Milwaukee Bucks: Regrading the Pat Connaughton signing in 2018

The Bucks’ initial signing of Connaughton has to be seen as a pretty big success for both the Bucks and Connaughton. The team got a pretty cheap role player that turned into a very valuable rotation piece in those two seasons, and Connaughton was in turn rewarded with a bigger contract.

For all his warts as an inconsistent shooter in those seasons, his overaggressiveness on defense with close-outs, or just Budenholzer’s (sometimes) overreliance on him off the bench, the guard has been a success story in free agency for general manager Jon Horst and the Bucks.

His versatility has allowed the Bucks to do different things with their defensive coverages, especially this past season. Although this is about his initial contract, what he did this past season and in the playoffs should be factored in as well. He should have earned at least some respect from those who doubted his importance to the team (myself included) after his performance in the playoffs.

Connaughton may not be the flashiest role player, and he won’t be getting any Sixth Man of the Year votes while on a team with Portis, George Hill, and now Grayson Allen. But his rebounding, shooting, and defensive versatility make him an important piece to the Budenholzer Bucks.

BTBP Final (Updated) Grade: A

Connaughton still has two more years (including this season) remaining on his extension, so there’s always the possibility for another regrade of his second contract as well!