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Milwaukee Bucks: Sterling Brown, Pat Connaughton to be guaranteed for 2019-20

By Jordan Treske

MILWAUKEE, WI - APRIL 10: Sterling Brown #23 and Pat Connaughton #24 of the Milwaukee Bucks react to a play during the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder on April 10, 2019 at the Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Gary Dineen/NBAE via Getty Images)
MILWAUKEE, WI - APRIL 10: Sterling Brown #23 and Pat Connaughton #24 of the Milwaukee Bucks react to a play during the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder on April 10, 2019 at the Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Gary Dineen/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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According to reports, the Milwaukee Bucks are set to guarantee the contracts for both Sterling Brown and Pat Connaughton for the 2019-20 season.

Among all the free agency hoopla, the Milwaukee Bucks are set to do a little housekeeping to keep the majority of their roster intact for next season.

First reported by Matt Velazquez of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, the Bucks will guarantee the contracts of both Sterling Brown and Pat Connaughton for the 2019-20 season.

The news doesn’t come as much of a surprise, considering how both Brown and Connaughton stood as serviceable contributors, at the very least, deep within the Bucks’ supporting cast throughout their 60-win campaign.

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After a limited rookie season during the 2017-18 campaign, Brown showed major strides, especially offensively, and even got meaningful playing time within the Bucks’ starting lineup during their playoff run.

Brown averaged 6.4 points on .465/.361/.690 shooting splits, 3.2 rebounds and 1.4 assists throughout his 58 regular season appearances.

Connaughton, meanwhile, was a shrewd pickup by Bucks general manager Jon Horst and co. last summer after they inked the Portland Trail Blazers castoff to a two-year, $3.3 million deal.

While the 26-year-old struggled with shooting slumps during his first season in Milwaukee, Connaughton has stood as valuable 3-and-D wing with the Bucks’ bench mob and the same could easily be said off the court and in the locker room.

In his 61 appearances last season, Connaughton averaged 6.9 points on .466/.330/.725 shooting splits, along with 4.2 rebounds and 2.0 assists across 20.7 minutes per contest.

As a result of this move, both Brown and Connaughton will finish out their current deals and head into free agency next season, with Brown standing as an restricted free agent and Connaughton being an unrestricted free agent.

What this means for the Bucks’ books regarding this free agency period is a question that all Bucks fans are wondering at this point, especially in light of both Brook Lopez and Khris Middleton agreeing to their respective deals on the opening day of free agency.

But with the news that the Bucks are reportedly signing-and-trading Malcolm Brogdon to the Indiana Pacers for future draft compensation, the need for both Brown and Connaughton becomes that much greater to the their roster next season.

As the roster stands, the Bucks have very little cap space to add another player, though they do have the room exception for $4.7 million.

Next. Bucks Rumors: Brook Lopez set to re-sign for four years, $52 million. dark

In light of today’s events, minting both Brown and Connaughton’s contracts was a no-brainer and now they’ll both see more a bigger role, given the current composition of the Bucks’ roster.

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