3 NBA Champions the Milwaukee Bucks should pursue in free agency
By Dalton Sell
NBA free agency is officially on the horizon, and the Milwaukee Bucks will have an opportunity to address several of the current flaws on their roster.
As the Bucks attempt to retool, they will likely be in the hunt for experienced veterans and players that can make an immediate impact upon arrival. In that case, they should look to add experienced players that have not only performed on the biggest stage in the NBA Finals, but have also etched their names into history by winning the title. Players like that know what it takes to win, and at the end of the day, that is the ultimate goal for the Bucks, so targeting players that fit the description would be a feasible move. With all that being said, let us look at three NBA Champions the Bucks should have on their radar in 2022 free agency.
The Milwaukee Bucks should pursue NBA Champion Otto Porter Jr. in free agency
After a few injury-riddled seasons, Otto Porter Jr. signed a “prove it deal” last offseason with the Golden State Warriors. The forward proved to be a key piece for them, having worked his way to becoming a starter in the 2022 NBA Finals, where Golden State ultimately won the championship. Porter showed that he could still play at a high level with the Warriors, and there will be a handful of contenders looking to sign him this offseason, one of which should be the Milwaukee Bucks, as the 29-year-old could help patch up some of their current roster holes.
The first box that Porter would check off for the Bucks is their need to get more versatile. Standing at 6-foot-8, Porter is capable of playing either forward position, meaning he could be a worthwhile candidate to fill Milwaukee’s current small-ball four vacancy. When coach Mike Budenholzer went to his small-ball lineups this past season, they did not work as well as they had in the past due to the absence of that ideal power forward next to Giannis Antetokounmpo, so finding a suitable one should be high on the team’s offseason to-do list. Porter is an interesting candidate in that regard, as he would fit the billing as a quality small ball power forward that provides solid two-way play.
Offensively, Porter may not be the scorer that he once was due to the injuries he has dealt with, but he is still more than capable of providing a spark. In 63 regular season appearances with the Warriors this past season, Porter averaged 8.2 points per game while shooting 37 percent from three on 3.4 attempts. Those numbers may not jump off the page, but the Bucks would not add Porter with the intention of relying heavily on him offensively. If the forward can check in and hit his 3-pointers consistently, that will be suitable. Defensively, Porter would be a great addition to this roster, giving them another robust defender alongside Giannis Antetokounmpo and the other notable defensive aces on the Bucks. Having a player like Porter defensively when the Bucks go to their smaller lineups could be key for Milwaukee, especially in the playoffs.
There is no doubting that Porter would be a great fit with the Bucks, but there is some uncertainty regarding whether or not he may be within their price range. After all, the veteran did just help the Warriors take home another title, and after playing this past season on a “prove it deal,” he may be in the market for a raise. Staying in Golden State will likely be in the cards as well as they attempt to run it back next season. Nevertheless, the Bucks should attempt to lure the NBA Champion to Milwaukee in free agency to shore up their versatility.