Milwaukee Bucks: 3 key dates to know with 2021 free agency period set
The Milwaukee Bucks remain focused on the 2020-21 season that is still ongoing, especially with the playoffs around the corner.
However, the cycle of speculation and player movement brews in the background, especially during this final stretch run, and we know of a final date for the league’s keystone event of the offseason. The NBA announced earlier this week that they have set this year’s free agency period, which will start on August 2 and open 5 p.m. CST.
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The speculation and intrigue surrounding Milwaukee’s free agency plans disappeared after Giannis Antetokounmpo signed his five-year supermax extension last winter as well as Jrue Holiday locking down his four-year extension earlier this month.
Still, there are some important questions that loom on the periphery and center around some of the key figures that have made up the Bucks’ supporting cast this season.
With that in mind, it’s look at some relevant dates that all Milwaukee Bucks fans will have to keep in their proverbial back pocket for the following few months.
July 31 is a big day for player and team options for multiple Milwaukee Bucks players
The time between the draft and free agency has been loaded with key decisions for Bucks role players in years past and this year will be no different. It’s on July 31 where the deadline for those critical decisions will occur and let’s break them down one by one. All information, by the way, can be found courtesy of Eric Pincus’ salary sheets that are located on Basketball Insiders.
Starting with Bryn Forbes and Bobby Portis, the Bucks’ pair of offseason additions that still remain with the team are due to turn in their decisions on their $2.4 million and $3.8 million player options, respectively.
On the flip side, the Bucks will not only have to make a decision on the $1.8 million club option on the final year of Rodions Kurucs’ contract, but they will have to tender a $1.9 million qualifying offer to keep Thanasis Antetokounmpo a restricted free agent this summer.
It’s not yet known when the Bucks’ deadline for when they have to pick up the team option on Mamadi Diakite’s deal after converting his two-way contract into a standard NBA deal earlier this week. But common sense will lead one to believe it will occur during this window as well.
Of course, some of those decisions will lead to a greater effect on what the Bucks’ bench unit looks like for next season. But it’s safe to say we’ll have some movement in some capacity based on what happens on July 31.