5 wild card targets for the Milwaukee Bucks in 2022 NBA free agency

With finite spending money at their disposal, the Milwaukee Bucks are not expected to make too many sizeable moves this coming offseason.

Re-signing both Pat Connaughton and Bobby Portis in free agency, who will have player options, will be the team’s main focus this offseason, and rightfully so. However, they should also look to make some smaller tweaks to the supporting cast. Whether it be filling their small ball forward vacancy, shoring up their wing depth, or adding some center depth for good measure, the Bucks have several noticeable flaws that general manager Jon Horst could address in NBA free agency. Even with little financial flexibility, there are set to be some recognizable names on the market that many would consider wild cards, and perhaps the Bucks could strike gold by signing one of them to bolster their supporting cast. With that said, here are five targets that fit the description.

Thaddeus Young could be a wild card free agent target for the Milwaukee Bucks

Thaddeus Young was often mentioned as a desirable target for the Milwaukee Bucks throughout the 2021-22 season, and rightfully so. Ultimately, nothing ever came of it as Young was traded to the Toronto Raptors at the deadline, but as the power forward prepares to enter unrestricted free agency this offseason, the Bucks should make a legitimate run at him.

Standing at 6-foot-8, 235lbs, Young would be a quality fit to fill Milwaukee’s current small ball four opening, which is why fans primarily wanted him last season. When Giannis Antetokounmpo goes to the center position, the concoction works best when Mike Budenholzer places a power forward alongside him that can play strong defense and knock down the occasional basket, à la P.J. Tucker. Young would fit well in that regard, hypothetically giving the Bucks a hulking forward that could be utilized to defend bigger players. Offensively, Young has never been a sensational 3-point shooter, having shot just 33.2 percent for his career, but that has not stopped him from being a good scorer by averaging 12.8 points per game over his 15-year career. Young would be an ideal role player on a Bucks roster that truly needs a player like him.

What makes Young a wild card is his uncertain value in free agency. The 33-year-old is coming off the least productive season of his career, having averaged a career-low 16.3 minutes per contest. Following his down year, it is unclear what teams may look to offer the veteran in free agency, but perhaps that uncertainty could put him within Milwaukee’s range. The Bucks would not be able to offer him significant compensation, but they could allow him to showcase his talents on a team in the upper echelon of title contenders, as there would be a vital role waiting for Young immediately. Perhaps Jrue Holiday, Young’s former teammate from their days with the Philadelphia 76ers, could do some recruiting to lure the long-time veteran to Milwaukee.