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.
More from Bucks News
- Bucks 2023-24 player profile: Can MarJon Beauchamp take a leap?
- Piecing together the Milwaukee Bucks’ dream starting 5 in 5 years
- Predicting Thanasis Antetokounmpo’s 2023-24 stats for the Bucks
- Grade the trade: Bucks land reputable backup guard in swap with Pacers
- New workout video should have Milwaukee Bucks fans excited
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.
The Milwaukee Bucks must find a backup point guard in 2021 NBA Freee Agency
Another long-time NBA veteran that finally got a championship ring this season with the Bucks is Jeff Teague, although his free agency case is not as open and shut.
Teague came aboard mid-season via the buyout market, a move reuniting him with his former head coach Mike Budenholzer, and his play was hot or cold. Aside from a brief scoring barrage in Game 6 versus the Atlanta Hawks in the Eastern Conference Finals, Teague’s contributions in the playoffs were minimal. He was oftentimes played off the floor, and it would make sense if the team is looking for an upgrade at the position once free agency begins.
After electing not to take a point guard in the 2021 NBA Draft, the Bucks must believe they will find their next backup floor general on the free agent market. After all, this upcoming class is loaded with talent at the position. Adding an experienced ball-handler will be crucial in their retool ahead of next season, and the team will have no shortage of options to choose from on the market to make a pitch toward. Despite being low on spending money, they will surely be able to land on one that suffices.
While a Teague return might not be out of the cards entirely due to his previously announced desire to play under Budenholzer, which led him to Milwaukee in the first place last season, the Bucks could certainly stand to find an upgrade running the floor behind Jrue Holiday.
The Milwaukee Bucks must add size in the frontcourt in 2021 NBA Freee Agency
Among the many uncertainties looming over the Bucks like a black cloud, the Bobby Portis situation is one of the most intriguing.
Portis turned down his $3.8 million player option for next season and will hit the open market, something that it seemed like the Bucks were preparing for. As alluded to by ESPN’s Zach Lowe and Adrian Wojnarowski, Milwaukee could be a team to watch for veteran big man Jeff Green as a potential Portis replacement. Preparing for life after Portis is understandable as the big man may have played his way out of Milwaukee’s price range following a stellar showing in the team’s playoff run, catching interest from around the league.
However, nothing is set in stone just yet as Fischer dropped an interesting bit of information in his latest reporting surrounding the big man. He noted that both Portis and the Bucks hope to strike a deal in free agency, which would be the best-case scenario here. In addition to being beloved by the city, Portis has carved out a seamless role for himself off the bench, and bringing him back for next season would be a massive boost in their quest to run it back.
Fingers will be crossed that Portis and the Bucks can agree on a deal, but if he does leave for a bigger payday in free agency, no one could blame him. In that case, they will have to pursue other frontcourt talent like Green to try and fill the void behind players like Giannis Antetokounmpo and starting center Brook Lopez.
2021 NBA Free Agency officially tips off tomorrow, and be on the lookout for the Bucks to check these three things off their to-do list.