The Milwaukee Bucks have 10 players eligible to enter free agency this off-season, and one of them is Jevon Carter.
Carter has a $2.2 million player option for next season, which he is seemingly bound to decline after the best year of his career. If Carter were to ultimately leave in free agency, the Bucks would be without a legitimate backup point guard. In that event, here are three backup point guards they should look to make a run at in free agency to replace Carter.
1 – Aaron Holiday
Given that they are a team with championship aspirations, it would be unlike the Bucks to take a chance on an unproven player over an established veteran. However, for a team with little financial flexibility that could be in the market for a backup point guard, one name that could be worth taking a flyer on is Aaron Holiday, brother of Bucks’ guard Jrue Holiday.
The Bucks have not been shy about adding brothers to the roster over the years, such as the Lopez twins and two Antetokounmpos, but this idea does not stem from the idea of uniting two of the three Holiday brothers simply to do it. The Bucks need backcourt depth, and the youngest Holiday in the league could help.
While he’s never managed to carve out a steady role for himself, Holiday has shown glimpses of potential when he has been given the chance. During the 2019-20 season, which has been the only year of his career where he played a somewhat prominent role, Holiday was solid by posting 9.5 points, 3.4 assists, 2.4 rebounds, and 0.8 steals per game while shooting 39.4 percent from three. If given a legitimate role, perhaps the young guard, who is 26, could develop into a genuine rotation player. He’s not the defender his brother is, but Aaron Holiday could provide quality scoring, facilitating, and energy.
Holiday will not be seeking a massive paycheck in free agency, so it would be low-risk for the Bucks to inquire about his services if they need a new backup guard.
2 – Dennis Schroder
Whether it was through trade or free agency, the Bucks and Dennis Schroder have been linked to one another for several years now. The two sides have seemingly toyed with the idea of joining forces for quite some time, but for whatever reason, it has just not happened to this point. Well, if the Bucks are in the market for another guard this off-season, Schroder could be in the mix and could end this yearly flirtation going on between both sides.
Wherever he has played, Schroder has been a solid floor general. Not only can he score the basketball well, but he can orchestrate an offense. Those are two things the Bucks need mightily next season. In fact, Schroder’s ability to do both of those things could even make him a starter on this team next season. Despite Jrue Holiday having an All-Star campaign this past season, it was beyond clear that Milwaukee would have benefited from having him play shooting guard rather than point guard at times, especially in the playoffs. That’s what Holiday primarily did as a member of the New Orleans Pelicans, where he played some of his best basketball statistically. Having Schroder would give the Bucks that flexibility.
It’s unclear what kind of money Schroder could be seeking on the market this off-season. He’s been playing on minimum deals over the past few years, and if that will remain the case, the Bucks should absolutely extend an offer his way. Only time will tell if more rumors involving Schroder and the Bucks surface in free agency this 0ff-season.
3 – Kendrick Nunn
It’s been a tough couple of years for Kendrick Nunn. After missing all of last season due to injury, he played 70 games this season as a Laker and Wizard. However, his role was the smallest it has ever been in his career, having averaged 13.8 minutes per contest. Nunn is now set to hit the free agent market, and the Bucks should have him on their radar if they need a new backup guard.
Even if Nunn is not the same player he was before the costly injury, he can still be a solid backup at the point guard position. He can score, pass, and shoot the ball well. In his limited minutes during a hectic 2022-23 season, Nunn averaged 7.1 points and 1.3 assists while sinking 35.4 percent of his shots from distance. The guard has plenty left in the tank, and at 27 years old, he would help add a touch of youth to this aging Milwaukee roster.
Nunn will likely not be seeking a hefty amount of compensation in free agency as he looks to show that he can still play at a high level. If the Bucks could snatch him up on a prove-it deal, it would be a big boost if the team is indeed looking for a new backup floor general. It’s truly the definition of a low-risk, high-reward signing if it were to happen.
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