[Scotto] Instead, there’s a belief that Rivers could pivot to an undetermined role in Milwaukee’s front office… As for potential coaching candidates, the Bucks have an internal candidate in Darvin Ham who will also be sought after by the Pelicans, according to league sources, this summer.
The Milwaukee Bucks are one of the most intriguing situations being monitored across the NBA due to the futures of superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo, coach Doc Rivers, and general manager Jon Horst.
After several teams made trade offers before the deadline, Antetokounmpo will have to decide if he’ll accept a maximum contract from the Bucks this summer worth roughly $275 million, which will be available starting October 1, or seek a trade for a better chance to compete for a championship.
Though in the immediate future, the focus is on the futures of Rivers and Horst.
When asked by HoopsHype on Tuesday, April 7th, how much longer he envisions coaching as he prepares to enter the Hall of Fame, Rivers all but spelled out his future when he replied, “I won’t answer that, but I have grandkids that I want to see. I’ll put it that way. I’ll let you figure it out from there. I have seven grandkids now, and they’re all eight years and under, and it kills me every time I miss Grandparents’ Day with each one of them in school. It’s probably time to go see them more, so I’ll let you figure out the rest.”
The growing expectation within league circles is that Rivers won’t be Milwaukee’s head coach next season. Instead, there’s a belief that Rivers could pivot to an undetermined role in Milwaukee’s front office.
Speaking of Milwaukee’s front office, Horst signed a multi-year extension in April of 2025. During Horst’s tenure as Bucks general manager, he guided the Bucks to the playoffs in eight of his nine seasons, won NBA Executive of the Year in 2019, and led the Bucks to the championship in 2021.
In recent interviews with local reporters Eric Nehm of The Athletic and Jim Owczarski of The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Horst defended Rivers as “an unbelievable partner” and described the coach’s efforts as “masterful” amid the team’s struggles this season.
Thus, while some around the league have questioned Horst’s future with the possibility of Rivers joining the front office in some capacity, Horst’s interviews on the record would suggest he’ll return.
Should Horst remain as general manager and Antetokounmpo extend his contract, the Bucks have three first-round picks, which can be dangled as trade bait to improve the team.
As for potential coaching candidates, the Bucks have an internal candidate in Darvin Ham who will also be sought after by the Pelicans, according to league sources, this summer.
Taylor Jenkins will almost assuredly draw interest from Milwaukee if their head coaching job becomes available. Jenkins will arguably be the most sought-after coach on the market and was previously an assistant coach under Mike Budenholzer when the Bucks advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals in 2019.
Another name to potentially consider is Pelicans interim head coach James Borrego, who previously interviewed for Milwaukee’s head coaching job when Adrian Griffin was hired, and will also be available this summer.
Other coaching candidates will surface, including top assistant coaches who’ve gone through the interview cycle with other teams before.