Set to hit unrestricted free agency following two seasons with the Milwaukee Bucks, Pat Connaughton could be a hot commodity on the open market.
After signing with the Milwaukee Bucks in the summer of 2018, Pat Connaughton turned himself into a fan favorite fairly quickly.
The guard’s impact was not always made on the stat sheet, where he collectively averaged 6.1 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 1.8 assists per game over the last two seasons. It was his freakish athleticism that saw him land on the highlight-reel more often than not, either throwing down a vigorous dunk or emphatically blocking an opponent’s shot with that 44 inch vertical of his.
Pat’s two-year, $3.4 million deal proved to be a steal, and now the Bucks must decide whether to extend another offer the 27-year-old’s way. If they do, they would likely get a contract negotiated fairly quickly, as Connaughton has shared his desire to stay with the Bucks long-term publicly, even if it means taking a team-friendly deal. As Pat stated in an interview with SB Nation’s Michael Pina earlier in the year:
"“I want to continue to be part of the Milwaukee Bucks as a championship contender, and I want to continue to help my team eventually win a championship, two, three, four, whatever it is. What my contract looks like while I’m doing that? If it was more money and more guaranteed years, absolutely, I’d love that. But as long as I’m here, as long as I’m playing, as long as I’m doing my job to continue to be an NBA player, a dream that I wanted to accomplish since I was a kid, it’s quite possible I make more money outside of basketball than I do in basketball when it’s all said and done.”"
While Connaughton’s loyalties lie with the Bucks, there will likely be a handful of teams looking to persuade him otherwise this offseason. Without further ado, here are three of those teams that could use Pat Connaughton’s services next season.