Milwaukee Bucks: 5 guards to target in free agency
By Adam McGee
Nando De Colo
While Larkin had to settle for taking part in the EuroLeague Final, it was Nando De Colo’s CSKA Moscow, which also included former Bucks two-way big Joel Bolomboy, that emerged as champions.
For De Colo, the success marked his second EuroLeague championship, having also won the competition while earning MVP and Finals MVP honors back in 2016. In total, De Colo’s put together an incredibly decorated career in Europe in recent years, and all signs suggest he’s now ready to return to the NBA.
Like Joseph, De Colo played under Budenholzer in San Antonio, overlapping for one year during his rookie NBA season. Ultimately, De Colo was traded to Toronto the following season and missed out on winning a ring with San Antonio, and has plied his trade in Europe ever since. Speaking to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski in recent days, though, De Colo revealed:
"“I have asked my agents to explore NBA opportunities over the coming weeks. I am excited for the next challenge in my career.”"
Signing De Colo would be more complicated than any of the other players discussed in this article as he will be a restricted free agent. The Toronto Raptors have retained his rights during his absence, and may well now be rewarded with a high caliber and eminently experienced backup guard coming to join them in their title defense.
Still, how Toronto will look to spend in free agency remains uncertain, particularly until Kawhi Leonard makes his decision on where he wants to play moving forward. If De Colo was to become available, or at least seem attainable at the room exception, the Bucks should certainly explore the possibility of a deal.
Although the front office, coaching staff and team has been largely transformed in the time since, it’s worth noting that the Bucks were linked with De Colo back in 2016 when it previously seemed like an NBA return could be on the cards for the Frenchman.
The NBA team that does end up with De Colo next season will inherit an incredibly savvy playmaker, a polished scorer, and a player who has become something of a deadeye three-point shooter in his last five seasons in Moscow.