Milwaukee Bucks: Grades for Kyle Korver’s one-year, veteran minimum deal

SALT LAKE CITY, UT - APRIL 22: (Photo by Melissa Majchrzak/NBAE via Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, UT - APRIL 22: (Photo by Melissa Majchrzak/NBAE via Getty Images)
5 of 5
MIAMI, FL – DECEMBER 02: (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
MIAMI, FL – DECEMBER 02: (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)

Overall grade

In his report on the Bucks’ agreement with Korver, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski described the veteran sharpshooter as “the most pursued player left on the market“.

Part of that speaks to the dearth of options left at this point in free agency, but Korver is by no means a slouch and it shouldn’t undermine just how much of a coup this deal is for Milwaukee.

A deal such as this one, which should meaningfully bolster the Bucks’ shooting, makes for a major positive at this juncture of the offseason, and fits into the larger changes Milwaukee has made since falling short against Toronto.

With Korver, Robin Lopez and Wesley Matthews joining Milwaukee, the Bucks’ roster will have even more experience than that which they picked up during their playoff run last season.

Considering there was a definite sense of the Bucks freezing up within touching distance of the NBA Finals, adding accomplished veterans with years of accrued NBA wisdom is a sage strategy. The Bucks will be forced to make up for the loss of Malcolm Brogdon by committee, and with Korver joining the mix it’s tough to say they could have done a better job of adding high-caliber reinforcements.

It’s possible that Korver could take a really notable step back given his age, but if that makes it something of a gamble, they don’t come as more of a no-brainer than this. The cost is minimal and the Bucks have significantly more to gain from this contract than they have to lose.

Korver is guaranteed to command the respect of opposing defenses until the day he retires, and in doing so he could help the Bucks to kick on to the next level in 2019-20.

There haven’t been many instances in the Bucks’ history where Milwaukee fans have had the opportunity to watch shooters of Korver’s caliber suit up for their team, and as such it should make for a real thrill from night to night next season.

BTBP Final Grade: A+