7 free agent targets with ties to new Milwaukee Bucks coach Adrian Griffin

Free agent No. 7: Taj Gibson, Center

While Taj Gibson is most commonly attached to Tom Thibodeau, who loves his former players and has brought Taj Gibson along to three different teams, he and Griffin formed a relationship when both were on the Chicago Bulls during the early 2010s. Griffin was an assistant coach on the Bulls during their best years of competing for an Eastern Conference title.

Gibson may be out of his prime, but he hasn’t lost any of his size, strength or physicality. The Bucks could use a big man to put on the court in specific moments to steady the defense when Brook Lopez is off the court, and Gibson will be a proven option on the veteran’s minimum to fill that role of third center behind Lopez and Bobby Portis.

Free Agent No. 6: Yuta Watanabe, Wing

The Brooklyn Nets had their hands full managing the drama of their stars this past season, but what went under the radar was how they managed to hit on a couple of different role players who had their best seasons this past year, and one such player was Yuta Watanabe.

The 6’9″ wing went from fringe NBA player to rotation player with Adrian Griffin in Toronto before truly “breaking out” this past season in Brooklyn. He shot 44.4 percent from 3-point range and plays solid defense, and the Bucks could use as many of those types of players as they can get. Despite playing well, his profile in the league is still low, and the Milwaukee Bucks might be able to add him on a minimum deal for next season.