While the celebration from capturing their first title in 50 years will continue to live on, it will soon be back to business as usual for the Milwaukee Bucks.
Free agency is rapidly approaching on the horizon, and the front office must prepare for what is shaping up to be a busy offseason jam-packed with questions. While the team would certainly like to run it back next season with the same pieces that saw them end their title drought this year, it seems certain that they will be losing some household pieces once free agency officially kicks off on August 2.
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The Bucks will have seven players eligible to hit the free agent market once the clock starts, including those with decisions to be made with their player options. Given the team’s financial situation that has left them with very little spending money to regroup once more, there will be some tough decisions made.
With that being said, here is a ranking of Milwaukee’s seven free agents by which they should prioritize bringing back to defend the title next season.
Milwaukee Bucks free agent priority No. 7 – Axel Toupane
The Bucks brought Axel Toupane aboard mid-season using one of their two-way slots for his second stint with the team.
The recently turned 29-year-old hardly saw consistent minutes, playing just 61 minutes during the regular season and 10 total in the postseason. While Toupane was primarily designated to the sidelines, he was often seen energizing the team by providing a lively presence on the sidelines with his fellow bench mob. Energy players like that are undoubtedly valuable to have, but likely not enough for the Bucks to bring him back on another deal.
Given the other priorities on their roster, it should not come as a surprise if Toupane were the first member of the championship-winning squad out the door this offseason. That is not a knock on him by any means, just a realistic expectation. However, that is ultimately just pure speculation, and only time will tell how things ultimately shake out regarding Toupane and his future with the franchise following their first title in five decades.
Milwaukee Bucks free agent priority No. 6 – Justin Jackson
Justin Jackson finds himself in a similar situation to Axel Toupane after he was also brought aboard on a two-way contract with the Bucks late in the regular season.
The former UNC Tar Heel would suit up in just six games total for the Bucks, mostly finding himself out on the floor during mop-up duty late in the game. He was also one of the team’s energizers, providing a vocal spark on the bench throughout this hectic title run. Although he did not get much burn for the Bucks, Jackson’s case for sticking around is not as open and shut as some might believe when it comes to free agency.
Before signing with the Bucks, Jackson played 33 games with the OKC Thunder, providing quality minutes by averaging 7.2 points, 2.2 rebounds, and 1.5 assists per game. Those numbers do not jump off the page, but the 26-year-old showed glimpses of potential that he could be a viable rotational player. Being selected 15th overall in the 2018 NBA Draft, there is potentially some unearthed potential with Jackson waiting to be utilized. However, going out on a limb like that will not be enough for the Bucks to prioritize him in free agency.
Milwaukee Bucks free agent priority No. 5 – Jeff Teague
The Bucks filled their backup point guard opening by signing Jeff Teague following the trade deadline this year, and the experiment proved to be hit or miss.
Teague would sometimes look more comfortable than every orchestrating the offense, giving the Bucks a much-needed dose of facilitating and scoring to keep things running smoothly. However, there were also times where the guard proved to be a shortcoming for the Bucks on the floor, whether it was due to his shot selection, questionable turnovers, or being targeted on defense.
As he enters free agency it will be interesting to see whether the Bucks will look to move in another direction to find their next backup floor general or if they will look to bring him back. The latter would make sense as Teague is a favorite for head coach Mike Budenholzer. These two go back to their days with the Atlanta Hawks, and the guard previously highlighted why that was the reason he has had his eye on signing with Milwaukee for quite some time.
If Teague is willing to return on a very team-friendly deal, then keeping him is feasible to some degree, but the team will by no means drop everything to ensure he sticks around.
Milwaukee Bucks free agent priority No. 4 – Thanasis Antetokounmpo
Thanasis Antetokounmpo never played the most prominent role on the court for the Bucks, but his impact on this team was always visible.
When he was off the floor, the 29-year-old was the loudest one cheering on his teammates and getting the crowd on its feet. He was the definition of an energizer, and the team certainly valued that to the fullest extent. On the floor, Thanasis kept the energy through the roof, hustling for every rebound, diving for loose balls, and playing some tenacious defense when he was able to earn some playing time. He will never put up the gaudiest numbers, but that is not what his role ultimately entails.
Likely trending toward restricted free agency, it seems clear that keeping Thanasis around on a team-friendly deal would be something worth considering. Many will point to his last name being Antetokounmpo as to why he would get another contract, but Thanasis saw a more significant opportunity this season than ever before on the floor. Playing a career-high in minutes last year, he could serve as their utility man off the bench next year once more.
Every team needs a spark on the bench of his caliber, and while he will not be among their highest priorities, it seems reasonable to believe Thanasis will stay in Milwaukee.
Milwaukee Bucks free agent priority No. 3 – Bryn Forbes
Due to his sharpshooting, Bryn Forbes seemed like the perfect player for the Bucks, but his future with the team has become uncertain.
Forbes played a key role for the Bucks in their first round sweep of the Miami Heat, but his role slowly vanished as the postseason went on. He would eventually find himself out of the rotation later in the NBA Finals, not even grazing the floor on the biggest stage possible. It was not due to Forbes being a bad player by any means, but because the guard would often get exploited on defense and the Bucks could not risk it.
Holding a player option worth $2.5 million for next season, it seems concrete that Forbes will soon decline that. His series against the Heat alone likely earned him a new deal, not to mention that the guard boasted the fourth-best 3-point percentage in the league this season by shooting a career-best 45.2 percent. Opposing teams took notice of that, and any organization looking to shore up their shooting this offseason will look to pursue him.
While he would be a great fit for the Bucks for another season, he may have played himself out of their price range if he does indeed opt-out.
Milwaukee Bucks free agent priority No. 2 – P.J. Tucker
Following a devastating season-ending injury to Donte DiVincenzo, P.J. Tucker was promoted into the starting lineup full-time for the Bucks.
He played a pivotal role in their second round series with the Brooklyn Nets by being tasked with slowing down Kevin Durant. Although Tucker did not stop Durant by any means, his physical defense was crucial to making every shot for the forward as challenging as possible. Without that gritty defensive play for seven games against one of the greatest scorers ever, the Bucks would not have won the series, without question.
The defensive presence he provides in lineups alongside Giannis Antetokounmpo, Jrue Holiday, and Brook Lopez is just fantastic. Tucker can guard the best player on the opposing team with no questions asked, alleviating pressure off the others. While his contributions can oftentimes be scarce on the offensive end aside from the occasional corner triple, there is no doubt that he will consistently give 110 percent on the defensive side of things each and every night.
At 36-years-old, Tucker will not be securing a long-term deal this offseason, but a handful of other contending teams will undoubtedly be looking to sign him. His defensive stature could turn up any team’s efforts on that end, and as he was for the Bucks, he could be a key contributor. Yet, Tucker seems likely to stick around in Milwaukee as they hold his Bird rights once free agency begins. The veteran has also preached about how he wanted to specifically join the Bucks as he was gearing up to be traded during the season, and running it back seems ideal for both sides.
Milwaukee Bucks free agent priority No. 1 – Bobby Portis
Bobby Portis holds a player option worth $3.8 million to remain with the Bucks next season, and although everyone would love to see him accept that deal, it seems unlikely.
The big man had himself a stellar season capped off by a title win, playing a key role for the Bucks throughout the postseason. Whether it was with his dynamic scoring, prolific rebounding on both ends of the floor, or fiercely energetic presence, Portis showcased his importance for this team as he played each game like it would be his very last.
Although Portis has reiterated consistently how money is not everything, he unquestionably earned himself a hefty raise for his efforts after this playoff run. If he does opt-out, it is unclear just how much he could be seeking, but it could be out of Milwaukee’s price range. Opposing teams could offer the 26-year-old much more money than the Bucks could, and with a title under his belt, no one could blame him for wanting to cash in and be rewarded for his efforts.
If he does indeed opt to test the open market, he should be the team’s top priority to bring back, although it would cost them. Portis undeniably cemented himself among Milwaukee’s most prominent fan-favorite players in franchise history for a reason and hearing the Fiserv Forum crowd vibrantly chant his name when he takes the court is something everyone would love to hear next season and beyond.
They would have to pull some financial strings, but in the inevitable event that Portis indeed opts out of his deal for next season, the front office should have a new deal in the works.