However, they would lose ten of their next twelve games, and held a 30–19 record at the All-Star break.
[8][9] At midseason, Pierce was traded to the Seattle SuperSonics in exchange for Dale Ellis.
[10][11][12][13] In April, the team signed free agent and former All-Star forward Adrian Dantley, as Ellis went down with a lower back injury.
[18] Robertson also finished in third place in Defensive Player of the Year voting,[19][20] and head coach Del Harris finished tied in fifth place in Coach of the Year voting.
[21][22] However, without Ellis in the Eastern Conference First Round of the playoffs, the Bucks were swept by the 5th-seeded Philadelphia 76ers in three straight games.