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.
Jordan Nwora could use a change of scenery from the Milwaukee Bucks during the 2022 NBA offseason
After being selected in the second round of the 2020 NBA Draft, Jordan Nwora has spent most of his tenure with the Milwaukee Bucks on the sidelines. The forward has not been able to crack the rotation consistently, having earned time here and there. When he has been fortunate enough to see hefty minutes, Nwora has oftentimes taken advantage and displayed signs of potential, and other teams may have some interest in acquiring him to unearth it.
Nwora’s potential was fully displayed in the 13 games he started for the Bucks this past season. During those games, he averaged an eye-popping 16.3 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 1.5 assists in a hefty 34.9 minutes per contest. The forward has proven to be a reputable scorer, largely thanks to his elite outside shot, having knocked down 41.7 percent of his triples on 6.5 attempts per contest in that timeframe. There is no shortage of teams across the league that have to be intrigued with that type of production, and at 23-years-old, Nwora still has plenty of room to grow. A team like the OKC Thunder or Orlando Magic, who are currently focusing on developing their youth, could be the perfect place to help the forward take that next step in his career.
On Milwaukee’s side of things, they do have the chance to keep Nwora next season as they have a $2 million qualifying offer. Keeping him on the roster for that much would be a low-risk move for a team that is largely strapped for cash, but Nwora himself could use a change of scenery. His role is virtually non-existent on the Bucks except for nights when the team is missing a typical rotational player, and that could be frustrating. Although he is getting the chance to develop on a contender, he is doing so without the playing time, which is the most important part. It certainly would not be surprising at all to see several young teams inquire about Nwora’s availability this offseason, and it will be interesting to see how the Milwaukee Bucks respond.
George Hill could use a change of scenery from the Milwaukee Bucks during the 2022 NBA offseason
When the Milwaukee Bucks signed George Hill last offseason, it seemed like a great move for the Cream City after the turbulence they endured at the position the year prior. Given his familiarity in Milwaukee with several of the key players and Mike Budenholzer’s coaching staff, many believed that Hill could bring much-needed stability to the backup point guard position. Unfortunately, he never quite found his footing during his second stint with the Bucks, as his 2021-22 season was a flat-out disaster.
Hill averaged a measly 6.2 points per game this season, the lowest since his rookie year during the 2008-09 season. This was largely due to his inability to shoot the long ball, as the veteran sunk an abysmal 30.6 percent of his 3-pointers this season, a career-low. As bad as he was in the regular season, Hill was even worse in the postseason as he totaled six rebounds, five points, and three assists in 76 total minutes. Production like that simply will not get the job done, and the Bucks should look to move the veteran elsewhere this offseason.
Teams will not be banging down the door to acquire Hill this offseason, but with a $4 million salary for next season, he is an easily tradeable piece. Hill’s days of being a consistent contributor on a contender may be over, as he was virtually unplayable for the Bucks this season. A youthful team looking for a veteran presence in the locker room could be the perfect place for him at this stage in his career. Although the Bucks seem fond of Hill, they have to understand that he is not what they envisioned he could be when they signed him and that a change of scenery is the best possible thing for him.
Stay tuned to see how things unfold for these three Milwaukee Bucks in the offseason.