Why a Bryn Forbes reunion could make sense for the Milwaukee Bucks

Bryn Forbes is a player that most fans of the Milwaukee Bucks will remember fondly, given that he was a key member of their 2021 title-winning team.

Following his lone year with the Bucks during the 2020-21 season, the guard left in free agency to rejoin the San Antonio Spurs, where he started his career. Forbes was dealt to the Denver Nuggets midway through the season, where he gave them some solid minutes. Now, Forbes is set to enter free agency this offseason, and considering some of the issues that plagued them last season, the Bucks would be wise to explore bringing the guard back to Milwaukee for another go-round.

Why a Bryn Forbes reunion could make sense for the Milwaukee Bucks

After watching the Milwaukee Bucks in the 2022 NBA Playoffs, it is clear that the front office must target more 3-point shooting this offseason. The Bucks shot a grueling 32.7 percent from three in their 12 playoffs games this past season, which ranked 11th out of 16 qualifying teams, according to NBA.com/stats. It was tough to watch the team hoist three after three with little success during the postseason, and something like this simply cannot happen again. As the team looks to bulk up their perimeter shooting this offseason, Forbes would be an ideal target to help the cause.

The guard has made a living in this league due to his 3-point shooting, having buried 41.3 percent of his triples on 4.2 attempts per game over his six-year career. Interestingly enough, Forbes had the best shooting season of his career when he was with the Bucks, having hit 45.2 percent of his 3-pointers on 4.9 attempts per game. In short, the Bucks could use a reliable 3-point shooter like Forbes on a nightly basis, especially given that he already has experience playing with a significant portion of Milwaukee’s roster and under the current coaching regime.

Speaking of familiarity, Forbes managed to succeed in Milwaukee during his first go-round due to the connection he developed with Giannis Antetokounmpo. During his time with the Bucks, Forbes shot an efficient 42-of-99 (42.4 percent) from three off passes from Antetokounmpo during the regular season, which was by far the most makes and attempts he had from any teammate that season. The Bucks would be wise to try and rekindle some of the magic from that connection by pairing the two together again, given how unreliable Milwaukee’s other shooters became in the playoffs. Bringing Forbes back to Milwaukee would give them a reliable shooter that has some well-established chemistry with the team’s best player.

Due to his robust 3-point shooting, Forbes can also put points on the board, which is something the Bucks need more of this offseason. Milwaukee ranked 27th in bench points per game during the 2021-22 regular season with 27.8 per game, and that fatal flaw came back to haunt them in the playoffs as they got very little support from the second unit. Forbes, who thrived offensively with the Bucks and averaged 10 points per contest primarily off the bench, could provide support in that regard. Adding more second unit scoring should be a priority for the Bucks in free agency, trades, or the draft, and bringing Forbes back would be a step in the right direction.

Another reason why bringing Forbes back to Milwaukee would make sense is that he likely will not command a hefty salary in free agency. The Bucks will not have ample spending money, so adding a veteran like Forbes on an affordable deal could be a significant addition for them, especially since he would help patch up several of their shooting and second unit scoring issues. Some could argue that the Bucks should stay away from Forbes due to his limitations on the defensive end of things, but after watching Milwaukee’s offense in the playoffs, it is clear that the team needs to improve on the offensive side of things, even if that means sacrificing on the defensive end to a degree.

Stay tuned to see if anything transpires between the Milwaukee Bucks and free agent Bryn Forbes once the NBA offseason officially begins.