Assessing hardship exception options for the Milwaukee Bucks

The Milwaukee Bucks do not quite look like the Milwaukee Bucks right now because they are missing so many typical players. Much like the rest of the league, the Bucks have been ravaged by health and safety measures, sending a handful of players such as Giannis Antetokounmpo, Donte DiVincenzo, Bobby Portis, and Wesley Matthews into the protocols. In addition to these players, a few key players have been battling with injuries in Khris Middleton and Thanasis Antetokounmpo.

Due to the hardships that teams league-wide are currently enduring, teams are utilizing hardship exceptions to fill out their rosters. Essentially, a hardship exception allows teams that are missing a certain amount of players to bring in an outside player for a short period of time. Many teams in the league have been busy putting these exceptions to good use over the past few days, but the Bucks have been quiet on that front. With no timetable on their players, who should they look to bring in?

Who and what the Milwaukee Bucks should target with their hardship exception

The Bucks should be targeting size with their hardship exception. With Antetokounmpo and Portis both sidelined, the only two legitimate centers on the roster are DeMarcus Cousins and rookie big man Sandro Mamukelashvili. Adding another power forward or center would be a feasible move as the Bucks look to navigate through these issues.

A player that immediately comes to mind is D.J. Wilson, who spent the first three and a half years of his career with the Bucks from 2017-20. The former first round draft pick is currently playing in the G-League with the OKC Blue, and he is having a solid season thus far. Wilson is averaging 13.9 points, 9.6 rebounds, and 3.2 assists in 25.5 minutes per game. The 6-foot-10 forward would give the Bucks some much-needed size in the frontcourt in a system that he already knows quite well.

Speaking of familiar faces, Ersan Ilyasova would certainly be an interesting candidate. Ilyasova has had three different stints with the Bucks, and it would not be surprising if they called the veteran to inquire about a fourth. He would bring some size and outside shooting to the table for a team that could use some of both right now. At 34-years-old, Ilyasova undoubtedly still has some gas left in the tank, and he could be a reasonable target for the defending champs. No. 77 is waiting just like he left it.

The list of potential targets for the Bucks could go on and on, but the main thing they should be looking for is added depth in the frontcourt. Cousins and Mamukelashvili cannot carry the load by themselves, and there are some solid players out there that could be useful. Only time will tell if the Bucks decide to utilize this exception soon, but it would be wise of them to do so as they aim to stay afloat in what has been a tough stretch.

Be sure to stay tuned here for the latest updates regarding any reported signing for the champs.