Maintaining the many pieces from a championship-winning roster is always difficult, which the Milwaukee Bucks will come to find out this offseason.
Following their first title-winning season in 50 years, the Bucks will soon brace for what is shaping up to be a hectic free agency period. In addition to the 2021 NBA Draft scheduled for right around the corner on July 29, there will be a rather quick turnaround from the title celebration to free agency, which is officially set to begin on August 2.
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As it pertains to free agency, several key pieces from their championship run can hit the open market, and it seems clear that this team will not be running it back in full next season. With little financial flexibility, the front office faces a tall order when deciding which players to keep and which to let walk away, and it will be interesting to see how things unfold.
With that being said, here are free agent Bucks that are unlikeliest to return to defend the title next season.
Justin Jackson/Axel Toupane could leave the Milwaukee Bucks in 2021 NBA Free Agency
After playing on two-way contracts for the Bucks this season, Axel Toupane and Justin Jackson could both find themselves on the move in free agency.
Neither were key rotational pieces en route to the title, as Toupane played just 10 minutes across Milwaukee’s playoff run while Jackson suited up for 15. Instead, they were oftentimes the players on the sidelines that could visibly be spotted from a mile away hyping up the team with their energetic presences. They were both great guys to have on the bench and in the locker room, but whether or not the Bucks have any interest in bringing them back is certainly a question worth asking.
Toupane is 29 and Jackson is 26, and although both showed glimpses of potential when they were fortunate enough to play this season, it might not be enough to guarantee them a spot next season. If the team were to choose between the two, handing Jackson another two-way deal would not be the worst idea, as he looked like a solid rotational piece with the OKC Thunder being signing with the Bucks late in the season. Perhaps he could eventually turn into the 15th overall pick that he was supposed to be at some point down the road.
Still, fans should not be surprised if neither Toupane nor Jackson returns to Milwaukee this season after they were hardly present in the rotation during 2020-21.