Fit with Bucks
Considering the amount of uncertainty surrounding Jabari Parker‘s impending restricted free agency as well as D.J. Wilson‘s inexperience on the NBA level, forward depth stands as an area for the Bucks to address this summer.
And with the salary cap crunch that they are facing throughout the offseason, the Bucks will have to be very decisive when it comes to approaching their potential free agent options, specifically at cost effective prices.
Those two circumstances alone are precisely why Tolliver could and should be on the Bucks’ radar once the free agency period opens up this coming weekend. For some historical reference, the Bucks reportedly had an exploratory interest in Tolliver during last year’s free agency, which didn’t reach beyond that level before he signed with Detroit.
But as we’ve seen in the cases of Matthew Dellavedova, Mirza Teletovic and most recently, Shabazz Muhammad, the Bucks are keen on bringing in players who they’ve held a past interest in previous free agencies and/or on the trade market.
When you get right down to it, the potential fit Tolliver presents to be is well suited for the Bucks with where they are at this stage.
Not unlike when they brought in Jason Terry two years ago, Tolliver provides the requisite offensive spacing, three-point shooting proficiency and general know how that could help the Bucks beef up their small ball capabilities under new head coach Mike Budenholzer.
The fact that Tolliver has been highly regarded by players in the locker room around the league is a bonus, which is something Pistons guard Reggie Jackson detailed in Edwards’ profile on the journeyman:
"“But the following season, with veterans like Tolliver, Joel Anthony and Steve Blake now removed from the equation, Detroit regressed. It missed the playoffs. The then-26-year-old Reggie Jackson, who was injured for a good portion of that season, and then-23-year-old franchise center Andre Drummond were in search of answers as the franchise’s torchbearers. “We missed his presence, really,” said Jackson, who added that he and Drummond stayed in communication with Tolliver while he was elsewhere and joked about the idea of his possible return. “A lot of pressure was put on us, and I know myself and Andre were forced to really grow and mature. “(Tolliver) was somebody that we missed and somebody that we leaned on at times, with him being an elder statesmen and having a lot of knowledge.”"
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With this year’s free agency inching ever closer, the Bucks will certainly be identifying targets that can improve the supporting cast around cornerstones like superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo and Khris Middleton. Because of that, Tolliver fits most of the criteria the Bucks will be valuing this summer and deserves a look on their part.