[1] The Bucks had the eleventh overall pick in the 1995 NBA draft, and selected Gary Trent out of Ohio University, but soon traded him to the Portland Trail Blazers in exchange for top draft pick Shawn Respert out of Michigan State University.
[2][3][4][5][6] During the off-season, the team re-signed free agent and former Bucks forward Terry Cummings,[7][8][9][10] and acquired former All-Star center Kevin Duckworth from the Washington Bullets.
[11][12] Early into the season, they traded Todd Day and Alton Lister to the Boston Celtics in exchange for Sherman Douglas,[13][14][15][16] and dealt Eric Murdock and second-year forward Eric Mobley to the expansion Vancouver Grizzlies in exchange for Benoit Benjamin.
[17][18][19][20] The Bucks, led by developing superstars Vin Baker and second-year forward Glenn Robinson, were considered a team with playoff potential.
[23] The Bucks missed the playoffs for the fifth straight season, finishing in seventh place in the Central Division with a disappointing 25–57 record.