According to Shams Charania of The Athletic, free agent guard Jevon Carter has agreed to a two-year deal to return to the Milwaukee Bucks.
Carter was a late season addition for the Bucks last season and will now stick around with the combo guard reportedly choosing to stay in Milwaukee as an unrestricted free agent. Specific terms of the contract have not been made official to the public yet, but it’s likely that the new two-year contract will be a minimum deal with a player option for the second year.
Reactions to the Milwaukee Bucks re-signing guard Jevon Carter to a two-year deal during the first night of 2022 NBA free agency.
The Milwaukee Bucks clearly liked what they saw from Jevon Carter after joining the team before last season’s playoff run. Despite not receiving much playing time during the postseason in favor of veteran guard George Hill, Carter was an excellent fit within Milwaukee’s system and culture.
Unlike some of the previous teams that Carter has played for across his NBA career, the Bucks simply let Carter be himself when on the floor. The 26-year-old guard is an absolute menace on the defensive end, specifically on the perimeter and disrupting the point of attack.
He was also productive offensively as a reliable ball-handler, playmaker, and 3-point shooter. Carter shot 38.8 percent from beyond the arc last season. His relentless defense has always been his most prominent strength, but his offense flowed well alongside superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Bucks as well.
In addition, Jevon Carter is an ideal fit with Milwaukee’s desirable culture that continues to attract players toward wanting to remain with the organization. As a tough-minded competitor with a bulldog mentality, Carter knows what it takes to win and understands how to maximize his role.
Carter’s mindset and physical skill set seems to be exactly what general manager Jon Horst and the Bucks value out of players in terms of expressing an urgency to win, displaying strong work ethic, and taking pride on the defensive side of the ball. Re-signing him on a contract for two more years at a small price is exceptional value.
The Bucks are off to a tremendous start to free agency with plenty of essential moves made right off the bat. From re-signing Bobby Portis and Wesley Matthews to signing veteran wing Joe Ingles to the full $6.5 million taxpayer mid-level exception, Milwaukee is fully preparing to run it back with a deep, talented roster.
Carter will be part of the players returning to Milwaukee to run it back, and he’s expected to be much more involved in the regular rotation this time around, rightfully so. It’ll be interesting to see how much Carter’s used next season, but head coach Mike Budenholzer must realize how essential he can be to this title-contending team on both ends of the floor.
Hopefully, Jevon Carter will feature more time in the rotation heading into next season, at least ahead of Hill on the depth chart, and the best is still yet to come for him. All in all, retaining Carter was certainly a key move for the Milwaukee Bucks as they seek to recapture the NBA throne.
Stay tuned for more news on how the Bucks will fill out the rest of their roster.