PLAYER GRADES

GIANNIS ANTETOKOUNMPO

The Greek Freak vaulted into another orbit with his performance during the 2016-’17 season. He went from being an intriguing talent to becoming an all-star starter, an all-NBA performer and the leading candidate for the league’s most improved player award. Some of the plays he made – blocks, dunks and steals included - were otherworldly. Let teammate Malcolm Brogdon tell it: “He's one of the great talents of the world. And playing with him was an honor, especially my first year. He's a guy, you play with him in the summer and the first few games, and you're amazed at everything he does. “Then after a while, he does amazing thing after amazing thing, it's every other play. You're just sitting there like, 'He did it again.' And it's on ESPN that night. “He's a great talent, and most of all he works extremely hard. That's what I respect the most." All the accolades meant a lot more media attention for the 22-year-old Antetokounmpo, and he struggled with those demands. When he did speak, he usually was honest, genuine and funny. But as one of the faces of the NBA, he will need to be more accessible in the future. Antetokounmpo scored 30 points in the NBA All-Star Game after becoming the Bucks’ first player in the game since 2004 and first starter since Sidney Moncrief in 1986. The remarkable regular-season numbers were these: 22.9 scoring average, 8.8 rebounds, 5.4 assists, 1.9 blocks and 1.6 steals. He was the only player in the NBA to lead his team in all five categories and just the fifth player in league history to do it (Dave Cowens, Kevin Garnett, Scottie Pippen, LeBron James). He also finished in the NBA’s top 20 in total points, rebounds, assists, steals and blocks. That’s something no player had ever done. He will work on his jump shot and becoming a more consistent free throw shooter during the summer. Toronto Raptors coach Dwane Casey said Antetokounmpo can be Magic Johnson if he develops the jumper and hits it more consistently. “To be great in this league, to make a team great, it’s not going to be easy,” Antetokounmpo said. “Just being more vocal, being more talkative and leading my team, that’s going to come. “The two specific things I want to work on this summer are getting stronger and being able to knock down open threes and open shots. That’s it.” Grade: A-minus

MICHAEL BEASLEY

The Bucks acquired the veteran forward in a trade with Houston, and he proved to be a timely pickup to bolster the bench and provide a solid backup at power forward. Beasley showed he still can score, averaging 9.4 points in 56 games (six starts) and shooting 53.3%. He scored a seasonhigh 28 points in a victory at San Antonio in January, providing the offensive punch as Antetokounmpo struggled with an illness. Later he missed 17 games after suffering a left knee injury at Cleveland on Feb. 27, and that proved to be a major disruption. Beasley had mixed success after getting back in the rotation in Game 3 of the playoffs against Toronto, scoring 13 points in that game but just four in the crucial Game 4 loss at home. Grade: C-plus

MALCOLM BROGDON

When the season started, Matthew Dellavedova and Michael Carter-Williams were expected to share the point guard duties. But Carter-Williams was traded to Chicago during training camp and the 24-year-old Brogdon was elevated into a backup role. What he did after that was remarkable. Brogdon performed with poise and precision, eventually becoming a starter and a leading candidate for the league’s rookie of the year award. Not bad for the 36th overall pick in the draft. He led all NBA rookies in assists, steals and three-point percentage (40.4%) and was the only rookie to record a triple-double. Brogdon’s season highlights included a stunning dunk over LeBron James and a clutch three-pointer to clinch a road victory over the Spurs. He acknowledged he learned a lot in his first pro season. “It's just about keeping your priorities straight, making sure you're focusing on the right things,” Brogdon said. “Your mind is the biggest asset in this game; it can either help you the most or hurt you the most. If you're thinking the right way and you process things the right way, you're blocking out the right stuff and you're paying attention to the things that matter.” Grade: B-plus

MATTHEW DELLAVEDOVA

The Bucks aggressively went after Dellavedova in free agency and signed him to a four-year, $38 million contract. They gave him his first chance at a starting role in the NBA, after he spent three years as a key backup with the Cleveland Cavaliers. He struggled at times in his starting role and eventually lost it to Brogdon. But Bucks coach Jason Kidd stressed that both players were being counted on, whether starting or coming off the bench. Dellavedova’s three-point shooting dipped to 36.6% after he shot 41% from distance the previous year with Cleveland. But he provided the grit and toughness the team was seeking, and it was quite evident in the playoffs. His aggressive screening became a focus when Raptors coach Dwane Casey made an issue of it after Game 1. Dellavedova was one of the prime ignitors of the Bucks’ huge comeback in Game 6, even though it ultimately fell short. "I think I learned a lot about myself and having to lead in the NBA,” Dellavedova said. “It was a great experience for me. I didn't play as well as I would have liked this year, but I think I still helped the team. “I don't have any national team commitments this summer, so this summer's been circled on my calendar for a while to really be able to put in some good off-season work on my body and on my game to really get better and come back next season improved and ready to go." Grade: B-minus

SPENCER HAWES

Hawes was acquired in an early trade deadline deal with Charlotte, coming over in the deal that sent Miles Plumlee to the Hornets. It took him some time to crack the rotation, but when he did he was productive. He scored 16 points in a victory over the Raptors in early March and was part of the seasonchanging 4-2 trip to Memphis and the West Coast in March. Hawes could pick and pop and shot 50.8% in 19 games with Milwaukee. He has a $6 million player option for next season. Grade: C

JOHN HENSON

This sums it up for the unlucky center. Henson made a key block and tip-in late in the game to help Milwaukee secure a 93-90 victory at Portland in March, but he sprained his left thumb in the same game. Then the 6-foot-11 Henson had to sit out the next 10 games and never did get back in the rotation. He had chances to start early in the season, but eventually the coaches decided to put rookie Thon Maker in that position. “We went on a five-game losing streak and Coach decided he was going to switch some things up,” Henson said. “It’s kind of up and down for me ever since. I had opportunities early on to help the team, and later in the season I had a (good) stretch before I hurt my thumb. “I can’t be mad. I wanted to play more in the playoffs, but as a competitor everybody wants to play. Only five guys can, so that’s part of it.” He started 39 games, appeared in 58 and averaged 6.8 points and 5.1 rebounds while playing 19.4 minutes per game. Grade: C-minus

THON MAKER

The 7-1 center from Australia and South Sudan was a self-proclaimed project, as when he said he thought his rookie year would be “Project Build Maker.” But it turned out much better than that. The coaches decided to put him in the starting lineup Feb. 10 against the Los Angeles Lakers, just his fourth start of the season. He never missed a start the rest of the way, both in the regular season and playoffs. Maker showed the ability to run the floor, block shots and stretch opposing defenses with his three-point shot. He was pushed around easily by physical centers, but he reduced his tendency to foul and go for every pump-fake. Kidd said it was important that Maker not have a “wasted season” and learn while going against NBA starters on a nightly basis. “On draft night, people usually say they just want to land on the right team,” said Maker, who was the 10th overall pick by the Bucks. “It couldn't have worked any more perfectly than this. God is amazing. He just does crazy things when you least expect it and this was one of the biggest ones.” Grade: C-plus

KHRIS MIDDLETON

A freak hamstring injury sidelined Middleton for the first 50 games, an injury suffered before training camp even began. It threatened to derail the Bucks’ season, and on the night Middleton returned in early February, Jabari Parker suffered his seasonending anterior cruciate ligament tear. Middleton restored some balance to the lineup and his return coincided with the team’s resurgence in March. He averaged 14.7 points, 4.2 rebounds and 3.4 assists in 29 regular-season games (23 starts). Middleton’s 20-point, seven-assist outing fueled the Game 3 rout in the playoff series with Toronto. But he was sick for Games 5 and 6 and played through it, but not at his peak performance. Grade: B-minus

GREG MONROE

A respected colleague said he voted for Monroe as the league’s sixth man of the year, and it’s hard to argue. The 6-11 center played off the bench in 81 regular-season games and all six playoff games. He accepted his role and thrived in it, playing the bulk of the minutes at the center spot. Monroe combined well with Brogdon when the rookie was coming off the bench in the first half of the season, and the tandem’s chemistry helped fuel a productive reserve unit. The coaches also loved the way Monroe improved his defense, whether it was hedging on the perimeter or taking charges in the paint. The seventh-year pro made the playoffs for the first time in his career and responded by averaging 13.2 points and 7.3 rebounds in the series against the Raptors. He has a player option worth $17.9 million next season, and one of the intriguing decisions in the off-season will be whether he picks up the option or decides to become a free agent again. Grade: B-plus

JABARI PARKER

One of the toughest moments of the season was watching Parker tear his left ACL when he slid to the floor while making a drive against Miami on Feb. 8. The no-contact injury meant no Jabari the rest of the season, and another major surgery on the same knee he hurt as a rookie in December 2014. The Chicago native was having a good season, averaging more than 20 points a game and combining with Antetokounmpo to help the Bucks lead the league in points in the paint. Parker’s athletic dunks thrilled the fans, and he improved his threepoint shot dramatically. The big question is how effective Parker will be when he returns. He went to the Steadman Clinic in Vail, Colo., for his surgery and has the advantage of knowing how to get through the grueling rehabilitation. The Bucks will take their time with his recovery and hope to see him on the court in the second half of next season. Grade: B

GARY PAYTON II

The Bucks used several players in the 15th roster spot, including Steve Novak (eight games) and Terrence Jones (three). They also signed D-League star Axel Toupane (two) to a 10-day contract. They settled on Gary Payton II to finish the season, and he wound up playing in just six games. He is under contract for next season and could play with the new D-League affiliate in Oshkosh and the NBA team. Grade: Incomplete

MILES PLUMLEE

The Bucks rewarded Plumlee with a four-year, $50 million contract in the off-season and gave him the first chance at the starting center job. The former Duke player failed miserably while averaging fewer than two rebounds a game in 32 games with Milwaukee. He looked nothing like the energetic center who had combined well with Antetokounmpo and Parker at the end of the previous season. Amazingly, the Bucks were able to dump his big contract in a trade with Charlotte in February. Grade: F

TONY SNELL

The biggest surprise for the Bucks this season? It had to be Snell, acquired from the Bulls in mid-October for Carter-Williams in what turned out to be a lopsided deal in favor of the Bucks. Snell was needed to defend elite scorers with Middleton out for such a long period. The 6-7 Snell was good on the defensive end and he improved his offense, shooting 40.6% from threepoint range and attempting the most threes (355) of anyone on the team. Snell spaced the floor and Antetokounmpo could find him in transition, giving the Bucks a big weapon. “I always believe in my game; I never doubted my game one bit,” Snell said. “It's about being in the right organization, the right team with the right players to keep believing in you and encouraging you to shoot the ball.” Grade: B

MIRZA TELETOVIC

The Bucks signed Teletovic to a threeyear, $31.5 million free-agent deal in the off-season as they sought to improve their three-point shooting. But the veteran struggled, shooting just 34.1% from deep while taking 4.4 attempts per game. Teletovic had a solid stretch in March, taking over the backup power forward role with Beasley sidelined by an injury. He was ineffective in the first two playoff games and was replaced in the rotation by Beasley. “I really couldn’t bring to the table what I normally bring,” Teletovic said of his season. “It’s something I’m supposed to do and bring to this team. I’ll try to do better. “I’m an experienced guy and I should be able to adjust better to it.” Grade: D

JASON TERRY

The Bucks knew they lacked veteran leadership during the 2015-’16 season. Kidd needed someone he trusted in the locker room, and former teammate Terry was the perfect fit. Kidd also wasn’t afraid to play Terry in key situations – witness the fourth quarter of Game 6 against Toronto. Terry sank a goahead three-pointer as the Bucks rallied from 25 points down, only to lose, 92-89, after making a frantic comeback. It’s unclear if the 39-year-old Terry, who turns 40 in September, will come back for a 19th NBA season. He could go into coaching or a media career and do well at either one. "They talked about changing the culture when I came here, and I believe we are heading in the right direction," Terry said. Grade: B

RASHAD VAUGHN

The jury is still out on Vaughn, the 17th overall pick in the 2015 draft. He did not play (coach’s decision) in 27 games and took a back seat to other reserves, including Terry. If the Bucks make any changes in the backcourt, he could be a candidate to be traded. He’s only 20 years old and likely would have benefited from more collegiate seasoning instead of leaving Nevada-Las Vegas after his freshman year. He played in 41 games and shot 32.1% from three-point range, 36.5% overall. “I think, the second year, I learned a lot,” Vaughn said. “The times I played I felt I played well, but it's just another year to learn and grow. I had some new teammates that I learned from. “There's always Khris (Middleton) helping me out during the year. I’m just going into this summer trying to get better. Come next year, try to compete for some minutes.” Grade: D