Following a hard-fought second round series against the Boston Celtics, the Milwaukee Bucks are heading home earlier than they anticipated.
Although the offseason will not genuinely begin for quite some time, it is not too early to start and figure out what the front office must do this offseason. Jon Horst and company will have plenty on their plate with free agency, trades, and the draft in the next few months, and it will be fascinating to see how they manage things. While they will not be making a seismic move, in all likelihood, the Bucks could make several lesser moves to improve the roster and retool for another title run next season. With that being said, let us look at five moves they must make this coming offseason.
The Milwaukee Bucks need to re-sign Pat Connaughton this offseason
Pat Connaughton is among the Milwaukee Bucks that will have a player option this summer, and his decision will be a significant factor in their offseason plans.
Following the best season of his career, it would be tough to envision Connaughton accepting his $5.7 million player option for next season. The guard has earned himself a raise, and he will likely be seeking it this offseason. The Bucks should do what they must to retain Connaughton for the foreseeable future, as players like him do not grow on trees. Over these past four seasons, he has developed as a player to the point where he has transformed into an incredibly valuable piece on a championship team.
Every title-contending team needs a role player like Connaughton who is not afraid to do the dirty work nightly. He is a fantastic shooter, stellar defender, capable rebounding guard, and just a solid overall player. His impact was also well-documented on the stat sheet as he averaged 9.9 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 1.3 assists in a career-high 26 minutes per game. Perhaps Connaughton’s best contribution was his 3-point shooting, as he shot 39.5 percent on a career-high 5.7 attempts per game during the regular season. His impact is undeniable, and the Milwaukee Bucks know that.
The Bucks must do everything to keep him in Milwaukee for years to come, as losing him would be a devastating blow, and trying to replace him would be a near-insurmountable task.
The Milwaukee Bucks need to trade George Hill this offseason
When the Milwaukee Bucks signed George Hill to a two-year deal last offseason, it seemed like a good move, given their need for a backup point guard.
Despite the initial optimism surrounding Hill, things went south quickly as the guard looked like a complete shell of himself. Hill struggled to make much of an impact at all, having put up some of the worst numbers in his entire career. During his five playoff games with the Bucks, Hill failed to contribute in virtually any capacity as he tallied six rebounds, five points, and three rebounds in a grueling 76 minutes of action. The signing completely backfired for the Bucks, and they should now look to trade away the guard and his $4 million contract for next season, as that salary could actually make him a solid trade chip.
Trading away Hill would allow the Bucks to upgrade at the backup point guard position, something that they desperately need. Perhaps moving Hill would allow them to bring back Jevon Carter, who was the clear-cut better player than Hill but did not see minutes because of Mike Budenholzer’s desire to roll with George Hill. Dennis Schroder is another point guard that will be on the free agent market, and the Bucks did express some level of interest in him at the trade deadline. Tyus Jones and Patty Mills seem like more far-fetched options, but either would be a significant upgrade over what the team currently has in Hill.
If the plan is to run it back with Hill as the backup ball-handler, the Bucks are doing themselves a disservice after the disastrous season he put together.
The Milwaukee Bucks must re-sign Bobby Portis this offseason
Like Pat Connaughton, Bobby Portis is another crucial role player for the Milwaukee Bucks that will have a player option to ponder this offseason.
After playing on a deal worth $4.3 million this season, Portis can opt-in and play for $4.6 million in 2022-23 or opt out and test the open market. Given that the 27-year-old just had the best season of his NBA career by averaging career bests in virtually every single category, it would be shocking to see Portis opt-in and play on a team-friendly deal once again, and understandably so. Portis is more than deserving of a raise in pay this offseason, and the Milwaukee Bucks must do what they can to bring the big man back for more. When asked about coming back during his exit interview, Portis declared his love for being a Buck but said that it will come down to the team and his agent to figure out how to make it work.
Bringing Portis back would be a no-brainer for the Bucks. He had to play out of his role this season as the full-time center due to Brook Lopez’s absence, and he thrived. Once Lopez returned, he was sent back to his typical role off the bench, where Portis has fully bought into playing. The center is a perfect fit for this franchise on the floor, providing an ideal amount of shooting, rebounding, and scoring to go along with some unmatched intensity. He has been a constant contributor over the past few years, and the Bucks need to keep him around for the long haul. On top of how Portis is more than capable of helping the team now, he could also be Milwaukee’s long-term center once Lopez is done playing, whenever that may be.
Whatever the case, Portis is a player that can help this team win championships, and the Bucks need to keep him around.
The Milwaukee Bucks must explore adding more bench scoring in free agency or via trade this offseason
One of the Milwaukee Bucks’ biggest flaws during the regular season was their lack of second unit scoring, and it ultimately came back to bite them in the postseason.
This offseason, the Bucks must find a way to add more scorers that complement the Big 3 and can shoulder some of that responsibility offensively. Though the team is largely set to be strapped for cash and will not have too much to spend, there will be some feasible options out there. As stated previously, someone like Dennis Schroder, a former runner-up for Sixth Man of the Year, could be the perfect backup point guard for this team due to his scoring ability. Malik Monk, who just had the best year of his career with the Los Angeles Lakers, could also help improve this bench brigade due to the lethal scoring he brings to the table. Whoever they target, the Bucks need to add some scoring this offseason in free agency.
If the Bucks are unable to do so in free agency, there could also be some interesting targets worth calling about on the trade market. Players like Justin Holiday or Kelly Oubre Jr. could help improve Milwaukee’s lackluster second unit scoring numbers while also filling the team’s holes at the wing position. As for assets, the Bucks have a surplus of second round picks at their disposal from prior trades, but they will also have a rare first round pick in the upcoming 2022 NBA Draft. Many have argued that the Milwaukee Bucks should keep that pick, and understandably so, but it will be an option if they are looking to make a splash on the trade market.
Milwaukee’s front office does not have the most assets and flexibility at its disposal, but Horst has made some miracles before, and he needs to be aggressive this offseason.
The Milwaukee Bucks must nail their first round pick in the 2022 NBA Draft
For the first time in a long time, the Milwaukee Bucks will have a first round pick to utilize as they are set to select 24th in the 2022 NBA Draft.
Given their heavy reliance on veterans such as George Hill or Wesley Matthews, this could be the perfect opportunity for the Bucks to inject some youth into their team. Perhaps they could fill their holes on the wing with a young first round talent. Someone like Leonard Miller or a young player like Blake Wesley could both be intriguing additions to this Milwaukee team, giving the Bucks a piece to develop for many years to come.
If the Bucks ultimately keep their first round pick, they need to nail the selection, as their record of drafting in the first round has not been great over the past several years. Their last three picks in the first round include Thon Maker, D.J. Wilson, and Donte DiVincenzo, none of which are currently on the team anymore because they did not quite pan out. Set to pick in the first round for the first time in four years, the Bucks cannot mess this up. This is a rare chance to add an impact player to the roster without spending considerable money, and they must seize the moment.
It will be fascinating to see what the Milwaukee Bucks plan on doing with their first round pick.
Stay tuned to see how the Bucks operate in what should be an incredibly busy offseason ahead.