After yet another eventful season, the Milwaukee Bucks are destined to make some changes to their roster this offseason.
As always, one of the biggest question marks is who the team will inevitably lose this offseason, whether it be through free agency or trade. Looking at the roster top to bottom, there are several players that could be on their way out this offseason, largely because they could simply use a new change of scenery moving forward. With that being said, let us look at three Milwaukee Bucks that fit the description and could be playing elsewhere next season.
Serge Ibaka could use a change of scenery from the Milwaukee Bucks during the 2022 NBA offseason
The Serge Ibaka experiment was certainly an odd one for the Milwaukee Bucks. After acquiring the big man at the trade deadline in a mega-four-team deal, the Bucks gave Ibaka quality playing time, but his minutes vanished entirely once Brook Lopez returned from back surgery. It seems like they genuinely brought Ibaka in as an insurance policy in case Lopez suffered any setbacks in his rehab, but once the center was cleared, Ibaka was demoted to being a spectator most nights, which may have certainly aggravated him.
After spending half the season in Milwaukee, the 32-year-old is now set to hit free agency, and it would be shocking to see him back with the Bucks following a frustrating close to the season. The big man will be able to test the open market as an unrestricted free agent, and there are a handful of different teams across the league that could offer him a more prominent opportunity and more money than the Bucks could. After watching for former NBA Champion stay glued to the bench on most nights during his time in Milwaukee, no one could blame him for wanting to go elsewhere.
Now, if the Bucks were to lose Bobby Portis, then this would be a different story. Portis has a big decision to make regarding his player option this offseason, and he will likely opt-out and at least dip his toe in the free agent waters. If he were to take his talents elsewhere, then re-signing Ibaka would make sense as he would have a clear-cut role and opportunity. The big man showed that he could be a solid backup center during his brief time with the Bucks this year, so if they were in the market for one, he would likely be their first option. However, all signs point to the Bucks being aggressive in trying to retain Portis at this time.
Ibaka is more than deserving of an opportunity where he will actually see time, so he could be out the door once free agency begins in the coming months.