With 2023 NBA Free Agency on the horizon, the Milwaukee Bucks will have some tough decisions to make regarding their roster.
The Bucks have 10 players eligible to hit the open market, and due to the team’s limited spending money, some cuts will have to be made. Of course, some players are likelier to return than others, but at this point, there’s no telling where everyone will end up. With that said, let us do our best to predict where each of Milwaukee’s 10 free agents will be playing next season.
Brook Lopez – Milwaukee Bucks
Retaining Brook Lopez will be among the top priorities for the Bucks as he braces for unrestricted free agency this off-season. Coming off his best season as a Buck, where he finished second in the Defensive Player of the Year race and put up his most points per game since 2016-17, it’s not too far-fetched to say that Milwaukee should be all-in on keeping the big man around.
Unsurprisingly, it seems that Lopez has an interest in sticking around with the Bucks as well. Back in January, HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto asked Lopez about his time with the Bucks, to which the center replied, “I can’t imagine being anywhere else.” Of course, things can always change, but it seems likely that the Bucks and Lopez will have plenty of interest in continuing their partnership and that a new deal will come quickly this off-season.
On the court, Lopez is an excellent fit for the Bucks, as his defense down low is tremendous, and he can score and shoot the ball extremely well on the other end. It would be hard to find a center that complements the Big 3 of Giannis Antetokounmpo, Jrue Holiday, and Khris Middleton better than Lopez has over these past few years. While he’s 35 years old, Lopez showed this past year that he still has plenty left in the tank.
Khris Middleton – Milwaukee Bucks
Like Brook Lopez, retaining Khris Middleton will be atop the Milwaukee Bucks’ to-do list over the next few months. The three-time All-Star has a player option worth $40.4 million for next season, which he will likely decline to seek a new deal in free agency. While plenty of teams will likely look to lure the forward away from Milwaukee, the Bucks will likely ink him to do a brand new deal if he does indeed opt-out.
Keeping Middleton is Milwaukee’s best bet. Although he was hindered by injuries this past season, mainly in his knee, he recently underwent a procedure to clean up the issue. A healthy Middleton is still a lethal three-level scorer who fits seamlessly alongside Milwaukee’s other core pieces. It may not make much sense to let a player like that walk, especially as the team’s limited wiggle room in trades and free agency would make it extremely difficult to find a replacement.
Similarly to Lopez, it would be very difficult to imagine Middleton suiting up in a different uniform at this point in his career. At 31 years old, Middleton has plenty of good years left to give, and let’s hope this recent knee procedure helps him get himself right to prove it.
Jae Crowder – Milwaukee Bucks
The Jae Crowder experiment was nothing short of strange. After pursuing the forward via trade for months, the Bucks finally got him but failed to truly utilize him down the stretch. Following a quick playoff run where he primarily sat on the bench, many think Crowder will head elsewhere once he hits free agency. However, that may not be an open and shut case.
First off, the Bucks have Crowder’s Bird rights, so they can offer him a nice little deal right out of the gates in free agency. Good wing defenders are not easy to get in today’s NBA, and while the veteran might not be the player he once was, Crowder could still help this team. His tenure last year was hindered by a calf injury and the fact that he was ramping up his conditioning after he sat out for the entire season before landing in Milwaukee. With a legitimate off-season under his belt and no sitting out period, he could be better prepared for next season.
Two potential reasons Crowder might not bolt out the door in free agency are the location and the new coaching regime. Since landing in Milwaukee, Crowder has been vocal about his love for the city, as he played his collegiate basketball for Marquette; this place clearly has a special meaning to him. As for the coaching staff, Crowder may feel better about coming back with Adrian Griffin at the helm, as Mike Budenholzer, who is now gone, had opted not to play him in the playoffs.
It would not be too surprising if Crowder signed a short-term deal with the Bucks to try and get his value up to earn a bigger payday down the line.
Joe Ingles – Cleveland Cavaliers
For the most part, Joe Ingles was solid for the Bucks, especially coming off an ACL tear. He gave the team excellent 3-point shooting and quality facilitating off of the bench, which is what they expected. While keeping him on a team-friendly deal would not be the worst thing in the world, Ingles’ lack of athleticism and defense, which were on display in the postseason, could have the team looking to spend money elsewhere as they aim to fill out their roster.
If he does not return to Milwaukee, the Cleveland Cavaliers make sense as a possible landing spot for the forward. They were desperately searching for a wing all season long, and that will carry on over into the off-season. Ingles would give the Cavaliers a 6-foot-8 wing who can shoot and pass the ball extremely well, providing them with a tremendous piece off of the bench. Ingles also has ties to All-Star two guard Donovan Mitchell from their days with the Utah Jazz, so perhaps some recruiting could be in order.
Plenty of teams league-wide would love to get their hands on the savvy veteran, but Milwaukee’s Central Divison rival may be among the most prominent.
Jevon Carter – Houston Rockets
This one is a bit tough. Jevon Carter has a player option worth $2.2 million for next season, which he seems destined to decline. After having the best year of his career, the guard can surely get an ideal raise on the open market. One team that needs help at point guard and could offer him a nice raise and increased role is the Houston Rockets.
Houston is rumored to have James Harden high on their wishlist this offseason as they look for a new lead guard. After hiring Ime Udoka, they clearly want to leap back into contention next year by adding win-now pieces. Carter is not a bonafide star, but he’s an excellent role player who could be a breakout candidate in a larger role. He’d bring hard-nosed defense and veteran leadership to an extremely young Rockets team.
While the Bucks hold Carter’s Bird rights and can offer him a quality extension, one has to consider how the guard may feel following his second consecutive postseason with a reduced role. After his strong 2022-23 campaign, Carter may want to land with a team where he has a well-defined role. Again, the departure of Budenholzer could make Carter more willing to return, but that’s nothing more than speculation. If Carter leaves the Bucks, the Rockets make sense due to fit and money.
Wesley Matthews – Milwaukee Bucks
If 36-year-old Wesley Matthews continues his playing career, it’s almost certainly going to be with the Milwaukee Bucks. It’s not that other teams would not be interested in adding him; it’s just that the Wisconsin native seems like he wants to stick around. When he was a free agent in 2021, the guard reportedly only wanted to play for the Bucks, having turned down offers from other teams. He’d likely do the same once again.
Keeping Matthews would make sense for the Bucks. While he’s in the advanced stages of his NBA career, he’s proved over the past two seasons that he can still play some excellent defense against opposing wing scorers. That alone makes him a valuable piece, and the Bucks have to realize that. In addition to his on-court play, Matthews has always been a great vocal presence and leader for this Milwaukee team. It certainly wouldn’t hurt to have him work with MarJon Beauchamp as he looks to make a name for himself in the NBA either.
On top of it all, retaining Matthews would not be expensive by any means. He’d almost certainly take another veteran minimum deal to stick around in Milwaukee for another year. Fans want to see the Bucks get younger, and while keeping Matthews would not allow them to do that, there are several other reasons as to why they should and likely will keep him around.
A.J. Green – Milwaukee Bucks
After going undrafted and spending his rookie year with the Bucks on a two-way deal, A.J. Green will hit restricted free agency. Bringing him back should be a no-brainer for the Bucks, as the two guard showed incredible signs of potential during his limited minutes last season.
Green’s strongest attribute is undeniably his outside shooting. He shot 44-of-105 (41.9 percent) of his triples during his rookie campaign; that was the third-best percentage on the entire team. With Giannis Antetokounmpo commanding space due to his dominance down low, surrounding him with outside shooting has been Milwaukee’s gameplan, and Green could help them do so. They would be wise to make him the next Kyle Korver or Grayson Allen type pairing with Giannis as a shooter who often shares the floor with the Greek Freak to get wide-open looks.
Keeping Green would also help the Bucks’ need for more youth, as he was the second youngest player on the roster when last season ended at 23 years old. He’s still got room to grow and may serve as one of the few young pieces the Bucks can actually develop. If given a legitimate role in Milwaukee, Green could potentially develop into something special. Retaining him would also not be very expensive for the Bucks, so it should be a quick and easy decision, even if they have to give him a standard deal.
Thanasis Antetokounmpo – Milwaukee Bucks
This one shouldn’t be too far-fetched. While he hasn’t had a clear-cut role over the past few years, Thanasis Antetokounmpo has stuck around. He’s served as an energizer both on and off the court and is a great motivator for Giannis Antetokounmpo. If he signs another minimum deal, it would not be the worst use of Milwaukee’s 15th roster spot, especially if it keeps Giannis smiling.
Goran Dragic – Miami Heat
Goran Dragic will likely end up on one of those, “Players you forgot played for the Bucks,” lists in 15 years or so. That’s not a knock on Dragic, just that his time with the team was short and that he did not play too much. Dragic recently told 560WQAM that it would be a no-brainer for him to finish his career in Miami, where he played some of his best basketball. It would not be surprising at all if he ends up there very quickly once NBA free agency starts.
Meyers Leonard – Los Angeles Lakers
The Bucks signing Meyers Leonard late in the season came out of left field. It made some sense, as they needed center depth, but Leonard was not a name most had in mind. Still, he provided a piece of depth, as he was a fine third center who did not see much time. The Bucks likely will not prioritize bringing Leonard back, but a team like the Lakers, who worked Leonard out last season before the Bucks added him, could look to target him. LA will need bodies in the frontcourt, and Leonard could be a rather cheap addition.
Stay tuned for more Milwaukee Bucks analysis.