Make Him an All-Star
Okay, slow down, I'm obviously not talking about this year. Despite what the Bucks did to the Cleveland Cavaliers in Milwaukee on Tuesday, they are still only 9-8 (likely 10-8 by tomorrow night with a game against Brooklyn at home) and have a long, long way to go. However, this team is also 9-8 without one of their three brightest, young stars in G/F Khris Middleton, who will be out until March at least, and with no reliable third source of star power in the meantime.
Sure, players like Greg Monroe, Michael Beasley, Matthew Dellavedova and Tony Snell are nice pieces, John Henson plays good defense, Mirza Teletovic shoots threes well, Jason Terry is a wily veteran and rookie Malcolm Brogdon has exceeded expectations, but none of these guys will take the load off of Jabari Parker and Giannis Antetokounmpo on a regular basis. Beasley and Monroe can take some pressure off from time to time, but this team won't win when there is a bad game from Parker or Antetokounmpo without Middleton in the fold.
My point is, the Bucks are still doing well, and there is no sign of a slow down from either of these guys. All the Bucks need now is a healthy Khris Middleton, another year of growth, and a quality big man. Here is what the Bucks' roster will look like going into the 2018-19 season, two years from today.
-G/F/C Giannis Antetokounmpo
-F Jabari Parker
-G/F Khris Middleton
-F/C John Henson
-G Malcolm Brogdon
-F Thon Maker
-G Matthew Dellavedova
-F Mirza Teletovic
-G Rashad Vaughn
-C Miles Plumlee
-2017 & 2018 1st round and second round picks
I'd say that every player on that list, excluding Mirza Teletovic (and maybe Miles Plumlee and John Henson) still can improve and get better. Two more years of all of those young, lengthy players just getting better is going to be a nightmare for opposing teams, as it already can be. With projecting the future, there is a good combination of size, shooting, athleticism, defense, and star power, something all teams need for title contention. Chances are, a few more Jason Terry's will want to join the Bucks as well, and along with the two additional years of experience, that will likely have a good mix too.
In the 2017 draft, the Bucks will also have a chance to add another really strong piece without going to free agency. This is the strongest draft in recent memory, and where the Bucks are currently slated in the draft order, centers like Bam Adebayo (Kentucky) and Marques Bolden (Duke) are going to be around. Thomas Bryant (Indiana) and Omer Yurtseven (NC State) are a little later, and PF Harry Giles (Duke) could wind up slipping to the Bucks due to injury (imagine a healthy Harry Giles and productive Thon Maker with Middleton, Antetokounmpo, and Parker). It's only early December, so there will be a lot of changes coming, but it's just something to think about.
Honestly, the Bucks really don't have to do that much to be a true contender in the near future, they already have a strong core in place through 2018-19, and are a piece or two away from being a top three Eastern Conference team (and LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Carmelo Anthony will all be 34+ at that time). All they need is support, and recognition for the job the new owners and GM John Hammond have done with putting this team together. Start that off by voting Giannis into the All-Star Game (22.8 PPG, 8.5 RPG, 6.1 APG, 2.2 Steals and 2.1 Blocks all leading the Bucks)
