The Milwaukee Bucks’ championship defense came up short after they fell to the Boston Celtics in the second round of the NBA Playoffs.
With their season over, all the focus for the Bucks now shifts to the offseason and how they can position themselves to bounce back next season. A significant part of that will be deciding which impending free agents will be back next season and which ones will be playing elsewhere. There are plenty of players on either side of that argument, but let us look at three free agents that are the likeliest to return to the Milwaukee Bucks next season.
Milwaukee Bucks’ free agents likeliest to return: Thanasis Antetokounmpo
The first one is virtually guaranteed, as it would be shocking to see Thanasis Antetokounmpo on a team not named the Milwaukee Bucks next season.
The 29-year-old has a player option worth $1.9 million for the 2022-23 season, and he will likely accept that with little hesitation. Antetokounmpo has been with the team for several years now, and although he has never been a consistent contributor on the floor, he has been a great locker room presence, always serving as the most vibrant player on the bench. It is no secret that he is also the biggest motivator for Giannis Antetokounmpo, his younger brother, so keeping him in the mix for that reason alone would be feasible.
Barring some unforeseen change, Antetokounmpo will be back in green next season, and it will be interesting to see what the future may hold for him. People often declare that he is only with the Bucks because he is Giannis Antetokounmpo’s brother, but the older Antetokounmpo has proven in the past that he can play at a high level. Whether he is throwing down a vicious dunk, skying up for a rebound, or playing some incredibly aggressive defense, Thanasis can make some plays, and perhaps the Bucks will look to get him more involved next season, given that he does return once free agency ultimately kicks off.
Utilizing one of their final few roster spots on Thanasis is a low-risk move for the Bucks, so there is no harm done in keeping him around on this team-friendly deal.