Among the many concerns that the Milwaukee Bucks must address this offseason, adding a backup point guard will be on the list.
The team went through changes at the position during their eventful 2020-21 campaign, starting the year with D.J. Augustin after signing him in free agency. However, he would not stick around as the team traded him to the Houston Rockets in the deal for P.J. Tucker. That would soon lead them to sign Jeff Teague off the buyout market, who was hit or miss when it came to playing time.
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While Teague is not guaranteed to play elsewhere next season as he prepares to enter unrestricted free agency, the Bucks could stand to pursue an upgrade at the position regardless. They elected not to select a point guard in Thursday’s 2021 NBA Draft, meaning that it will be up to them to land a free agent to fill the void.
While they will be limited financially in free agency, here are three second-unit guards the Bucks could replace Teague with.
The Milwaukee Bucks could replace Jeff Teague with Patty Mills in 2021 NBA Free Agency
As they scouted the trade market for a backup floor general last offseason, one target that came up in the rumor mill for the Bucks was Patty Mills.
Initially reported by The Ringer’s Kevin O’Connor last November, the Bucks were interested in targeting the San Antonio Spurs guard to bolster their backcourt. Of course, a deal never came to be as the Bucks would make a much bigger splash by trading for Jrue Holiday and then attempting to trade for sharpshooter Bogdanovic shortly after. With $13.2 million left on his deal at the time, the Bucks were left with little wiggle room financially and depleted asset-wise to make a genuine push to pull off a trade. With Mills now set to hit unrestricted free agency, the Bucks could look to sign him rather than pursue his services through a trade.
The move would make sense for the Bucks as Mills has been a respectable sixth man for the Spurs over the last decade, and he continues playing at a high level. The 32-year-old guard is coming off one of the best seasons of his career by averaging 10.8 points while shooting 41.2 percent from the floor and 37.5 percent from behind the arc. Instant offense like that off the bench would be a massive boost for the Bucks, particularly as they could realistically be losing two of their key second unit scorers in Bryn Forbes and Bobby Portis in free agency.
Mills would be a great fit for the Bucks without question, but the biggest question would be how much money the guard could command on the market. He did just have a great season and could be looking to be rewarded for his efforts. Whatever the case might be, the Bucks should insert their name into the mix of interested suitors to add a household backup point guard.
The Milwaukee Bucks could replace Jeff Teague with T.J. McConnell in 2021 NBA Free Agency
In a free agency class that is loaded with point guard talent, T.J. McConnell is among the more underrated players, but he would be a great target for the Bucks.
The Bucks saw their share of McConnell this season as he played for the rivaling Indiana Pacers, where he put up career-highs in several categories. That would include 8.6 points, 3.7 rebounds, an impressive 6.6 assists, and 1.9 steals per game, taking significant strides to become Indiana’s go-to-player in the second unit. While the Pacers may look to reward him for his career year by handing him an extension, the Bucks should look to make a pitch.
McConnell would immediately provide the Bucks with a hefty dose of scoring and playmaking in the second unit. Starting point guard Jrue Holiday’s masterful facilitating was sensational this year, and having a player with a similar prowess like McConnell backing him up would be a dynamic one-two punch for the Bucks to utilize. While Teague’s facilitating proved serviceable, McConnell would take things up a notch entirely. The same could be said for his presence defensively, where Teague was not exactly impactful for the Bucks on most occasions.
The one downside in targeting McConnell would be his lack of an outside shot, which is something the Bucks rely on heavily. Shooting just 32.9 percent from 3-point range for his career, McConnell has never been a reliable threat from the outside, which could be problematic. However, given everything else he brings to the table, he would be a solid target for Milwaukee. As it will be with every target, money could be the biggest obstacle in landing him, but that should not stop the front office from trying.
The Milwaukee Bucks could replace Jeff Teague with Derrick Rose in 2021 NBA Free Agency
Although the two sides have never agreed to join forces, Derrick Rose and the Bucks have been linked to one another on several occasions.
Of course, Rose had a meeting with the Bucks during free agency in 2017, and all signs pointed to him signing with the team before he abruptly signed with the Cleveland Cavaliers. Most recently, the Bucks were reportedly in the mix of teams that were looking to trade for the guard this year before he was traded to the New York Knicks in February. It seems like the two sides continue getting close, but nothing ends up materializing. However, but perhaps that could change this offseason.
Rose will enter unrestricted free agent and will have no shortage of suitors looking to target him, as he has been among the most sought-after trade targets in recent memory. The former league MVP had a stellar playoff run with the Knicks by averaging 19.4 points across five games in the team’s first round defeat against the Atlanta Hawks, raising his free agency value in the process. While his stellar performance may see him get lucrative offers, the guard has made it clear that he wants to win at this point in his career as he will be 33 when next season begins.
While he is not a seamless fit for the Bucks, mostly due to his inability to shoot from deep, Rose would be a significant addition to the bench unit. The guard could orchestrate the offense with his facilitating when Holiday needs a breather and can score the basketball at a high level at the rim and in the mid-range. Likely looking to stick in his role as a sixth man, the guard is perfect for many contending teams, and Milwaukee is not exempt.
If Rose wants to win, signing with the defending champions might be the next step in his career. The guard is on the record saying that Milwaukee feels like home to him because it is just a short drive from his home in Chicago, and perhaps that could play into the decision.