As they showed throughout their 2021 title run, small ball is arguably the biggest weapon that the Milwaukee Bucks have at their disposal.
When Giannis Antetokounmpo is operating at the center position, Milwaukee is oftentimes at their most dangerous because of the versatility on the court. However, that small ball approach was not as impactful for the Bucks this past season, primarily due to P.J. Tucker’s absence. Tucker proved to be the perfect small ball four for the Bucks throughout their championship-winning campaign, but they foolishly decided to let him walk in free agency, which left the team in need of a replacement. They soon signed the hulking Semi Ojeleye to fill the role, but that backfired quickly as the forward never found his footing with the team and was dealt away at the trade deadline.
Milwaukee’s lack of a small ball power forward was not the sole reason for their downfall this past season, but it was a noticeable flaw in their playoff roster. Given how formidable the Bucks can be when they go to their smaller lineups, bringing aboard a small ball four needs to be among their top priorities this offseason. To patch up this flaw ahead of next season, here are three small ball forwards for the Bucks to target this coming offseason via free agency, trade, or the NBA Draft.
The Milwaukee Bucks should target Taurean Prince this offseason
Though he is far from the flashiest name, Taurean Prince could be an underrated small ball target for the Milwaukee Bucks.
The 6-foot-7 forward is an incredibly versatile player on the defensive end, utilizing his hefty build and lengthy wingspan to defend an array of positions. Prince would immediately make the Bucks a more formidable team on that side of the ball, giving them a quality defender to add alongside the likes of Giannis Antetokounmpo, Jrue Holiday, and several others. In addition to his defense, Prince is capable of providing a boost offensively, having averaged 10.5 points per game while shooting a serviceable 37.1 percent from 3-point range on 4.6 attempts for his career. With scoring, shooting, and defense like that, Prince would be a great small ball power forward for this team, as he would sharpen their efforts on both sides of the ball while bringing some much-needed versatility.
Following a solid year with the Minnesota Timberwolves, it is unclear what Prince may command on the open market as he prepares to enter free agency. There will be several other contenders in the exact same boat as the Bucks looking to add a small ball forward that will likely chase Prince, but Milwaukee may have one advantage over them in head coach Mike Budenholzer, who has ties to the forward from their days with the Atlanta Hawks. Prince had the best season of his career under Budenholzer in 2017-18, and perhaps reuniting with the two-time Coach of the Year may be enticing for the 28-year-old. That is just speculation, but the Bucks should look to reunite the pair regardless, as Prince would be a seamless fit on this team.
The Milwaukee Bucks should target Jeff Green this offseason
Jeff Green has played for 11 teams throughout his lengthy NBA career, and the Milwaukee Bucks could look to make it 12 this offseason.
Though Green is nearing 36-years-old, the veteran could still be a serviceable piece for the Bucks due to the versatility he would provide. The 6-foot-8 Georgetown product has played a handful of positions throughout his career, including small forward, power forward, and even center, which is why he would be perfect in Milwaukee. Head coach Mike Budenholzer could create no shortage of lineup combinations with a player such as Green, and the small ball lineups would be formidable. Not only is the veteran a quality defender, but he is also a decent scorer and passable shooter, two attributes that would make his potential fit in Milwaukee even more desirable.
It seems like the front office understood how well Green would fit in with the team as the forward was linked to Milwaukee last offseason. As the Bucks were uncertain what Bobby Portis would do with his player option, Green was pegged as a potential replacement target if the center left, but nothing ever came of it as Portis stayed in town. Well, Portis is set to ponder a player option once again this offseason, and if he leaves, Green is someone worth keeping an eye on. Green will also have a decision to make this offseason as he has a player option with the Denver Nuggets that he may or may not accept, but if he tests the free agent waters, Milwaukee should pounce on him as the veteran would likely not cost the team a significant amount while filling a prominent hole.
The Milwaukee Bucks should target P.J. Washington this offseason
While the previous two targets are rather established veterans, the Milwaukee Bucks could elect to go younger this offseason with a player like P.J. Washington.
Washington has had a decent three-year run with the Charlotte Hornets to begin his NBA career, showing signs that he could be a robust defender and capable scorer. Due to those factors along with Washington’s 6-foot-7 stature, he could be the perfect small ball four forward for the Bucks to make a run at. Defensively, Washington can guard a handful of positions at a high level, making life tough for whoever he is matched up against. Offensively, he has been solid throughout these first three seasons by averaging 11.8 points per game while hitting 37.5 percent of his triples on 4.4 attempts. At 23-years-old, Washington would inject some youth into one of the NBA’s oldest rosters, which is also quite high on their offseason to-do list.
Unlike the other two players on this list, Washington will not be a free agent this offseason, but a trade target, as he is under contract for $5.8 million next season. That makes Washington a rather affordable trade target for the Bucks, and rumors have been swirling that he may be available for the right price. According to Bleacher Report’s Jake Fischer, Washington was a “trade possibility” for the Hornets prior to the 2022 trade deadline, but they ultimately decided to keep him on the roster. They may be willing to discuss deals involving the forward again this offseason, and there should be some interest on Milwaukee’s end, given what Washington could bring to the table on both sides of the basketball while filling their gaping small ball power forward vacancy.
The Milwaukee Bucks should target Markieff Morris this offseason
Circling back to free agency, the Milwaukee Bucks could take a flyer on an established veteran in Markieff Morris to bulk up their forward rotation this offseason.
Morris is coming off a tough year with the Miami Heat, where he appeared in just 18 total games due to a neck injury, but when healthy, he could be a quality rotational piece. The 6-foot-9 Morris could add some versatility to Milwaukee’s lineup by giving them a tough-minded forward that can match up with an array of positions defensively. Offensively, Morris has been serviceable over the past four seasons since primarily adapting to a bench role by averaging 8.5 points per game while hitting a passable 34.5 percent of his triples, so he could provide some help in that regard also. Adding Morris would not be a significant move, but he could certainly provide some assistance in Milwaukee’s rather thin frontcourt.
While nothing is certain, it seems feasible to believe that Morris will not command a hefty amount on the free agent market this offseason after missing most of the season. The veteran could be an intriguing low-cost addition for the Bucks, and they should take a closer look at signing him ahead of next season. Interestingly enough, Milwaukee had previously expressed interest in acquiring the former first round pick as they were linked to him ahead of the 2020 NBA trade deadline. Even if much time has passed since then, Morris would still be a quality pickup for a Bucks team that is in the market for more depth at the power forward position, and they should pursue his services in NBA free agency.
The Milwaukee Bucks should target E.J. Liddell this offseason
The Milwaukee Bucks are set to select 24th in the 2022 NBA Draft, and they could look to fill their small ball forward opening by taking E.J. Liddell if he is on the board.
Standing at 6-foot-7, 240lbs, Liddell is someone that could come into the league and hold his own against bigger players. Due to his strong build and defensive versatility, some fans have compared Liddell to Boston Celtics forward Grant Williams, who is coincidentally someone that Milwaukee was targeting ahead of the 2022 trade deadline. On the other side of the basketball, Lidell put up some fascinating numbers during his junior year as he averaged 19.4 points per contest while also sinking 49 percent of his field goals, including 37.4 percent from deep. Though there are questions as to how Liddell would fit in with the Bucks, largely due to his reliance on scoring inside, he could be the perfect small ball forward for them to target utilizing their first round pick. Not to mention that taking him would also check off the box of adding youth this offseason.
Leading up to the NBA Draft, it appears that Liddell is someone that the Bucks have at least kicked the tires on. As previously reported by The Athletic’s Mike Vorkunov, the Bucks are among several teams that have interviewed Liddell ahead of the 2022 draft, so they are doing some homework on the 21-year-old. Ultimately, for the Bucks to select Liddell, they will have to not only keep their first round selection, but the forward will also have to still be available when they are on the board at 24. At this point, Liddell is positioned somewhere between 20-25 in most mock drafts, so there is a legitimate chance the Bucks will be able to snag him, but only time will tell.
Stay tuned to see how the Milwaukee Bucks tackle their need for a small ball four this offseason.