Milwaukee Bucks: Pass or pursue on recently rumored free agent targets
By Dalton Sell
The Milwaukee Bucks have done a fantastic job of improving the roster as the season has gone on, and they might not be finished just yet.
With one roster spot still vacant, the team has an opportunity to add the final piece to the puzzle before the postseason begins. As recently outlined by my colleague and fellow site co-expert Jordan Treske, filling out that last spot will be a tall task, given that the Bucks are currently just $737,439 under the tax line.
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Given the bonuses implemented in Jrue Holiday’s recent contract extension that he will almost certainly earn, signing another player would send them over that tax line. While that would go against the grain of what ownership has typically been accustomed to doing, it seems that they might be more open to the idea if it improves the roster further.
For reference, reports surfaced last week from The Athletic’s Shams Charania revealing that the Bucks were interested in signing sharpshooting free agent Ben McLemore before the Los Angeles Lakers swooped in and got him. It seems that Milwaukee is indeed trying to add the final piece to their 15-man roster, and they have been a recurring name in the rumor mill because of it.
With that being said, here is whether the Bucks should pass on or pursue three rumored free agent targets to round out the roster.
Should the Milwaukee Bucks pass or pursue on rumored free agent target Joe Johnson?
Having been out of the league since the 2017-18 season, Joe Johnson has recently been campaigning for an NBA comeback, and it appears that opportunity could come in Milwaukee.
According to HoopsHype’s Micahel Scotto, Johnson has a workout scheduled with the Bucks later this week. The seven-time All-Star has spent a large portion of the last few years playing in the BIG3 basketball league and most recently participating in USA Basketball’s Men’s AmeriCup Qualifying team run.
At 39 years old, one must consider what Johnson brings to the table as the 15th man on the roster. In his prime, Johnson was an electric isolation scorer that could go head-to-head with even the toughest defenders. Theoretically, the swingman could provide the Bucks more wing depth with an experienced veteran and potentially another scoring option to bolster the production from the second unit.
While it is a nice idea on paper, signing Johnson might not move the needle as much as it might for others when it comes to crossing that tax line. His upcoming workout could clear up the uncertainty about how much he has left in the tank after last playing an NBA game three years ago. Unless he absolutely stuns the team with an impressive showing during this scheduled workout, the Bucks should keep their options open.