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The Milwaukee Bucks were one of the most surprising stars of the NBA's 2014-15 campaign, storming out of the cellar and into an unlikely playoff berth.

Following a 15-win season with a 41-41 record is impressive enough. Doing it without three opening-night starters by the year's second half—one injured (Jabari Parker), one traded away (Brandon Knight) and one bought out (Larry Sanders)—is nothing short of incredible.

There is a rightfully substantial buzz around the team heading into head coach Jason Kidd's second season at the helm. Loaded with youth, versatility and athleticism, the Bucks are constructing a ceiling that currently sits too high to be seen.

Their best days are likely a year or two down the road, but their present won't lack for excitement. All the key pieces of their second-ranked defense are back, and the front office spent the summer finding offensive help via the draft, trade market and free agency.

Key Additions/Subtractions

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Additions: Greg Monroe (free agent), Greivis Vasquez (trade), Rashad Vaughn (draft), Chris Copeland (free agent)

Subtractions: Ersan Ilyasova (trade), Zaza Pachulia (trade), Jared Dudley (trade)

Greg Monroe's arrival signaled a new day for Milwaukee and the NBA at large. The 25-year-old was one of the more coveted targets in free agency, drawing considerable interest from major-market traditional powers like the Los Angeles Lakers and New York Knicks. But the Bucks' on-court pitch trumped everything he heard from his other suitors.

"It was definitely, purely a basketball decision," Monroe told Yahoo Sports' Michael Lee. "I was looking at where I felt I would have the most success, where I would fit in, help a team and continue to move forward. I definitely feel like I made the right decision."

Monroe isn't the perfect pivot point for a modern offense, but he'll add several new layers to Milwaukee's 25th-ranked attack. The Bucks didn't have anyone average more than 14.1 points per game last season; Monroe has cleared 15 points a night in each of the past four years. His vision and selflessness will also make Milwaukee's slashers more potent, while his work on the defensive glass will help close out possessions.

The franchise's other moves were all of the support variety, but each carries a certain degree of intrigue. Greivis Vasquez adds scoring and three-point shooting at point guard. Chris Copeland is a professional sniper with a career 37.3 three-point percentage. And 19-year-old rookie Rashad Vaughn is a 6'6" shooting guard with nearly limitless scoring potential.

Storylines to Watch

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Last season should have provided only a sample of what this young, long, athletic core can do together. There are so many key moving parts, including 2014 No. 2 pick Jabari Parker, who's still recovering from a torn ACL suffered in December.

"He's still young and he's going to make mistakes, but we like what we see," Kidd said, via Charles F. Gardner of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. "He's a guy who is going to put the ball in the basket and also make plays for his teammates."

The Bucks are banking on internal growth to carry them up the conference standings.

They've had a full summer to figure out how to maximize Michael Carter-Williams' strengths (selflessness, disruptive length) while working around his limitations (poor shooting and decision-making). They're looking for a third consecutive season of substantial growth from Giannis Antetokounmpo. They've invested in the futures of Khris Middleton and John Henson, which could mean more production for both.

Milwaukee's ceiling undoubtedly climbed over the offseason; the question is whether its basement simultaneously dropped. On paper, the Bucks are starving for three-point shooting, particularly in their starting lineup. This group is also light on veteran experience since the likes of Zaza Pachulia and Jared Dudley are now suiting up elsewhere.

X-Factor: Michael Carter-Williams

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Carter-Williams is a reliable jump shot away from being terrifying. He's a tough cover as it is, sporting a 6'6" frame that pays major perks on the glass and the defensive end. But imagine if he could threaten the defense at all as a gunner instead of a .401/.252/.699 shooter. He'd have All-Star potential, and the Bucks would be the pest no one wants to see come playoff time.

There's no evidence that he can put his perimeter problems behind him. In fact, he virtually abandoned the long ball after landing in Milwaukee at last season's trade deadline, attempting just 28 triples over 25 outings. But he did give the Bucks a glimpse of the impact he can have if he emphasizes his assets and avoids the areas on the floor where he's never had success.

Less Quantity, More Quality for MCW in Milwaukee Team PPG MPG FG% TS% ORtg DRtg PER With 76ers 15.0 33.9 38.0 44.4 88 105 12.8 With Bucks 14.1 30.3 42.9 49.6 97 101 16.3 Source: Basketball-Reference.com

With the Bucks, Carter-Williams spent more time around the rim (36.4 percent of his field-goal attempts, up from 30.3) and less of it throwing up outside shots that he rarely hits. He also had a superior cast of characters around him, though his impact on them was just as significant—the Bucks fared 17.8 points better per 100 possessions when he played.

It's tempting to dream of him finding the three-point formula and imagining the massive implications that would have on this team. But truth be told, the Bucks don't need him to step outside of his lane. If he can simply minimize mistakes and become more discerning with his shot selection, he'll help the organization's stock continue to surge.

Making the Leap: Giannis Antetokounmpo

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Last season, Antetokounmpo's second in the NBA, he blossomed from mysterious, wide-eyed phenom to full-fledged contributor. Almost everything jumped on his stat sheet, including substantial spikes in shooting accuracy (49.1 field-goal percentage, up from 41.4) and player efficiency rating (14.8, from 10.8).

The 20-year-old must keep this trend alive, elevating this time from a solid starter to a team leader.

With his 7'3" wingspan, he should be in the All-Defensive team talks. He's not far removed from that conversation—he picked up three votes last season—but his defensive marks aren't elite. He finished 81st in defensive real plus-minus, and opponents were nearly as successful against him (44.1 percent shooting) as they were on average (44.3).

Offensively, he must move into a more featured role. He needs to push back beyond the three-point arc after seeing his attempts (0.5 per game, down from 1.5) and percentages (15.9, from 34.7) plummet from his rookie season. He should also command more of the playmaking duties, where his size and generosity both present natural advantages.

Best-Case Scenario

The defense is as dominant as last season. The perimeter players continually stymie opponents at the point of attack, and Monroe looks much more comfortable as a full-time center. Parker, Antetokounmpo and Vaughn help Middleton balance the floor, and Milwaukee's athleticism grows even more intimidating as better ball movement increases its effectiveness.

The Bucks aren't quite great, but they're both good and unique enough to bother teams that are. They get the opportunity to do exactly that after snagging a top-four seed and celebrating their first playoff series victory since 2001.

Worst-Case Scenario

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A dearth of outside shooting makes this offense suffocate itself. Neither Monroe nor Parker has the breathing room to survive as a primary scorer, and the attack struggles to function without a No. 1 option. The defense is sound but not spectacular, vulnerable at the rim and plagued by foul problems.

Milwaukee treads water through the All-Star break but can't gain separation in a deeper-than-it's-been Eastern Conference. As the pressures of a playoff race mount, the lack of veteran leadership surfaces at the worst possible time. The Bucks miss out on the postseason party, then spend the summer reassessing which young prospects are keepers and which should be shipped out to fill other holes.

Predictions

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This summer made all tomorrows in Milwaukee seem brighter.

Landing a rock like Monroe—one of only four players to average at least 15 points and nine rebounds in each of the last four seasons—gives the Bucks more potential and production. Locking up Middleton for the next five years is a safe, savvy investment. More importantly, these newcomers should help ease the burden and (ideally) hasten the development of the franchise's two centerpieces: Parker and Antetokounmpo.

Fast-forward two, three or four seasons ahead, and it's scary to think how far this core can go. But this process can't be accelerated. It's imperative that Bucks' fans practice patience, because there are going to be some rough patches ahead. The offense looks clunky on paper and will play that way until (if?) a few more shooters emerge. They'll feel the loss of their vets, too, since none were really replaced.

"The Bucks have bet that their talent, scheme and coaching staff will be able to make up for the lost contributions, both quantifiable and intangible, of the vets they've shipped out," wrote Yahoo Sports' Dan Devine. "If they're right, this could be one fearsome pack of deer."

The talent upgrade will ultimately make Milwaukee a better team, but the leadership vacancy will see this club drop a handful of games it has no business losing. The defense should still be elite, and the offense can be average (at least) if it finds a viable source of spacing. The Bucks will have a stronger season than the last, but they're not quite ready to make an astronomical leap.

Final Record: 45-37

Division Standing: Third in Central

Playoff Berth: Yes

Playoff Finish: Eliminated in First Round

Unless otherwise noted, statistics used courtesy of Basketball-Reference.com and NBA.com.

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