The Milwaukee Bucks have undergone some big roster changes throughout the past few weeks, and they might not be done yet.
The team is obligated to have 14 standard players on their roster and is eligible to have 15 at the max, excluding two-way contracts. The 14th roster spot is currently occupied by Meyers Leonard, who is on a 10-day deal, while the 15th spot remains vacant. Depending on what transpires with Leonard, the Bucks will be obligated to fill that spot once again. With that said, let us look at three scenarios to help the Bucks fulfill the NBA’s roster requirement of at least 14 players.
3 possible scenarios to help the Milwaukee Bucks fill out their roster – Give Meyers Leonard a standard deal
Sticking with Leonard, the Bucks could keep him around if they so desire. Leonard’s first 10-day deal will expire on March 3, but the team can sign him to one more if they want to utilize the big man’s services for another 10 days. After that, they would have to sign him to a standard deal for the remainder of the season. That seems like a feasible option for the Milwaukee Bucks.
It’s only been two games, but Leonard has looked decent for the Bucks, especially considering he has been out of the league for nearly two years. The center has shown that he can space the floor and defend the paint, which are two attributes the Bucks desire. Keeping Leonard would give the team frontcourt depth, given that they are thin behind Giannis Antetokounmpo, Brook Lopez, and Bobby Portis.
As the 14th man on Milwaukee’s roster, keeping Leonard around on a cheap deal would not be the worst move. He might not be a legitimate contributor down the line, but what 14th or 15th player on a roster typically is? This would be a depth move. The Bucks will certainly let Leonard play out this first 10-day contract before deciding on anything, but it would not be surprising to see them ink him to a legitimate deal soon.
3 possible scenarios to help the Milwaukee Bucks fill out their roster – Give A.J. Green or Sandro Mamukelasvhili a standard deal
Another possible option for the Bucks would be to promote some of their current in-house talent. A.J. Green and Sandro Mamukelasvhili currently occupy Milwaukee’s two-way roster spots, and a promotion could be in store for either. The Bucks took this same approach a few years ago when they inked Mamadi Diakite to a standard deal late in the season. It’s a great gesture and gives the team another body that can play in the postseason.
Of the two, Green seems to be the likelier candidate to receive a new deal, given that he has been given legitimate playing time on many occasions throughout the season. The Bucks appear to like what they have in the undrafted rookie, and rightfully so. Green is currently shooting 42.7 percent from three, which is the highest among all Bucks who have played more than two games with the team thus far. He’s a tremendous 3-point shooter, which could make him a legitimate piece in the Bucks’ rotation down the line.
Mamukelashvili could be an option if the Bucks want to improve their frontcourt depth but decide not to retain Leonard. The second-year big man has shown glimpses of potential, but like most of Milwaukee’s young players, he has not gotten consistent minutes. If the Bucks want to get a clear look at the youngster, a legitimate deal would help them do so.
It is possible that the Bucks could hand Leonard and one of these two a deal, but it seems unlikely. The team may want to keep that 15th spot open and roll into the playoffs with 14 rostered players for financial reasons, but that is just speculation.
3 possible scenarios to help the Milwaukee Bucks fill out their roster – Give a free agent a standard deal
The Bucks looking to add some external talent should not be ruled out here. While it would make sense to promote Leonard or one of their two-way players, there are some players on the buyout market who could also help shore up the team’s overall depth.
One name that immediately comes to mind is Stanley Johnson. The guard has always been known for his hard-nosed defensive presence, which would help him fit right in with the Bucks, who could always use another 6-foot-6 wing. Another name is John Wall, who is arguably the most reputable name on the market right now. Wall would not be a game-changer, but the Bucks could use a third point guard behind Jrue Holiday and Jevon Carter simply for depth purposes.
General Manager has always done his due diligence with these types of things. He will not rest as long as he can add more talent to this roster, and he is undoubtedly working the phones right now. A move could very well come out of nowhere, similar to how shocking it was to see the team sign Leonard so abruptly with no prior connections to him. It should be an interesting next few weeks.
Stay tuned to see how the Milwaukee Bucks plan to fill out their roster in the coming weeks here.