5. Re-signed A.J. Green
Signed A.J. Green to a 3-year, $6.3 million contract
A popular draft sleeper among draftniks in the 2022 NBA Draft was University of Northern Iowa guard A.J. Green, who was a standout college player with the skillset to catch on with an NBA team. The Bucks kept the Iowa native close to home by bringing him in on a two-way contract prior to last season.
Green was never going to play a major role on the contending Bucks, but he somewhat surprisingly did see action in 35 games, including a few games where his 3-pointer was a crucial weapon off the Bucks’ bench. He shot 41.9 percent from 3-point range on a high volume of attempts. He added another 73 attempts in the G League and shot well over 40 percent on those, too.
As the Bucks sought to fill out their bench this summer without breaking the bank, Green got the call-up to the full roster on a three-year deal. The final two seasons are non-guaranteed, but for Green to go from undrafted to a full roster spot in a single year is an impressive feat.
Green has more to offer than simply shooting, and as those supporting skills come along he could be a consistent rotation option for the Bucks. He was a good passer and scorer in college, and he is a solid-enough defender to fit into the Bucks’ scheme well. This was a low-cost, smart signing that could pay real dividends if he is a rotation player for each of the next three seasons.
Grade: B