5 Targets under 25 for the Milwaukee Bucks in 2023 NBA Free Agency

Milwaukee Bucks free agent target No. 4 – Josh Okogie

Looking at Milwaukee’s second round selections this past draft, both Jackson and Livingston are a pair of stout defenders who struggle to shoot the long ball. If they want to keep that trend going, a player the Bucks’ front office should have their eye on in free agency is Josh Okogie.

Throughout his five NBA seasons, Okogie has stuck around due to his strong defense, having been a hound on that side of things. The 6-foot-4 guard has proven to be a very versatile defender over the course of his career, especially this past season with the Phoenix Suns, where he often took on incredibly difficult assignments. After being torched by the Miami Heat for five games these past playoffs due to a lack of athletic defenders, the Bucks would love to have a defensive player who checks off those boxes, in all likelihood.

While the defense stands out, there would certainly be concerns about how the team would use Okogie offensively. For his NBA career, he’s averaged 6.6 points while shooting 40 percent from the floor and a putrid 29.1 percent from deep. That might not make the guard a seamless fit with the Bucks, who also need to improve offensively this off-season. However, as they’ve signaled in their draft selections, Milwaukee is clearly focused on adding versatile and athletic defenders to the roster, and Okogie fits the billing.

It’s unclear what kind of deal Okogie may be seeking in free agency. With little spending money, it may be hard to pry Okogie away from other potential suitors. Still, that should not stop the Bucks from trying to beef up their personnel on the defensive side of things.