5 Veteran minimum targets for the Milwaukee Bucks in NBA free agency
By Franco Luna
No. 2 – Taj Gibson
Taj Gibson is a veteran big man who could be a valuable addition to the Milwaukee Bucks on a veteran minimum contract. Gibson is a 14-year veteran who is a solid rebounder and defender. He would be a good backup center for Brook Lopez or power forward in place of Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bobby Portis.
Perhaps his most attractive trait for a contending team like Milwaukee is that Gibson has been in the NBA for 14 seasons and has played for several different teams. This means that he knows what it takes to win in the playoffs and can help the Bucks’ young players learn from his experience.
Gibson has also been recognized as a good locker-room presence by his teammates in the past. Gibson is a good leader and a strong imposing presence who can keep his teammates accountable. He would help the Bucks stay focused and motivated through the wear and tear of an 82-game season and, eventually, the playoffs. Players of this mindset will also coexist well next to a players’ coach like Adrian Griffin.
Outside of that, Gibson is still a good rebounder and defender this far into his career, though this is belied by his paltry 3.4 points and 1.9 boards per game during the past regular season.
He is also a good defender at the center position, given his size. His head-to-head stats are impressive yet completely unexpected: he’s held guys like Aaron Gordon, Deandre Ayton, and Domantas Sabonis to below 33 percent efficiency, albeit on extremely limited sample sizes.
Gibson is 37 years old, so he is no longer the player he once was. However, he is still an experienced player who can contribute to a winning team. He is a good rebounder, defender, and serviceable 3-point shooter. He is also a veteran leader who can provide guidance to younger players. If Gibson is willing to accept a bench role, he could still be a valuable asset to a contending team. He would be a good fit for a team that needs a veteran presence and a serviceable option from 3-point range.
It’s clear he still has some good basketball left to play in the tank. And perhaps the Bucks could use someone of his talents this coming season.