Milwaukee Bucks: Will any outgoing free agents return next season?

Shabazz Muhammad

Shabazz Muhammad has already had his own experiences of free agency not going quite how he planned, but compared to how things looked just a few months ago, there may well be good news for the 25-year-old this summer.

When Muhammad was bought out by the Timberwolves back in March, there would have been real cause for concern about his NBA future. Like all players on the fringes of rosters, he’s not going to be dealing with any cast iron certainty now either, but at the very least Muhammad performed at a level with the Bucks that should give front offices something to think about.

In fact, relative to his role and expectations for him, Muhammad was incredibly impressive throughout his tenure with the Bucks late in the regular season and into the playoffs.

(Note: I’ve been beating this particular drum for a little while now, and I’m not slowing down. Shelve any feeling of instantly dismissing that notion you might have and check out his numbers!)

Muhammad’s game isn’t always the most aesthetically pleasing or modern, but fueled by energy as much as anything else, he consistently managed to make a positive impact in Milwaukee.

Asked about his future at exit interviews, Muhammad at least expressed an interest in returning to Milwaukee next season:

"“I mean, you know, I’m a free agent. And I like Milwaukee a lot, and like how the program’s ran, and everybody here. So we’ll see what happens and go from there.”"

The odds of him getting any more than a one-year, minimum deal anywhere seem slim, but Muhammad should certainly earn an NBA look somewhere.

Likelihood to return: 3/10. The Bucks’ front office obviously liked Muhammad enough to give him a chance within the context of their situation last season, and considering the uncertainty surrounding Parker, and the general gaps in forward depth left behind with Mirza Teletovic‘s departure, it’s not impossible that Muhammad could come back.

With a new coach at the helm, there may be a better chance of those end of roster spots going to players who more obviously fit Mike Budenholzer’s coaching style, though. There may also be questions about what you can consistently mine out of Muhammad over the course of the year, as opposed to in a short burst where his motivation and urgency are obvious.