Following their title-winning season, the first rumor of the offseason has come to the surface for the Milwaukee Bucks.
That rumor connects the Bucks to veteran journeyman Jeff Green, who could potentially be a player on their radar in free agency. As reported by ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski and Zach Lowe, Milwaukee could be a feasible destination for the 34-year-old as he prepares to hit the free agent market after a solid year. Perhaps it was more speculation than pure reporting, but either way, the interest is justifiable.
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Of course, the Bucks got a great look at Green during their second round series with the Brooklyn Nets that went all the way to seven games. The forward was productive in that series as the Bucks just edged the Nets, and perhaps they could look to pry him away from them.
While Green might not be the flashiest name on the free agent market, he is a feasible target, and here are three reasons why the Bucks would be justified in targeting him.
Jeff Green would replace Bobby Portis if he indeed leaves the Milwaukee Bucks in free agency
The most prominent reason the Bucks would even need to pursue Green in the first place would be if they lost Bobby Portis.
Portis perfected his role with the Bucks this season by providing quality minutes off the bench, giving the team scoring, rebounding, and endless hustle. Wojnarowski and Lowe noted that Portis is seeking big money this offseason after he played a key role in the team’s title run, and his stellar play might have priced him out of Milwaukee’s range. If Portis were to take his talents elsewhere, finding an adequate replacement would be difficult, but Green would be a solid fit.
Green had an impressively productive year with the Nets by averaging 11 points while shooting 49.2 percent from the floor and 41.2 percent from behind the arc, the latter two being career bests for the 13-year veteran. The 34-year-old showed all season long that he still had some productivity left in the tank to give, and he could be a great fit with Milwaukee if he is looking for a new team by the time free agency rolls around.
Of course, the Bucks will have to wait and see what transpires with the Portis situation first. It seems relatively clear following these recent reports that the big man will opt-out of his player option for next year and look for a lucrative raise, but he made it clear how much he loves playing for Milwaukee and seemingly would like to stick around for the foreseeable future. Only time will tell, but it seems like Green will be a backup plan in the event that Portis does leave, which is reasonable.