Locked On NBA – Daily Podcast On The National Basketball Association

Should the Bucks Shut Down Giannis and Tank & Is the East Still Wide Open?

Feb 9, 2026
Debate over whether Milwaukee should chase wins with Giannis or deliberately tank to chase a top lottery pick. Hot takes on Cam Thomas, roster resets, and the risks of rebuilding versus short-term contention. A status check on the Eastern Conference with Detroit, Boston, New York, and Cleveland jockeying for supremacy. Criticism of All-Star Weekend’s dunk and 3-point contests and ideas to make them exciting again.
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ADVICE

Pause To Evaluate And Develop Talent

  • Shut Giannis down and give young players extended minutes to evaluate talent and reset the roster.
  • Use the rest of the season to develop Ryan Rollins, Kevin Porter Jr., AJ Green, and Pete Nance rather than chase middling wins.
ADVICE

Tank For A High Lottery Pick

  • Tanking for a high lottery pick is the safest path to long-term roster improvement for the Bucks given their current record.
  • Prioritize drafting or using the pick as an asset to build a sustainable supporting cast around Giannis or prepare for a potential trade.
INSIGHT

Drafting Doesn’t Guarantee Instant Titles

  • Top-six draft picks rarely translate to a title in the same season they make All-NBA, showing drafting alone doesn't instantaneously create champions.
  • Lottery success yields stars but not guaranteed team championships or roster retention for the drafting franchise.
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