Milwaukee Bucks Rumors: Bucks among suitors for veteran center Kosta Koufos

With two roster spots remaining, the Milwaukee Bucks are rumored to be among a number of teams interested in veteran center Kosta Koufos.

As if the Milwaukee Bucks weren’t already Greece’s team by way of NBA MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo, it appears as if the team may be set to further bolster their fanbase along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea.

With a reported agreement already in place to bring Thanasis Antetokounmpo, Giannis’ elder brother, to the team for the next two years, the latest free agency rumor involving the Bucks now potentially adds another Greek international into the mix.

According to a report from Yahoo! Sports’ Chris Haynes, the Bucks are among a number of teams to have expressed interest in signing veteran center Kosta Koufos.

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Koufos, who holds dual Greek-American citizenship and played his college ball at Ohio State, has been an ever-present in the NBA since being selected with the 23rd overall pick of the 2008 NBA Draft.

Across his tenure in the NBA, Koufos has been a meaningful role player for the Utah Jazz, Minnesota Timberwolves, Memphis Grizzlies and Denver Nuggets. Most recently, Koufos has been a stalwart for the Sacramento Kings, with whom he has played over 250 games since joining in the summer of 2015.

Last season in Sacramento, Koufos role was reduced significantly as he logged just 12 minutes per game across the course of 42 game with a young, and up and coming Sacramento squad.

Now 30 years old, Koufos is almost certainly going to have to settle for more of a reduced role over the remainder of his career, where he would likely be asked to utilize his experience and defensive skills in the potentially infrequent chances he gets to take to the floor.

Certainly, if Koufos was to come to Milwaukee, that seems like the most he could expect. With the re-signing of Brook Lopez, plus the addition of his twin brother, Robin Lopez, the Bucks have solidified their options at the center position. Of course, that doesn’t even account for the potential for Giannis Antetokounmpo, Ersan Ilyasova or D.J. Wilson to soak up minutes at center in small-ball lineups either.

In other words, the fit is far from obvious here in basketball terms. Having said that, following the signing of Thanasis Antetokounmpo, a deal with Koufos doesn’t seem entirely inconceivable. The Bucks are clearly determined to do whatever they can to convince Giannis to sign a contract extension next summer, and who’s to say that doesn’t extend to bolstering their roster with notable Greek players with whom he enjoys a strong relationship.

Speaking to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel following a memorable dunk on his compatriot early last season, Antetokounmpo said of Koufos:

"“He’s a great guy. Like, he’s a great guy. I’ve met his family. I’ve met his mother. It’s going be kind of awkward when we go back to Greece and talk again, but you gotta do what you gotta do.”"

As I wrote about earlier today, from a roster standpoint, adding another point guard and a shooting wing would seem to make the most sense for the Bucks. At this point, though, who’s to say there aren’t other factors at play in their thinking.

Koufos to the Bucks doesn’t make sense from a basketball perspective, but then again, what truly does make sense in the NBA any more?