The Milwaukee Bucks jumpstarted a mini roster revamping the other day by signing Luca Vildoza, a 26-year-old guard from Argentina.
Vildoza’s only previous NBA experience came during the 2021 NBA Summer League, where he hit the floor in two games as a member of the New York Knicks. However, Vildoza was waived by the Knicks after those appearances and underwent a foot procedure shortly after. Following a lengthy recovery process, Vildoza is back in the association, this time with the Bucks, where he will have a chance to carve out a role for himself on a premier title contender.
While the signing is not a seismic move for the defending champions this late in the season, it is a rather interesting deal that has some potential. With all that being said, let us take a closer look at Vildoza’s deal with the Milwaukee Bucks by breaking down the financial aspect, his fit, role, and an overall grade on general manager Jon Horst’s recent move to bring the guard aboard.
The financial aspect of Luca Vildoza’s deal with the Milwaukee Bucks
The financial specifics of Vildoza’s contract with the Bucks are certainly interesting. As detailed by HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto, the deal is worth $1.8 million over two years, but next season is not guaranteed, and it includes a $500,000 trigger date if he is not waived by the team’s first game of the 2022-23 regular season. Given these factors, the deal is a feasible one from all standpoints.
This season, Vildoza may not get too much burn with the Bucks, given that he is coming aboard so late in the year. Though he will provide some welcoming depth for the team’s upcoming trip to the postseason, this move may mean more down the line. Vildoza will get a chance to get some action during the team’s 2022 Summer League, in all likelihood, to show off what he brings to the roster. Given that the cutoff date is before Milwaukee’s 2022 season-opener, he will also likely be aboard the training camp roster, giving him a shot to earn a spot on the team’s regular season roster.
If Vildoza takes advantage and performs well with the Bucks in practice, the Summer League, and training camp, he could earn a spot on next season’s opening night roster. If not, the Bucks have a pathway to letting him go that will not cost them throughout that season. That makes this a great move for the champs as it gives the team some flexibility as they assess Vildoza’s fit on the roster and whether or not he would make sense in the long term.
All in all, the financial aspect of this deal is as low-risk, high-reward as it could possibly get.