NBA Free Agency: 5 remaining players the Milwaukee Bucks should target
By Dalton Sell
The Milwaukee Bucks could pursue free agent T.J. Warren
The Milwaukee Bucks were plagued by a lack of reliable second unit contributors throughout the entirety of last season. While the team managed to re-sign pivotal players like Bobby Portis and Jevon Carter, the Bucks would be wise to improve their bench even further, and adding someone like T.J. Warren would fit the billing in that regard.
Warren’s lethal scoring ability would undoubtedly be of use to the Bucks if he were to be signed. The forward has averaged 15.5 points per game in his career while shooting 50.7 percent on his field goal attempts while sinking 35.7 percent of his triples, all of which are compelling numbers and should catch the eye of a Milwaukee team whose reserve unit ranked 27th in average bench points last season, per NBA.com/stats. On that same note, one of Milwaukee’s most prominent flaws during their second round series against the Boston Celtics this past season was a lack of players that could create their own shot offensively, and Warren could help alleviate that concern to some degree. Warren would also help the Bucks add another wing for good measure, giving them a 6-foot-8 body that can help make sure the team has enough help at the position.
On paper, Warren would be a great fit for the Bucks, but there are some questions regarding his health and how much money he may command on the market. The veteran has appeared in just four games over the past two years due to stress fractures in his foot, and considering the Bucks just signed a player who is set to miss a chunk of next season with a torn ACL in Joe Ingles, they may not want to bring aboard another player with injury concerns. Financially, it is unclear what Warren may command in free agency, given how much time has passed since he has been on an NBA court. If the forward is willing to take a “prove it deal” to showcase that he can still play at a high level with a contending team, then the Bucks should be all in on Warren, as that would be a rather low-risk, high-reward move. At the moment, it is just unclear how much money he wants and how healthy he is, but signing him could be worth the gamble.