3 Milwaukee Bucks’ free agent targets with ties to Brook Lopez
By Dalton Sell
The Milwaukee Bucks could target Wayne Ellington in NBA free agency
Another noteworthy teammate that Brook Lopez shared the court with during his tenure with the Brooklyn Nets is Wayne Ellington. The veteran has been a quality role player throughout his career, and after a hit-or-miss season with the Los Angeles Lakers, he should be on the Milwaukee Bucks’ radar as NBA free agency inches closer.
Ellington has made his living in the NBA due to his prolific long distance shooting, as he has buried 38.2 percent of his triples on 4.1 attempts per contest. The Bucks are always looking to add more 3-point shooting, and targeting more reliable marksmen should be a priority after the team could not buy a bucket from distance in their second round playoff matchup against the Boston Celtics. Ellington fits the billing in that regard, and his outside shooting would make him a seamless fit in Mike Budenholzer’s 3-point-reliant offense. His defense is nothing to rave about, but the Bucks simply need to prioritize adding more consistent threats from three.
Due to that long range shooting, Ellington would not only be a great fit in Milwaukee’s offense, but he could be a solid pairing with Giannis Antetokounmpo. Over the years, the Bucks have brought in 3-point specialists such as Bryn Forbes and Grayson Allen to pair with the Greek Freak and provide some spacing on the perimeter. It is certainly no coincidence that those two have boasted the best 3-point shooting percentages of their NBA careers when playing in Milwaukee, and Ellington could likely do the same due to the sheer number of open looks he would receive from the Finals MVP.
Given that Ellington just had a tough year with the Lakers where he was in and out of the rotation, he likely will not seek a considerable amount as he braces for unrestricted free agency. If the guard is looking for an opportunity to showcase his talent on a title-contending team and will consider a team-friendly deal, Milwaukee could be the perfect fit for Ellington this offseason.