Milwaukee Bucks: 4 free agents who can replace Wesley Matthews
By Franco Luna
No. 3 – Terrence Ross
Terrence Ross had a solid season for the Phoenix Suns in 2022-23. He averaged 8.3 points, 2.4 rebounds, and 1.5 assists per game. He shot 43.0 percent from the field and 36.8 percent from 3-point range. Ross is well-established as a crafty veteran scorer who would give the Bucks another option on the offensive end. He is a career 34.9 percent 3-point shooter and can score in a variety of ways and can certainly replace what little offense Wesley Matthews brought to the table for the Bucks and then some.
However, Ross’ defense for his position is middling at best. He’s also just 32 years old, which is on the older side for a role player. He may not be able to keep up with the Bucks’ up-tempo style of play for a long period of time.
He doesn’t give the Milwaukee Bucks much of what Wesley Matthews did, but he could more than make up for that with his shot-making and three-level scoring ability. Tracking data on NBA.com/stats paints a picture of a decorated offensive player who sticks to his gun.
Midrange pull-ups made up nearly a third of his shot diet, and he converted on an excellent 51.5 percent of those. He also knocked down a scorching 46.8 percent of his “wide-open” 3-point shots. He’s clearly a true three-level scorer, which is something the Bucks have needed far longer than their defensive struggles at the wing positions.
Ross has been known to be inconsistent throughout his career. He can go on hot streaks and score a lot of points, but he can also go cold and disappear for stretches. These things could be a problem for the Milwaukee Bucks, whose main identity is on defense.
He’s likely going to land a contract worth somewhere in the $5-10 million range but could very easily sign for a discount if handed the chance to compete for titles in the twilight of his career.
The Milwaukee Bucks are expected to be a contender in the Eastern Conference next season, and they need to add another scorer to their roster. Ross would be a good fit for their needs, and he could help them win a championship.