3 free agent centers the Milwaukee Bucks should target this offseason

It’s no secret that Brook Lopez only has one year left on his contract with the Milwaukee Bucks, and it’s quite the cap hit at nearly $14 million. Given he will be 35 at the end of his contract and coming off back surgery this season, there’s no guarantee the Milwaukee Bucks will extend his contract after next season. So lets take a look at some centers the Bucks could target during free agency.

Milwaukee Bucks free agent center target No.1 – Bobby Portis

First and foremost, we need to re-sign fan favorite Bobby Portis. Rumors are already circulating that he’s going to turn down his player option of $4.6 million in order to sign a longer more lucrative deal with Milwaukee.

The Bucks managed to sign Portis last off-season on a crazy cheap deal given how important he was during the 2021 Championship run. Nobody expected Portis to have taken a cheaper deal with Milwaukee given he could have got more money elsewhere – and let’s be frank, nobody would have begrudged him taking a team up on an offer.

However, Bobby signed a two-year deal last year, with the second year being a player option. A conversation was clearly had that should Bobby take a cut for one season, a deal could be struck if he turned down the player option.

Bobby is coming off a career year with 14.6 points, 9.1 rebounds, and nearly one block per game. Add in 1.2 assists and nearly one steal a game and it’s a hell of a season. As well as this, Bobby shot 47.9 percent from the field (third highest of his career) and 39.3 percent from three (again, the third-best of his career). All of this was achieved in a career-high 28.2 minutes per game, thanks largely due to Brook Lopez being out for most of the season and Portis getting the nod in the starting five.

The Milwaukee Bucks would be crazy to let Bobby walk elsewhere. He is adored by fans and his teammates, he knows the team and the plays and would be a perfect fit to replace an aging Lopez in the starting five.