Although most of the splashy signings are over and done with, the Milwaukee Bucks could still add one of these five players to their roster for next season.
The dust has settled on the Milwaukee Bucks NBA free agency…for the moment. Milwaukee’s roster still isn’t set for next season–either Steve Novak or Miles Plumlee (or both) could still be brought back, with a little room on the roster in addition.
The roster spots created from releasing Johnny O’Bryant and Damien Inglis mean that even if both Novak and Plumlee are brought back, the Bucks will have 14 players on their roster. That’s enough to carry into the NBA season, or the Bucks could sign another player.
Although the big names are largely off of the board, there are still some decent players available in free agency. There’s no guarantee Milwaukee goes after anyone at this late stage in the game, but the following five players are all legitimate options.
More from Bucks News
- Bucks 2023-24 player profile: Can MarJon Beauchamp take a leap?
- Piecing together the Milwaukee Bucks’ dream starting 5 in 5 years
- Predicting Thanasis Antetokounmpo’s 2023-24 stats for the Bucks
- Grade the trade: Bucks land reputable backup guard in swap with Pacers
- New workout video should have Milwaukee Bucks fans excited
Keep in mind that this isn’t just a list of the best remaining free agents–LeBron James is technically still available, but writing about the possibility of him coming to Milwaukee is a waste of everybody’s time.
Similarly, some players who wouldn’t fit well or might cost too much will be left out too. These five players are all likely to be cost-effective (read: cheap) and should theoretically fit into Milwaukee’s depth chart and scheme fairly well.
They might not be perfect fits, but that’s just realty when looking at free agency additions so late in the game.
Next: Cover Your Ears
Lance Stephenson
If there was one word that typified Lance Stephenson, it’d be misunderstood. Stephenson doesn’t have the best NBA reputation after an awful season in Charlotte in 2014-15, but he’s still a good player.
He proved that in Memphis last year, where he averaged 14.2 points, 4.4 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game on 47.4 percent field goal shooting and 35.5 percent three-point shooting. Stephenson is a career 30.8 percent shooter from long-range, but he made at least 33 percent of his triples in three of the last four years.
Even if his shooting is a little streaky, the other thing Stephenson can provide is defense. He’s a great wing defender who helped make the Indiana Pacers a true force on the defensive end during their last trip to the Conference Finals.
The two things Milwaukee needs more than all else is three-point shooting and defense. Stephenson ticks both of those boxes. He also could provide some leadership–he’s been to the Eastern Conference Finals and squared off with LeBron before. That’s no small accomplishment.
Next: How Could You Be
Moe Harkless
Somehow, Moe Harkless remains a free agent. Harkless is not a spectacular player, but he’s a very solid back-up wing. He could probably start on a handful of teams, to be honest.
Harkless’ biggest knock is that he isn’t much of a shooter. He’s only finished a season with a three-point percentage better than 28 percent once in his four-year career, and it was back in his sophomore season.
He still finds ways to be a productive player, though. Harkless averaged 6.4 points, 3.6 rebounds and 0.9 assists in 18.7 minutes per game with Portland last season. He also posted a career-best 47.4 field goal percentage.
Harkless is not a world-beater, but he provides consistent, solid bench minutes. He can also be a spot starter on a good team–Harkless started 14 games for Portland last year, and has logged some 118 starts in 279 career games.
He’s just 23 years old, but Harkless has experience already. Adding him to a young roster like the Milwaukee Bucks would be a lot of fun. The only real concern is that Portland might simply match whatever offer sheet the Bucks sign.
Next: Sign This Dude Stat
Amar’e Stoudemire
For this one to ever happen, Greg Monroe probably needs to get traded. In a post-Monroe Milwaukee Bucks roster there are two likely centers: John Henson and Miles Plumlee.
Imagine taking that already strong center rotation and adding Amar’e Stoudemire as the third big. Amar’e might want more minutes than he’d get in that situation, but the Bucks could sell him on being the team’s go-to veteran leader, a job he’d do excellently at.
Amar’e has seen it all on the NBA level. The six-time All-Star has been on some fantastic teams, and he’s transitioned from a premier player to a bench big man with grace. He’s got some injury troubles and his best basketball is behind him, but adding Amar’e for a fairly low price would be a boon for any team.
It seems most likely that he will end up back with the Miami Heat next season, but for the moment Amar’e is an unrestricted free agent. Forget his former teammate Dwyane Wade–here’s the veteran leader from last year’s Heat team the Bucks should be interested in.
Next: Opening A New K-Mart In Milwaukee
Kevin Martin
Kevin Martin makes sense for the Milwaukee Bucks. He may not be a three-and-d player due to his subpar defensive game, but he can definitely shoot the ball. Martin has taken four or more threes per game in nine of the past ten seasons, and has shot under 35 percent from deep just twice in that span.
The bad news is that last season was the first time in a decade he didn’t take that many threes. Martin saw his minutes reduced and lost his starting role in Minnesota, and eventually ended up as a role player for the San Antonio Spurs to end the season.
Still though, it’s tough to blame Martin for losing his gig with the Timberwolves. Minnesota is rightly focused on a youth movement at the moment, and Martin didn’t fit into those plans.
The Bucks are also focused on a youth movement, but bringing in Kevin Martin wouldn’t change that. It’s tough to have too many capable shooters, and since Milwaukee wouldn’t have to start Martin his defense could probably be covered up without too much trouble.
He’s not the most exciting name on this list, but he would add just a bit more space to Milwaukee’s revamped offense.
Next: For A Lark
Shane Larkin
What if I told you there was a 23-year-old point guard available right now in NBA free agency who shot 44.2 percent from the field and 36.1 percent from deep last year on per 36 averages of 11.6 points, 7.0 assists, 3.7 rebounds and 2.0 steals?
It’s hard not to be interested in a player like that. Well, that’s Shane Larkin. Larkin doesn’t have much acclaim to his name yet after playing with three different teams in his three NBA seasons and only seeing limited minutes, but he preformed in a big way last year.
Larkin is undersized at 5’11”, but he’s proven he can play on the NBA level. Taking a chance on him right now could pay off in the long run–Larkin seems like he could be an elite backup point guard if he pans out correctly.
More from Behind the Buck Pass
- Bucks 2023-24 player profile: Can MarJon Beauchamp take a leap?
- Piecing together the Milwaukee Bucks’ dream starting 5 in 5 years
- Predicting Thanasis Antetokounmpo’s 2023-24 stats for the Bucks
- Grade the trade: Bucks land reputable backup guard in swap with Pacers
- New workout video should have Milwaukee Bucks fans excited
Seeing as he’s still sitting around in free agency, Larkin might be available for a very low price. The Bucks have a fairly crowded point guard rotation already, but adding a young player with some potential like Larkin seems like the kind of move that can’t really backfire, especially considering the very low risk involved.
There’s no guarantee Milwaukee goes after any of these players or any free agents at all over the coming weeks. The open roster spot the Bucks have could be used to help grease the wheels on a potential trade, or simply saved for later in the season.
Next: Five Take-Aways From Summer League
If Milwaukee does target more free agents though, these five could all potentially fit in well.