it. It’s always a win-or-bust season. Why? Go get a young team and build.” Austin Rivers stated on his podcast, ‘Off Guard with Austin Rivers.‘ Doc’s son suggested that he wants his father to be part of a building team instead of being part of a win-or-go-home type of franchise.

He pointed out that Rivers keeps getting into situations where, once he loses, the question is about him getting fired. Indeed, that’s the slump Doc Rivers currently finds himself in. He was hired by the Milwaukee Bucks to help them capitalize on Giannis Antetokounmpo’s prime and win a championship. To boost their chances, Milwaukee landed another superstar, Damian Lillard. Moreover, they made more moves to help build a win-now roster. However, it hasn’t ended well for them. Apart from the In-season NBA tournament win, nothing much has been achieved. Austin Rivers believes that instead of blaming Doc Rivers for the losses, the team should focus on building a roster worthy of winning championships. That’s why he’s urged the Bucks front office to decide on their franchise player, Giannis Antetokounmpo.

Austin Rivers urges Milwaukee from office to make a decision on Giannis’ future

Many people people that the Milwaukee Bucks are done, and Damian Lillard’s Achilles injury was the final blow. As far as contending for the title goes, after Lillard’s injury, the chances are slim to none. That’s because Milwaukee has no good up-and-coming young talent in its ranks. Neither do the Bucks have draft capital or any space in their apron to get some free agents from the market. So, what’s next for the Milwaukee Bucks from here? According to Doc Rivers’ son, Austin, a rebuild is the only way forward that will involve a major decision on Giannis Antetokounmpo’s future. “If you’re trying to win a championship right now, you don’t trade Giannis.” Rivers said on his podcast.

“If you’re trying to build something for the future that could possibly win, you trade Giannis while he’s hot. You could get a f—ing gang for him. And that’s just one player. You’ve got a bunch of other bets that you can move strategically and get to pieces. Maybe keep a couple because you need some bets.” There’s no doubt that Giannis Antetokounmpo is the best player who would suit up for Milwaukee. However, spending his prime around a poorly constructed roster might not yield the results. Austin Rivers suggested that if the Bucks are looking to win now, trading Giannis might not be the best bet. But again, there’s not much room to work if Milwaukee doesn’t move Giannis.

On the other hand, if the Bucks front office is looking at the larger picture, it might be the best possible solution. Shipping away their franchise player, according to Rivers, might be the best way forward. They could get a few good players and some draft capital to work with if they trade Giannis in the current market. However, the question remains: Does Giannis want to leave Milwaukee? If that’s the case, finding him a new home might not be a big problem for the Bucks. However, if it’s the other way around, they will need to reassess everything. It will be interesting to see how things develop in Milwaukee as everyone monitors the situation closely.