Milwaukee Bucks are still stewing on the pain of April's first-round playoffs exit, but Matthew Dellavedova says they are primed to go deeper next season despite a quiet offseason.
The Bucks were beaten 4-2 by Toronto in last year's playoffs but the team's youthful promise has Dellavedova bullish about their chances for the coming campaign.
Back home in Melbourne during "one of the least busy offseasons" he's ever experienced, a relaxed Dellavedova said the Bucks' young talent, led by Giannis Antetokounmpo and Australian Thon Maker, was ready to lift the team to the next level.
"It was a tough finish to the season, losing in the first round to the Raptors," Dellavedova said during a packed media conference at the headquarters of AFL club Collingwood, which Dellavedova supports and still follows when he can.
"We thought we could do more than that, even though we were a young team. We really picked up momentum going into the playoffs and I think we all have a lot of confidence heading into next year.
"We have some big goals, and I think having that playoff experience and seeing what it was like -- because we had such a young team, a lot of guys had only played a handful of playoff games -- that experience going into this year is invaluable."
The former Cleveland Cavaliers player -- who was coy when asked about Kyrie Irving's trade request, aside from admitting "when I woke up to that news, I was surprised" - said he was especially excited by last year's Most Improved Player, Antetokounmpo, and 2016 No. 10 draft pick Maker.
"I think the Bucks' trajectory, which I was looking at when making my decision [to move from the Cavs] last year [is exciting]," he said. "Giannis, being the main guy, has still got a lot of room to grow due to his length and athleticism but also because how hard he works - he could become the best player in the league, and I know that's what he wants.
"Thon is a great kid, he works extremely hard and has an unbelieveable attitude ... for someone to have his size and athletic ability but also the skills and shooting stroke, it's going to be exciting to see what he does."
As for himself, Dellavedova said his return to Australia wasn't all fun despite being able to relax a little bit more this offseason thanks to a break in the national calendar.
"I always work on everything," he said.
"[Now is] a good chance to hit the weight room, continue to work on my body, get more athletic, [and] build it up to withstand 82 games. I continue to work on my shot, get it cleaner, more efficient, use less energy, [as well as working on my] ball handling and finishing."