First reported by ESPN, The Milwaukee Bucks have added some more depth to their wing rotation with the addition of free agent Nik Stauskas.
After an eventful week full of trades and free agent signings, the Milwaukee Bucks are reportedly not done making moves quite yet.
First reported by ESPN’s Zach Lowe Thursday afternoon, the Bucks have agreed to a one-year deal with 27-year-old Nik Stauskas. As the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel’s Matt Velazquez noted, Stauskas is most likely being brought on with a training camp deal due to their cap constraints, even though the Bucks do have an open spot on their roster.
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This will mark as a return to the NBA for the eighth overall pick in the 2014 NBA Draft. Stauskas has played for five different teams in five seasons over his career, ranging from the Sacramento Kings, Philadelphia 76ers, Brooklyn Nets, Portland Trail Blazers, and most recently, the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Throughout his 335 NBA games in the league, Stauskas has averaged 6.8 points on .389/.353/.814 shooting splits, 2.1 rebounds, and 1.5 assists per game.
Due to the instability and his inability to find his place in the league, Stauskas jumped overseas for the 2019-20 season and played with Baskonia in Spain. The former Wolverine earned experience playing in the top division in Spain, the Liga ACB, as well as the EuroLeague and he averaged 8.2 points on a .396/.373/.810 slash line, 1.9 rebounds, and 1.5 assists over 40 appearances between both competitions.
Where does Nik Stauskas fit with the Milwaukee Bucks as currently constructed after a hectic free agency period?
Now, after a lengthy hiatus, it appears that Stauskas will get another shot in the NBA, this time with the Bucks, though expectations to make the opening night roster are limited as Velazquez previously noted.
Even still, the Bucks taking on a flyer on Stauskas adds to the long list of additions they’ve made on the wing between Torrey Craig, Bryn Forbes and Sam Merrill through the draft. Of course, we’ll have to see if Stauskas’ deal has some sort of guarantee included it, but it adds to the obstacles of trying to return back to the NBA through Milwaukee.
There’s no question that Stauskas brings a dose of 3-point shooting, even though he’s been far more inconsistent at the NBA level than he was billed as upon entering the league more than six years ago. Still, shooting 35.3 percent from three at the NBA level is still a serviceable rate.
Adding more shooting has clearly been a point of emphasis for the Bucks this offseason, as they acquired a pair of sharpshooters in Jordan Nwora and Sam Merrill through the draft as well as 3-point specialist Bryn Forbes in free agency. Milwaukee relies heavily on the success of their shooters, making this move for Stauskas easy to digest as they look to surround Giannis Antetokounmpo with offensive threats on the perimeter, should he make the final roster.
The signing of Nik Stauskas is among the least climactic that the Milwaukee Bucks have pulled off this offseason, but we’ll just have to see where it goes once training camp opens on Monday.