The front office for the Milwaukee Bucks has done a fantastic job crafting this revamped roster with an aggressive approach dating back to the offseason.
General manager Jon Horst and co. made a slew of moves to bolster the team’s rotation in the offseason, but they never let their foot off the gas as moves continued being made all throughout the regular season. Following the recent news that the Bucks will sign guard Elijah Bryant to a two-year deal, it appears that their roster is finally set for the postseason.
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No matter what happens in these playoffs, the Bucks will have closure for the future knowing that they have their main core pieces like two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo, Khris Middleton, Jrue Holiday, and Brook Lopez locked in for the foreseeable future.
However, aside from those four veterans, the future for most of the roster remains rather uncertain. The Bucks will have an assortment of key rotational pieces potentially hitting free agency once the season concludes and they could be in the market for bigger paydays.
These players could certainly earn themselves a hefty deal depending on how things play out in the upcoming playoffs. Whether it be with the Bucks or elsewhere, here are four players that could earn a nice raise if they perform in the postseason.
Bobby Portis could earn a payday in the playoffs with the Milwaukee Bucks
From the moment he set foot in Milwaukee, Bobby Portis ensured that this signing had nothing to do with the two-year, $7.4 million deal that he had signed with the club.
Portis has reiterated on many occasions how joining a winning culture convinced him to join the Bucks, and he has been a seamless fit in 62 games this year by averaging 11.4 points per game. He is doing it with career-best efficiency as well by shooting 52.3 percent from the floor and 47 percent from behind the arc. The big man has also had a massive impact on the glass, where he is hauling in 7.1 rebounds per game, the second-most on the team behind Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Set to be in the playoffs for just the second time in his career, Portis will play a key role for the Bucks in that backup power center slot. No matter how things pan out, the 26-year-old will have a big decision to make as he ponders whether to accept his $3.8 million player option to remain with the Bucks next season. Portis could certainly opt out and test the free agent market with a larger deal in mind if he overperforms his contract.
Still, knowing that Portis wants to win and that money was an afterthought in his decision to sign with the Bucks initially, he could very well stay. It would make sense as the big man has carved out a snug role for himself in the rotation in the winning environment he desired, but only time will tell how things pan out.
Bryn Forbes could earn a payday in the playoffs with the Milwaukee Bucks
Alongside Portis, sharpshooter Bryn Forbes has been one of Milwaukee’s biggest contributors off the bench this season.
The guard has served as a sparkplug in the second unit by averaging 10.1 points per game while shooting career-highs in both field goal percentage (47.2) and 3-point percentage (44.9). Enjoying the most efficient shooting season of his career, Forbes has been a perfect fit in Mike Budenholzer’s offense as he continues letting it fly.
Furthermore, that sweet shooting has turned Forbes into a magnet in lineups alongside Giannis Antetokounmpo. Per NBA.com/stats, the guard has spent 660 total minutes alongside the Greek Freak this season, his most among any teammate. Antetokounmpo’s dominance inside, paired with the perimeter shooting of Forbes, has been a lethal combination on the offensive end, which has kept defenses guessing.
Although his defense poses some cause for concern, that synergy with Antetokounmpo will earn Forbes his share of meaningful minutes in these playoffs. If he can translate this red hot shooting onto the big stage, there will be plenty of suitors preparing to make a run at the guard if he decides to enter free agency. Like Portis, Forbes holds a player option for next season worth $2.5 million, and he could certainly earn himself a bigger deal if he so desired.
Still, that will largely depend on whether this sharpshooting is sustainable in the postseason. Teams are always in the market for more shooting, and while having him stay put in Milwaukee would be welcoming, a top-notch effort in the postseason could skyrocket his value beyond their pay grade.
P.J. Tucker could earn a payday in the playoffs with the Milwaukee Bucks
The Bucks surprised many when they abruptly traded for veteran forward P.J. Tucker from the Houston Rockets back in March, but the move made all the sense in the world.
Tucker was arguably the most highly coveted piece on the trade market at the time for contenders because of his defensive prowess. When the Bucks brought him in, it was clear that they intended to throw him at Kevin Durant, Jayson Tatum, Ben Simmons, and other stars that could potentially block their path to the NBA Finals this season.
While he will play a key role in the team’s playoff run this year because of that defensive stature, his future with the franchise is uncertain. Tucker is set to hit free agency once the season ends, and it is no secret that the recently turned 36-year-old is seeking a payday. As initially reported by The Athletic’s Kelly Iko, Shams Charania, and Sam Amick (subscription required), Tucker was previously irate with the Rockets because of a lack of momentum towards a contract extension that eventually led to him requesting a trade.
If Tucker can live up to the billing and play some robust defense in the postseason against a group of the best players in the world, he could earn that payday he desired. Still, only time will tell what happens there, but there will be no shortage of teams looking to utilize Tucker’s services if he hits the market.
Donte DiVincenzo could earn a payday in the playoffs with the Milwaukee Bucks
The past several months have been a turbulent ride for third-year guard Donte DiVincenzo after initially being traded this past offseason in a deal centered around Bogdan Bogdanovic.
When that deal collapsed, the Bucks wasted no time in picking up DiVincenzo’s fourth-year option worth $4.6 million for next season. Promoting the guard into the starting lineup, doing so was an obvious move at the time. DiVincenzo could be in the market for a raise this offseason as he is set to become eligible for a rookie-scale contract extension this summer.
However, there should unquestionably be some hesitation when it comes to potentially inking him to a lucrative deal. The 24-year-old guard has been significantly inconsistent with his larger opportunity in the starting lineup this season, an issue that has plagued him since entering the league. He has been solid in the bigger picture by averaging career bests in several categories, including points, 3-point percentage, rebounds, and assists per game.
While his regular season production has been all over the place, a revamped postseason effort could certainly raise the guard’s stock with that new contract in mind. If the guard can find some stability and make his presence felt for the Bucks on their difficult road through the Eastern Conference, it could make the team much more willing to secure him for the next several years.
It appears that DiVincenzo is heating up at the right time as he has been in a nice groove throughout his last three contests, but he must find some consistency. If so, he could be the ultimate X-factor for this team in the playoffs.