Bryn Forbes is one of the many Milwaukee Bucks that will hit the free agency market after taking home the NBA title this past season.
The guard assured that there would be no speculation surrounding his impending free agency after he elected to decline his player option worth $2.3 million for next season. It was a move that was largely expected from everyone, given the fact that Forbes had a fantastic season with Milwaukee and certainly outplayed that deal.
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Averaging 10 points while shooting career-highs in field goal percentage (47.3) and 3-point percentage (45.2), Forbes had a great season coming off the bench for the Bucks, despite his role slowly fizzling as the playoffs went on.
He will now hit free agency, and it should not take him long to find a new home as the guard is a prolific shooter, which every team in the league could always look to load up on, including Milwaukee.
Bryn Forbes will have widespread interest across the league after winning the title with the Milwaukee Bucks
Bleacher Report’s Jake Fischer recently noted in his rumor roundup ahead of free agency that there are currently are five opposing teams with their eye on the guard, with one contender currently standing as the frontrunner. The writing appears to be on the wall that Forbes would be the first free agent out the door due to Milwaukee’s limited financial flexibility and the team’s priorities when it comes to re-signing both P.J. Tucker and Bobby Portis.
With a handful of teams looking to target him, here are three big threats to sign Bryn Forbes away from the Bucks in free agency.
The Dallas Mavericks could sign Bryn Forbes away from the Milwaukee Bucks
One advantage that the Dallas Mavericks boast over the Bucks this offseason is their significant amount of cap space, which will be useful if they pursue Forbes.
In fact, the Mavericks were listed among the teams that Fischer mentioned will be targeting the guard. The fit would make sense as Dallas needs to surround 22-year-old phenom Luka Doncic with more outside shooting as they ranked 18th in the league in 3-point percentage during the regular season. Coming off a career year shooting the basketball, Forbes could certainly give them that much-needed boost from distance. While re-signing Tim Hardaway Jr. will be the first order of business for Dallas, filling out the rest of the roster with role players like Forbes will be next.
Not only would Forbes get to jump from one contender to another, but he would be playing with another one of the best players in the league in Doncic. Like he did with Giannis Antetokounmpo, Forbes would thrive off Doncic’s pristine playmaking, getting an abundance of looks from the perimeter offensively on a nightly basis. While he would not be the third star the Mavericks are searching for to pair with Luka Doncic and Kristaps Porzingis, he would be a solid role player to help this team’s ascension into genuine contention in the Western Conference.
Given Doncic’s rise to superstardom and the team’s spending money this offseason to retool their roster, Dallas could be a dark horse heading into next season. Whether it be playing alongside the Slovenian phenom, getting compensated for his efforts, or competing at the highest level, they stand as a feasible landing spot for the guard once free agency begins.
The New Orleans Pelicans could sign Bryn Forbes away from Milwaukee Bucks
Much like the Mavericks and the Bucks, the New Orleans Pelicans have a star player that works best when he is surrounded by shooting.
That would be Zion Williamson, the 20-year-old star the has been a force of nature throughout his first two seasons in the league. Much like Milwaukee’s own Giannis Antetokounmpo, Williamson operates at his best when he is close to the hoop offensively, throwing down thunderous dunks and getting close shots in general. When he needs someone to kick the ball out to on the perimeter, Forbes is a player that would be a perfect fit next to the budding superstar.
The Pelicans will have some spending money to utilize this offseason after shedding the contracts of Steven Adams and Eric Bledsoe through trade. With shooting a priority on their wishlist, it seems reasonable that they would have Forbes rather high on their list of desirable free agents and that they might make a strong push to sign him. If so, they could pay him handsomely and give him a key role playing on a youthful team that is looking to get back into contention.
All in all, among the many interest suitors, New Orleans might genuinely be the most reasonable destination for Forbes to end up playing next season. Between their newfound financial flexibility, their superstar talent that will only get better, a role that suits him perfectly, and a young team that is seemingly headed in the right direction, the guard could find success quickly playing with the Pelicans.
The Brooklyn Nets could sign Bryn Forbes away from the Milwaukee Bucks
Among the many teams that are interested in Forbes following his stellar year with the Bucks, the Brooklyn Nets are certainly a surprise.
Fischer noted that not only is Brooklyn expressing interest in Forbes but that they are currently viewed as the frontrunners to sign him. This news is truly out of left field, considering the Nets find themselves in a similar financial predicament as the Bucks, and many believed Forbes would prioritize his earnings this offseason. They would not be able to offer a sizeable raise over what the Bucks could, which makes this all the more interesting.
This latest speculation suggests that Forbes will factor in contending to his free agency decision, and Brooklyn would be a great place for that. With their star-studded leading trio of Kevin Durant, James Harden, and Kyrie Irving set to be healthy, the Nets will be among the favorites in the Eastern Conference right alongside the Bucks from the jump next season. Seeing his role slowly fade away in Milwaukee’s title run, perhaps the thought of joining another top-tier contender to show his worth is a motivating factor.
The fit needs little convincing as Forbes would be tasked with knocking down shots from deep when he receives a pass in a loaded offensive group. With that trio all sharing the court, the Nets have assembled one of the most talented trios offensively in NBA history, and Forbes would only bolster their assault on that end further.
While nothing is certain just yet, the Bucks might be looking for a replacement for Forbes with free agency officially set to begin today.