Analyzing the Milwaukee Bucks’ offseason after draft and free agency

Milwaukee Bucks Offseason Moves So Far

Re-signed Free Agents

Well, the Bucks kept everyone, and it actually worked out even better than expected for them. Pat Connaughton surprisingly exercised his $5.7M player option rather than opting out to seek more money, giving the Bucks a little bit more room to work with for this season. Bobby Portis declined his player option but signed a 4-year, $49M extension once free agency opened, so he is back as well.

Wesley Matthews signed a 1-year deal to return, likely for the minimum as many hoped he would, Jevon Carter returned on a 2-year deal, Thanasis Antetokounmpo exercised his player option to remain a Buck, Serge Ibaka re-signed on a one-year deal, and the team extended a qualifying offer to Jordan Nwora, so he can come back if he wants.

So the Bucks retained literally every free agent they had, although Nwora can still sign elsewhere if he wants. They clearly are comfortable running it back with basically the same team, and it’s hard to blame them when they were an injury away from probably being back in the NBA Finals.

Drafted MarJon Beauchamp

In the draft on June 23rd, the Bucks selected MarJon Beauchamp with the 24th overall pick. He is a long, athletic wing from the G-League Ignite who has a lot of potential if he can develop a better outside shot. Beauchamp certainly fills the Bucks’ need of more athleticism and size on the wing, and he is an elite defender who should be able to have an impact on that end very quickly. It’s unlikely he plays much in year one, especially considering that the Bucks are bringing everyone back from last season, but down the road Beauchamp can certainly develop into a solid contributor.

Signed Joe Ingles

With the Bucks using money to keep all of their free agents, all they really had to sign new players was the Taxpayer Mid-Level Exception (worth about $6.4M) and some minimum contracts. There were several options for them to use that $6.4M TPMLE on, and they chose to go with Joe Ingles from the Utah Jazz.

Ingles is a bit risky because he will be 35 years old coming off a torn ACL, and he wasn’t that great last year in the half season that he played before getting hurt. He averaged just 7.2 points per game on 40.4 percent from the field and 34.7 percent from three — all down numbers compared to where he was in previous years. He is expected to return around December or January, so the Bucks will need to start the season without him.

However, as long as Ingles fully recovers from his injury, he has long been known for bringing what the Bucks need, which is shooting, playmaking, and some defense. He can handle the ball and run an offense, ranking in the 81st percentile as a pick-and-roll ball handler last season. He is also still a good shooter, ranking in the 71st percentile on catch-and-shoot jumpers and the 66th percentile on jumpers off the dribble last season, although those numbers were down from where he was two seasons ago. Even if he isn’t quite to the level he used to be at, Ingles still is a nice ball handler and shooter that the Bucks could certainly use.

The Bucks need wing depth and ball handling off the bench, and Ingles can provide both. He has also always been a solid defender and someone who talks some trash, which is always good to have. Assuming he makes a full recovery from his ACL injury, he should be an impactful role player in the playoffs for Milwaukee.

After looking at all of these moves, it’s time to give them a grade for their offseason to this point.