The Milwaukee Bucks stayed in title contention this offseason, but it was not without some nervous moments. Khris Middleton and Brook Lopez were both free agents, and the franchise could not afford to lose either. The Bucks had to overpay to keep Lopez, but they had no other choice. Milwaukee should be squarely in contention with plenty to prove after a first-round playoff exit.
The Bucks signed seven free agents and brought in a new head coach this offseason. They tried to remake their bench, and Milwaukee hopes for better health as they look to win another championship.
The front office made a few bold signings this summer, and not every one will work. The Bucks will have second thoughts about some of them, and it could happen quickly.
Recent signings Milwaukee Bucks will regret come January
3. Malik Beasley
The Bucks signed Beasley to a one-year $2.0 million deal this offseason. He figures to compete for a starting role on the wing next to Khris Middleton. Can Beasley outperform Grayson Allen and Pat Connaughton to earn the nod?
The 26-year-old is a walking bucket, but he fell out of the Lakers rotation in the playoffs. Last season, he posted a 0.0 value over replacement player (VORP) and 0.032 win shares per 48 minutes with 0.100 being the league average. The Bucks have championship aspirations, but Beasley’s poor defense and inefficient scoring will hurt those chances more than his scoring helps.
Malik Beasley has been traded twice in the last 14 months, and the Milwaukee Bucks should not be counting on him to play a key role. Most likely, they will regret the signing by January, and the front office may look to move on before the deadline.
2. Jae Crowder
Crowder re-signing with the Bucks was a bit of a surprise. Milwaukee gave up five second-round draft picks to acquire him in February, but things did not go as planned.
Crowder held out after being demoted to the bench by the Suns, and his first action came with the Bucks. The 6’6 forward averaged 6.9 points and 3.8 rebounds in 18.9 minutes per game during the regular season and was completely out of the rotation for the final two playoff games.
Crowder turned 33 years old this summer. Was this just a case of him exiting his prime or did the time off prevent him from playing his best? The Bucks brought him back and need him to play a key bench role. Will Crowder be happy with that? He was not willing to come off the bench in Phoenix, but the 6’6 forward likely had no other options this summer.
Jae Crowder was a strong 3-and-D option that every team wanted in his prime. Can he get back there or will the Bucks regret this signing? It will be worse because the franchise gave up five second-round picks to acquire him. They got little in return last season and another down year could make the trade a disaster.
1. Robin Lopez
The Bucks signed Lopez to a one-year deal worth $3.1 million this offseason to reunite him with his twin brother Brook. It is a minimum contract for a player with ten-plus years of service, but one Milwaukee could quickly regret.
The Bucks do not have a ton of big-man depth. Brook and Robin Lopez are the only two true centers on the roster. Signing Robin may have been what brought back Brook, but Milwaukee will need both to play minutes this season. Bobby Portis will get time at the five, but an injury could put the Bucks in a tough spot. Without Portis or Brook, Milwaukee would have to go small in the second unit or play Robin. The Bucks do not want Giannis Antetokounmpo or Jae Crowder playing extended minutes at the five.
Brook is coming off one of the best years of his career, but Robin’s best days are certainly behind him. Last season in Cleveland, Robin played just 37 games and averaged 8.1 minutes each night. He has seen action in just 73 games total over the last two seasons combined.
Robin Lopez played for the Bucks during the 2019-2020 season, so both sides know what to expect. The franchise will need the seven-footer in the rotation at points this season and will likely regret it as he struggles to deliver.
The Milwaukee Bucks cannot afford to regret their summer signings. An important season lies ahead, and they must be in contention. Stay tuned to see how it plays out.
5 Players the Milwaukee Bucks gave up on way too soon
The Milwaukee Bucks have enjoyed some great front office work over the past decade, but like many others, still have plenty of mistakes.