3 Milwaukee Bucks’ free agent targets with ties to Jrue Holiday

Austin Rivers could be a free agent target for the Milwaukee Bucks

Like Tyreke Evans, Austin Rivers is another player that the Milwaukee Bucks are previously on the record expressing interest in. Once Rivers was waived by the OKC Thunder following the 2021 trade deadline, The Athletic’s Shams Charania reported that the Bucks were the frontrunners to sign him and the two sides had mutual interest. However, as the story goes, the Bucks ultimately changed course in their pursuit to add a backup ball-handler as they added Jeff Teague instead. If that interest from either side is still potentially lingering, perhaps the Bucks could look to shore up their guard depth by bringing in another former teammate of Jrue Holiday’s from his days with the New Orleans Pelicans.

There was plenty of discourse surrounding the Bucks’ backup point guard depth this past season. George Hill just had his worst season to date as he was essentially a liability whenever he stepped foot on the floor. Trading the veteran should be on Milwaukee’s to-do list this offseason, and that would leave them in the market for some more depth, and Rivers could immediately help. Though Rivers did not have the flashiest numbers with the Denver Nuggets this past season, having put up six points, 1.7 rebounds, and 1.3 assists per game, he could still undoubtedly be a useful piece off the bench in a smaller role. When Holiday is catching his breath, Rivers could come in and give the Milwaukee Bucks some reliable ball-handling, facilitating, and occasional scoring.

Given the season he just had, Rivers will likely not be in the market for a hefty raise in free agency. The guard should be within Milwaukee’s price range, and if they will indeed move Hill or if they are just looking to bolster their guard depth before next season, the front office should attempt to add the 29-year-old Rivers. The interest was there previously, and it would make sense to reignite it.