With 2021 NBA Free Agency officially set to kick off tomorrow, the Milwaukee Bucks will find themselves looking to fill out several holes.
While they have their core of Giannis Antetokounmpo, Khris Middleton, and Jrue Holiday financially locked in for the foreseeable future, the rest cannot be said about the rest of the roster. A handful of Milwaukee’s other key rotational pieces can hit the free market this offseason, and it is a safe assumption that they will lose some of those players after snapping their lengthy title drought.
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Although there have been little rumblings to this point about the team’s free agents and what the future might hold, the Bucks must map out a plan full of the best and worst-case scenarios as they brace for free agency with hopes of defending their title as world champions next season.
It will be difficult as they have invested an enormous amount of capital into their core, but here are three things that should be on the Bucks’ to-do list once free agency officially begins.
The Milwaukee Bucks must re-sign P.J. Tucker in 2021 NBA Freee Agency
It goes without saying that the P.J. Tucker trade general manager Jon Horst pulled off last season certainly worked out well for the Bucks.
Not only did Tucker provide some much-needed versatile defense, but he brought with him a sense of edge and tenacity that helped separate this Milwaukee team from the iterations over the previous two years. He was a fantastic locker room presence and became a crucial piece in the Bucks’ title run as he would take on a starting role to kick off the second round following the brutal season-ending injury for Donte DiVincenzo. Given how important it was, it is far from controversial to say that the team should look to keep Tucker around as he hits free agency.
The forward is the perfect complement to players like Antetokounmpo and Middleton, not needing the ball offensively and giving his all defensively. His presence also gives the team some versatility as they can throw Tucker at the opposing team’s best offensive player defensively, giving other stellar defenders like Antetokounmpo and Holiday more breathing room to operate elsewhere. As seen by his play during this title run, his defense helps round out a formidable unit on that side of the ball, which is something they would undoubtedly like to utilize moving forward.
In terms of bringing him back, the most significant thing will be the financial aspect, as the Bucks hold his Bird rights. Bleacher Report’s Jake Fischer reported that sources say the front office has an interest in bringing Tucker back on a two-year deal worth $20 million. A short-term deal would work well for both sides as Tucker is 36-years-old, and it seems like this should be a quick negotiation between the two sides, but a necessary one.