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.
Jeff Green would not break the bank for the Milwaukee Bucks in free agency
Money will be tight for the Bucks this offseason, making it an uphill battle for the team to make any genuine splashes in their quest to retool before next season.
In the event that they will be looking to add depth to the frontcourt, Green is someone who could be among the more affordable targets. Wojnarowski and Lowe noted that the forward will likely be seeking more than a veteran’s minimum once free agency begins, but he could potentially be had on something a tad more such as the mid-level exception. Utilizing that, the Bucks could offer the veteran a deal worth approximately $5.9 million.
Would that be enough to pry him away from Brooklyn? It is possible, particularly as they will also have a handful of key free agents set to hit free agency and finds themselves financially limited just as Milwaukee is. Green will likely be one of the first players out the door for them as that front office will be forced to make some tough decisions, opening the door for the Bucks to make a run at him, although there will be a strong market if that ends up being the case.
If the Bucks are unable to retain Portis due to a robust market, using their mid-level exception to bring in a battle-tested veteran like Green would be a justifiable move.
Jeff Green would give the Milwaukee Bucks some much-needed versatility
Throughout their eventful playoff run, the Bucks showcased the versatility on this roster on numerous occasions.
The biggest example of this was opting to run Giannis Antetokounmpo at the center position by sending Brook Lopez to the bench. Running Giannis at the five has shown significant potential over the past several years, but it has always been about having the right personnel to make it work. Other times head coach Mike Budenholzer would flip the script completely and send out a supersized lineup of Antetokounmpo, Portis, and Lopez simultaneously. Having the ability to run these different types of lineups proved to be a luxury, and Green could help keep that consistent.
Standing at 6″8′ and weighing 235 lbs, Green can run either forward spot, even taking the mantle at center if required. He would mostly be used as the team’s power forward to give Antetokunmpo a breather or run alongside him in certain scenarios. Given his stellar outside shot, the veteran would be a great fit next to Antetokounmpo, allowing the team to run more small-ball with the Greek Freak at center. They were able to do this frequently in the playoffs because of how perfectly Portis complemented Antetokounmpo, and Green would fit the billing in a similar way.
Having a player like Green that could be used to form endless lineup combinations would be a great addition, making the team’s interest in him all the more entertaining.
It remains to be seen what happens with Portis this offseason, but in the event that he takes his talents elsewhere, Green appears to be someone to watch to fill that vacancy.