After yet another eventful season, the Milwaukee Bucks are set to have eight players potentially test the waters of free agency this offseason.
With the future of a sizeable portion of their roster uncertain, general manager Jon Horst and co. will be quite busy once free agency ultimately begins. They will have to make several tough calls, as running it back with the same roster in tow seems incredibly unlikely. With the Big 3 all under contract, the front office thankfully will not have to make any seismic changes there, but making the correct moves to surround them with the proper talent will be a crucial task. With that being said, here is what the Milwaukee Bucks should do with all eight of their potential free agents.
What should the Milwaukee Bucks do with Thanasis Antetokounmpo this offseason?
This first one should not be too controversial, given that anyone could see the decision coming from a mile away. Thanasis Antetokounmpo will have a player option worth $1.8 million for the 2022-23 NBA season, and it would be shocking to see him decline it. Although the forward has not played significant minutes with the Bucks over the past two seasons, he has served as their biggest sideline spark. Antetokounmpo has always been a vocal presence for Milwaukee both on and off the floor, especially to his younger brother Giannis Antetokounmpo, who he has been the biggest hype man for during their time together with the franchise. While his role has never been significant, Thanasis has shown some glimpses of potential at times due to his tenacity, defense, and overall energy out on the floor, so keeping him around on a team-friendly deal is very low risk. All signs point to Antetokounmpo accepting his player option and sticking with the Bucks for yet another season, which was always expected.
What should the Milwaukee Bucks do with Lindell Wigginton this offseason?
Like Thanasis Antetokounmpo, another player that did not see too much time with the Bucks this past season was Lindell Wigginton. The point guard came aboard mid-season via a two-way deal, and although he never played a significant role, he did show some flashes here and there when he took the floor in mop-up duty with his shooting, scoring, and overall energy. After appearing in just 19 games with the Bucks, Wigginton is set to be a restricted free agent, and it does not seem too likely that he will be back with the team, given his minimal minutes. Yet, it would not be shocking to see Wigginton stay within the state, as he could likely return to the Wisconsin Herd, the Bucks’ G-League affiliate in Oshkosh. Wigginton has prior experience with the Herd, and playing there in 2022-23 could help continue his development. If he were to excel with the Herd, Wigginton could potentially even be back with the Bucks at some point next season, but that is just speculation. For now, it would be surprising to see the Bucks retain Wigginton in NBA free agency.
What should the Milwaukee Bucks do with Jevon Carter this offseason?
The Jevon Carter situation is a perplexing one for the Milwaukee Bucks. On paper, he is the perfect backup point guard for this team due to his pestering defense and electrifying shooting, which the 26-year-old showed time and time again this past season. Unfortunately, Carter was not properly utilized by head coach Mike Budenholzer as he was demoted to being a spectator most nights in favor of George Hill, who just wrapped up arguably his worst season to date. Keeping Carter would be a no-brainer for the Bucks, but they have Hill under contract for next season, and he likely does not want to be stuck on the sidelines for another season. That is why the Bucks should trade Hill this offseason and re-sign Carter, giving him the keys to the backup point guard position. Carter will not be seeking a hefty amount of money on the open market, and bringing him back is such an obvious move, given his affordability and how seamless of a fit he is off the bench.
What should the Milwaukee Bucks do with Jordan Nwora this offseason?
Jordan Nwora has been a fascinating player since the Bucks drafted him in the second round of the 2020 NBA Draft. The forward has been in and out of Mike Budenholzer’s rotation over the last two years, never managing to carve out a role for himself. However, when he has played, he has shown signs of star potential. In 13 regular season games as a starter this past season, Nwora averaged 16.3 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 1.5 assists in 34.9 minutes per game. Those numbers are certainly eye-popping, and it will be interesting to see what the Bucks will do. On the one hand, they could attempt to make Nwora a restricted free agent this offseason and have him sign a qualifying offer worth an affordable $2 million for next season. On the other hand, they could let him go to a team where he could play actual minutes and put that potential to good use. Ultimately, if the Bucks can keep Nwora on a team-friendly deal, then having him on the roster next season would be a low-risk move. One of Milwaukee’s biggest flaws this past season was their lack of bench scoring, and Nwora could possibly provide some assistance in that regard with more playing time.
What should the Milwaukee Bucks do with Wesley Matthews this offseason?
In a year where the Milwaukee Bucks made some puzzling moves, signing Wesley Matthews in December was not among them. The guard came aboard via a non-guaranteed deal and earned his spot on the roster due to his reputable defense and fantastic shooting. Matthews eventually worked his way up to being a full-time starter late in the season and into the postseason as the veteran played a pivotal role in Milwaukee’s success prior to their second round exit. As for what the future may hold, Matthews told the media during his exit interview that he would like to be back with the Bucks next season, and they should feel the same. While he is not the Matthews of old, the 35-year-old showed that he could still play at a high level in the right role this season, and he could be a useful piece for the Bucks next season. Furthermore, he will not command much on the market, which is significant for a team like the Bucks with limited financial flexibility.
What should the Milwaukee Bucks do with Serge Ibaka this offseason?
At this point in time, it would be surprising to see Serge Ibaka back with the Bucks next season, as his tenure with the team did not quite go as expected. After coming over at the trade deadline, the center played great early on, but he was quickly booted from the rotation once Brook Lopez came back from a lengthy rehab, and he scarcely played down the stretch of the season. Ibaka played a mere 22 minutes in Milwaukee’s playoff run, which had to have been frustrating for a player of his caliber. Set to hit unrestricted free agency, the big man will likely seek out an opportunity where he will have a prominent role rather than being a third-string center. Yet, despite all of that, the door should not be entirely closed on a return to the Bucks, as Bobby Portis’ future could have massive implications on this. Portis, who will be discussed in a moment, has a player option this offseason, and if he were to leave Milwaukee, the Bucks would need a new backup center. Ibaka would be an obvious choice to fill that role, given his familiarity with the team and the vacancy that would have hypothetically opened up. However, right now, there is no clear-cut indication of what will happen with Portis and his player option, so Ibaka leaving seems like the most logical outcome right now.
What should the Milwaukee Bucks do with Bobby Portis this offseason?
After helping the Milwaukee Bucks win the 2021 NBA title, Bobby Portis agreed to return to the franchise on an incredibly team-friendly deal. This past season, he was forced to take on a huge role as the Bucks’ full-time starting center in Brook Lopez’s absence, and he had the best season of his career to date. Portis will now have to ponder a player option worth $4.5 million, and after his career year, he may look to capitalize and earn a raise in free agency, whether that is with the Bucks or elsewhere. On Milwaukee’s side of things, re-signing Portis should be among their top priorities this offseason, given how important he is for this team. Portis has shown in the past that he can be a difference-maker for the Bucks, and losing him would be a sizeable blow.
What should the Milwaukee Bucks do with Pat Connaughton this offseason?
Like Portis, bringing back Pat Connaughton should be a priority for the Bucks this offseason, as he has also been a valuable role player for them. Connaughton has a player option worth $5.3 million for next season, and although there is no indication of what he will do with it, he could potentially try to earn a raise after the career year he just had. If he were to opt out, the Bucks must do what it takes to retain him, as Connaughton is too valuable to lose this offseason. The two-guard is the Bucks’ Swiss Army Knife, and trying to replace his scoring, shooting, defense, and rebounding with another player would be a tall order, to say the least. Connaughton stated previously in a sit down with SB Nation’s Michael Pina that he wants to build something special in Milwaukee long term, and the Bucks should look to oblige him this coming offseason.
Stay tuned to see what the Milwaukee Bucks do with their free agents this offseason.