Milwaukee Bucks 2016-17 Season Review: Spencer Hawes
By Adam Coffman
Moving Forward
Hawes’ potential return to Milwaukee is still up in the air, as he possesses a player option for just over $6 million for next year. Should he decline it, he’d be a free agent, and it’s likely that his new home would be somewhere else.
Looking back on last year’s free agency period, other big men like Cole Aldrich, who barely eclipsed the 500-minute mark in terms of playing time this season, were rewarded with deals in excess of $7 million per season.
Of course, the cash-flow dynamic changes every year, but the evidence certainly points toward there being a fit somewhere in the open market for Hawes. Even if the money is lesser in the short term elsewhere, the allure of longer financial security could also drive him to seek out a new contract with a franchise in need of a bench big.
If he were to return to the Bucks, it wouldn’t be a devastating situation financially or in terms of roster construction. Playing him definitely wouldn’t be a priority for Milwaukee, who will in all likelihood first be concentrated on developing Thon Maker, Greg Monroe, or whatever other pieces the team brings back.
As far as grading him goes, Hawes gets the benefit of a curve due to his shorter stint with the team. He wasn’t a complete disaster on the court nor a positive asset, sitting somewhere just over the line of NBA competency.
BTBP Final Grade: C-
Next: Milwaukee Bucks 2016-17 Season Review: Rashad Vaughn
Make sure to check back in the coming days, as we release our final reviews of the season.