Milwaukee Bucks: Examining Pat Connaughton’s value in free agency

As the Milwaukee Bucks wing prepares to re-enter free agency, Pat Connaughton’s value around the league will soon be revealed.

One thing is for certain for Pat Connaughton this offseason: his trip back into the free agent market won’t be like how it was two years ago.

After asserting himself as a solid depth rotation player with the Milwaukee Bucks over the last two seasons, Connaughton is re-entering free agency with a better, more proven track record compared to wrapping up his stint with the Portland Trail Blazers.

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Now, the 27-year-old has previously stated his wish to remain in Milwaukee as a way to achieve his and the organization’s goal to win an NBA championship and my co-site expert Dalton Sell made his case for why Connaughton’s free agency case could still be in Milwaukee.

Still, all it takes is for a team to woo Connaughton with more money and years than the Bucks are either are able to offer or are willing to spend.

In his projections for all impending free agents this offseason, ESPN’s Bobby Marks ($$) laid out Connaughton’s free agency value at anywhere from $2 to $4 million for a multi-year deal, based on polling front office executives around the league.

That projection in of itself would serve as a raise on the multi-year deal that Connaughton had originally fetched upon coming to Milwaukee two summers ago when he inked a two-year deal worth $3.36 million.

As Connaughton mulls his options and his future in the league, the Milwaukee Bucks could have competition for the 27-year-old’s services.

We already know of one team that may reportedly have their eyes on Connaughton this fall, that being the Cleveland Cavaliers. And while the Bucks do have Connaughton’s early bird rights, giving them the ability to sign over the salary cap, they don’t have many resources available to them to re-sign the five-year wing.

While next season’s salary cap has yet to be finalized, the Bucks are projected to be at or around the cap with $114 million already committed to their books. With just the $9.3 million midlevel exception and $3.6 million bi-annual exception at their disposal, the Bucks’ free agency plans will have to be shrewd, to say the least.

Somewhere in the middle stands Connaughton, who made his mark with the Bucks over the last two seasons as an instrumental piece in their locker room. Even as Connaughton has rounded out into a solid defender, thanks to his glowing athleticism, his 3-point shooting inconsistencies haven’t yet be sorted out at this stage in his career.

Given the outstanding needs the Bucks have to address this offseason, whether it’s adding more playmakers, shot creators and shooters, making those worthwhile changes could come at the expense of Connaughton. Time will tell if that will be the case.