Heading into essential preparations toward the 2022-23 NBA season, Milwaukee Bucks general manager Jon Horst spoke to the media during his annual offseason press conference on Friday.
Horst delivered his thoughts on key events such as the 2022 NBA Draft, free agency, and trade talks while discussing the current status and futures of most of the players on the roster. Following a second-round postseason exit this past year after claiming their first NBA championship since 1971 during the 2020-21 season, the Bucks will be looking to reconstruct the supporting cast behind superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo, Khris Middleton, and Jrue Holiday this summer with the intentions of competing toward another title.
As we consume the information that Horst provided, which can be found on the Milwaukee Bucks’ YouTube channel, let’s dive into five takeaways from his latest presser.
Milwaukee Bucks: 5 takeaways from Jon Horst’s offseason presser – 1. Khris Middleton looks great on his road to recovery
All-Star forward Khris Middleton suffered an MCL tear in his left knee during Game 2 of the Milwaukee Bucks’ first-round playoff matchup against the Chicago Bulls and was sidelined for the remainder of the postseason, but the 30-year-old star appears to be “fine” now, according to Jon Horst.
When asked about Middleton’s status, Horst stated, “He’s fine. There’s no lasting effects of the injury and he’s in a really good spot.” Middleton has been in Milwaukee for the majority of the summer and continues to make progress with conditioning and lifting.
Needless to say, Khris Middleton has been a significant part of the Bucks’ success over the years and his two-way abilities were clearly missed in the seven-game playoff series loss against the Boston Celtics. It’s no secret that if Middleton was healthy throughout this postseason, Milwaukee would have had an excellent opportunity to repeat as NBA champions.
Nevertheless, it’s great to hear that Middleton is looking great on his road to recovery and should be fully healthy by the time training camp starts around late September. The Milwaukee Bucks need Khris Middleton at his best if they’re going to reach the ultimate goal again.
Milwaukee Bucks: 5 takeaways from Jon Horst’s offseason presser – 2. An effort will be made to retain Wesley Matthews and Jevon Carter in free agency
Entering this offseason, Wesley Matthews and Jevon Carter are set to become unrestricted free agents. Both had promising moments with the Milwaukee Bucks last season, and it seems like each of the contributory role players will hope to be retained once free agency hits.
Wesley Matthews seems like a no-brainer to bring back on a veteran minimum contract again given his relentless defense, 3-point shooting ability, and desire to stay in Milwaukee. While Matthews expressed his desire to return to the Bucks, Jon Horst praised him for his efforts in his respective role after being picked up by the team nearly mid-season:
"“He ended up starting for us in the playoffs and gave more to this team in terms of blood, sweat, and tears than anyone and just an ultimate competitor, an ultimate teammate, understands his role and understands how to maximize his role. He was incredibly efficient and effective at what he did in guarding some of the best players that our game has. Love what he did, and I think if we have an opportunity to have him back and I know that he’s expressed that that’s something that he would like to do, hopefully we can figure something out when the time’s right.” – Jon Horst"
Horst had a similar answer for 26-year-old guard Jevon Carter and called him a “great fit, unbelievable competitor” before expressing hope of re-signing him in free agency. Carter was a terrific late-season addition to the Bucks and transitioned smoothly into Milwaukee’s system and culture with his complementary skill set and “bulldog” mentality.
In addition to Matthews and Carter, Horst acknowledged that Bobby Portis and Pat Connaughton have the opportunity to become free agents and that they’ll address them once they make their respective decisions on their player options. Thanasis Antetokounmpo already opted into his $1.8 million player option for next season, per HoopsHype.
Milwaukee Bucks: 5 takeaways from Jon Horst’s offseason presser – 3. The Bucks will hold trade talks surrounding the 24th pick in the NBA Draft
The Milwaukee Bucks haven’t maintained its first-round pick since 2018 when they drafted Donte DiVincenzo with the 17th overall pick. Milwaukee holds the 24th overall pick this year but may not use it in favor of trading back in the draft like last year, attaching it to a package to acquire a more experienced rotation player, or utilizing it to offload an unwanted contract.
There are many intriguing prospects in the 2022 NBA Draft that could benefit the Bucks for both the present and long-term future, so it could be wise to draft a young prospect that’s NBA-ready with room for growth. Besides, the Bucks’ core is getting older, and Giannis Antetokounmpo is the only Buck on the roster that was a first-round pick by the organization.
If Milwaukee does decide to trade the pick, it seems like the most likely scenario would be to trade back in the draft to acquire more assets that are less valuable while saving money. An idea would be to attach the 24th pick with George Hill’s $4.0 million expiring contract in a deal with a potential team like the Memphis Grizzlies, who could be willing to absorb Hill in exchange for swapping their 29th pick for No. 24.
Of course, general manager Jon Horst and the front office will explore ways to maximize the asset and should have plenty of options on the table throughout draft night. It’s not a certain conclusion that the Bucks will trade their late first-round pick, but it will always be a possibility as long as they’re contending for titles.
Milwaukee Bucks: 5 takeaways from Jon Horst’s offseason presser – 4. Improving the playmaking, shot making, and wing size will be focal point
In terms of how the Milwaukee Bucks will seek upgrades to fill out the supporting cast this offseason, Jon Horst delivered an encouraging point of view in Friday’s press conference:
"“I think with this group, it feels like playmaking, shot making, a little bit of the flavor of the month is wing size, big wing size… having players that fit around Giannis, fit coach’s system is the most important so just staying laser-focused on that, drilling down in and figuring out what are the specific skill sets that will give us the returns we need in a tough playoff series.” – Jon Horst"
Across the playoff loss to Boston, the need for playmaking, shot making, and switchable defenders on the wing could easily be seen, so Horst was right on the money here. Obviously, Khris Middleton’s injury played a large factor into those needs as an All-Star wing that’s efficient as a playmaker, shot maker, and defender, but having that depth of guys that can flourish with those responsibilities is clearly key for this team.
Defense was not Milwaukee’s issue down the stretch. It was simply their offense, so pursuing more role players that can consistently make shots, attack off the dribble, and create for others should be addressed this summer. Horst has the right idea in mind and understands the importance of becoming more versatile while surrounding two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo with complementary assets on both ends of the floor.
It’ll be interesting how Horst and the Bucks hunt for improvements as they aim to build a championship team once again. They’ll encounter vital decisions through the NBA Draft, free agency, and scouring the trade market to bolster this title-contending roster with the playmaking, shot making, and versatility that they need.
Milwaukee Bucks: 5 takeaways from Jon Horst’s offseason presser – 5. Brook Lopez seems unlikely to be traded
Brook Lopez has been an integral component of the Milwaukee Bucks’ top-tier system, especially defensively, ever since arriving to the organization under head coach Mike Budenholzer. Lopez continues to be undervalued, and Jon Horst went out of his way to praise him on his defensive abilities to cleanse the paint, protect the rim, and anchor an elite defense.
Here’s what Horst had to say about Brook Lopez:
"“He does feel great, he looks great, he tests great so from a health perspective, he’s doing unbelievable… I think Brook’s in a great spot. We love Brook. I think he had a huge impact in the playoffs and the Chicago series in particular was borderline dominant. In a weird way, the time off maybe has rejuvenated him a little bit, maybe he’s got a little more juice in the legs. But we feel great about him. Guys love him, he loves it here. I think he continues to have a huge impact in how we play.”"
Evidently, Horst and the Bucks are still confident in Lopez’s ability to continue his significant role with the team. Therefore, it seems unlikely that the 7-foot big man will be traded this offseason despite playing shorter minutes in the postseason this year and turning 35 years old next April.
Although, the NBA is strictly a business so you never know what could happen behind the scenes. The Bucks are a loyal organization and value their long-tenured guys, especially if they just helped win a championship, so the expectation is that Brook will stay, at least for now.
Lopez will be entering the final year of his contract next season. He’ll likely maintain his starting spot at center but may receive less minutes per game given his age and with the league trending toward more prominent small-ball lineups.
All in all, the Milwaukee Bucks seem to be preparing to run it back for the most part with Giannis Antetokounmpo leading the way, Khris Middleton returning to health, Jrue Holiday setting the tone, Brook Lopez anchoring the defense, and an improved supporting cast whether that includes developing their own or adding new pieces.
Stay tuned for more coverage on an essential offseason for Jon Horst and the title-contending Bucks.